Spirit Forward is a series documenting the latest releases in the world of drinks. In this edition, we check out the latest offerings from Royal Salute.
Samba, bossa nova, the Ipanema beach, the Christ the Redeemer statue—these are the things that Rio de Janeiro is known for. Little did we know that the Brazilian city is also known for its vibrant polo scene. Royal Salute did know this, and that was the reason why they landed on this city for their seventh stop of the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition release.
Housed in a vibrant green bottle, the whisky this year is once again crafted by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. With the help of Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick—a professional polo player who has had actual play time in Rio de Janeiro—to paint a picture of the flavours that would encapsulate the city, Hyslop was able to blend a whisky fit for the royals, yet has nuances that capture the smooth bossa nova vibes that Rio de Janeiro is known for.
So, what does Rio de Janeiro taste like? Rich, fruity, and creamy. “Coming alive with the creamy sweetness of vanilla and coconut, the fruity notes in this blended malt whisky are like an intricate dance—much like the Bossa Nova performed on a warm Brazilian evening. To make a blend as special as its inspiration, we incorporated Braeval whisky matured in first-fill casks. This has not only allowed us to give it a new dimension, but it also resulted in a taste experience as captivating and multi-layered as Rio itself, a true representation of the city’s irresistible charm.”
The blended whisky was aged in American Oak casks, bringing forth sweet and creamy vanilla and coconut notes. On the nose, you’ll get aromas of charred pineapple, poached pears, toasted oak and sweet floral undertones. Upon sipping, most will get nuances of honeydew, green apples, coconut, white chocolate, and salted caramel with a spicy finish. The perfect blend that captures the spirit of Rio de Janeiro.
The Spirit of Polo in Ipoh
In conjunction with the launch, Royal Salute brought us all the way to Ipoh to experience firsthand the game of polo, as well as taste the new whisky at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat. We took off from Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara in the new BMW i5 and zoomed towards our first destination: BP Polo Club. There, we were received by Dato’ Beh Chun Chuan and Borwick himself, and the latter took it upon himself to impart some polo playing knowledge to us—even insisting that we try it out for ourselves. Borwick was, in fact, in the middle of his polo season and took the time to fly to Malaysia for this special launch.
Borwick himself comes from a long line of polo players—his paternal grandmother played in the first ever Ladies International Polo match in 1924, while his great grandfather and granduncles made up the England team. He had been playing polo professionally for a while and became Royal Salute’s external consultant, before they approached him to become a brand ambassador. “It’s such an honour to represent a brand that has so much rich cultural British heritage,” he told us in an interview at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat. It was the morning after the launch, and he was looking miraculously fresh. “I made sure to drink lots of water after the event and had a nice, long soak in the hotspring tub,” he winked at us.
As someone with years of experience playing polo professionally around the world, we had to ask him: how was Brazil different than other places? “Brazil is famous for its hospitality, friendship, and the exuberance they have for life. The post match entertainment, or the post match rituals in Brazil are very good fun. They like to have a good party and they go to quite late,” he said. As for why Royal Salute ended up with Rio de Janeiro for its seventh polo edition, Borwick shared that the brand asked him for some of the iconic destinations he had played during his career, Brazil stuck out particularly for him.
“For me, it just stays in my memory—the friendship, kindness, and the fun that the people have both playing on the field and off the field,” he reminisced. There is an annual event just outside Sao Paulo, he said, in a beautiful country club named Fasano Boa Vista. “Every time we play, it’s a sunset polo event with about 2,000 people watching the game. The owner of the hotel is a huge fan of polo, and we always have a fun match because the level of amateur players in Brazil is as high as the professional players, so it’s very competitive,” he said. “But the friendship and camarederie you have after the game is unique.”
For the Royal Salute Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition, Borwick shared with Hyslop that he wanted the both the whisky and the packaging to be colourful, floral, vibrant, and energetic—all the things that he felt really encapsulated Rio de Janeiro. “[Sandy Hyslop] is a true genius; we got together and came up with some phrases and expressions, as well as feelings about the place, and then he blends the whisky to reflect that,” said Borwick.
A Special Whisky Pairing Dinner
To celebrate the occasion, we got to try a special whisky pairing dinner at Jeff’s Cellar. Crafted by Chef Boon Lee and his team, the six-course menu is paired with a selection of Royal Salute whiskies, including the new Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition. Surrounded by centuries-old limestone in a cave, this dinner is truly one for the books—and you too can experience it for yourself. Available to the public from 23 July till 30 September 2025, the menu is priced at RM990 nett per person and includes three exquisite Royal Salute whisky pairings.
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