Royal Salute Scotch Whisky Opens an Exclusive Tasting Chamber Inside the Historic Tower of London

Welcome to the Martin Tower, part of the historic Tower of London, and now the home of the Royal Salute Chamber, a private tasting experience reserved for true whisky connoisseurs. As a proud supporter of Historic Royal Palaces for over a decade, Royal Salute has been granted exclusive use of a suite in the Martin Tower, transforming it into a discreet haven for appreciating whisky at its finest.

Access is strictly limited to a maximum of eight guests at a time, ensuring each visit feels highly personal and memorable. The decor pays tribute to the tower’s remarkable past, with detailed illustrations of the Royal Menagerie on the walls and an interactive tasting table that guides guests through Royal Salute’s storied history.

At the centre are original display cabinets that once protected the legendary Koh i Noor and Cullinan Diamonds. Today, they present the Treasures Collection, an unrivalled archive of rare and exquisite Royal Salute whiskies. Guests may sample these exceptional expressions and will be among the first to discover the new 62 Gun Salute Collection.

The 62 Gun Salute is the ultimate ceremonial honour in the United Kingdom, fired only from the Tower of London to mark the Birth, Accession or Coronation of the Monarch. It combines 41 rounds from a London royal station with 21 extra rounds from the City of London as a mark of loyalty.

Inspired by this grand tradition, Royal Salute’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop has created three extraordinary whiskies in the 62 Gun Salute Collection, each celebrating the sense of spectacle and majesty behind the salute.

Sandy, with forty years of blending expertise, begins with nosing. In his words, “Ninety five percent of my job is done on the nose. I nose about 1,500 samples every week but only taste five or six.”

Over fifty different rare malts and grains from Scotland’s most esteemed distilleries contribute to these blends, taking Royal Salute’s iconic 21 Year Old to an even higher level. The collection includes the award winning 62 Gun Original Reserve (RRP £3,000), alongside two new releases: the American Oak Reserve and the Peated Reserve (both RRP £3,300).

Each blend shares Royal Salute’s hallmark Speyside sweetness but highlights unique characters. The American Oak Reserve bursts with bright fruit notes, such as orange marmalade, mango and pineapple, balanced by crisp apple and warming spice, finishing with creamy toffee thanks to Longmorn single malt.

The Peated Reserve, evoking the gentle smoke lingering over London after the salute, unveils waves of rich island peat, spiced sherry and liquorice. Sandy used an extremely rare 26 year old peated Caperdonich malt, adding depth few blends could match.

When asked for a favourite, Sandy only smiles, saying choosing would be like picking a favourite child. On serving, his advice is simple: there are no strict rules, but a drop of water will open the layers of flavour. He hopes this collection becomes the choice for marking life’s most significant moments.

And if you are truly fortunate, that special toast may be raised in the company of good friends, within the timeless walls of the Royal Salute Chamber at the Tower of London.