Sandy Hyslop might not seem out of place in a neighbourhood bar. He loves his pints, owns several cherished mechanical timepieces, and occasionally shouts at the TV while watching football. But beneath the nondescript salt-and-pepper hair and friendly smile lies an exquisite nose. Hyslop is a master blender and has been nosing whiskies for close to 30 years. The Scotsman tells us about his long career with Royal Salute, and where he sees the industry going in the future.
What changes have you seen in the Scotch whisky industry in the past decade?
There is an influx of a younger generation with a genuine appreciation for luxury and whisky. It is something we are keen to tap into as a brand, and you can see it in our Couture Collection, which we launched last year with the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Richard Quinn Edition, and most recently with the Royal Salute House of Quinn by Richard Quinn.
Thanks to our commitment to laying down exceptional whiskies and maturing them in quality casks over the years, we are in a great position to innovate and experiment. This allows us to tell the stories of how we developed whiskies and flavours, as well as how we worked with exotic casks and brought amazing finishes to consumers.
As the industry develops, you can expect to see more collaborations between whisky and luxury partners in the art and fashion worlds.
What makes a whisky great? Is it the taste, the story, the legends, or something else?
A combination of all the above! Taste is crucial to a great whisky. A great whisky must have great taste. I am responsible for maintaining Royal Salute’s distinctive house style while pushing boundaries to innovate and release blends that ignite consumers’ imaginations.
Royal Salute House of Quinn by Richard Quinn is a great example. It is a new bespoke blended malt Scotch whisky with the finest and rarest aged malt whiskies hand selected from across Scotland, including some laid down in the birth year of Richard Quinn.
When I am curating a blend there is always a story to tell, whether it’s the story of a Royal celebration in the Royal Salute 30 Year Old Key to the Kingdom expression, or with House of Quinn by Richard Quinn’s story of a collaboration between fashion and whisky.
When you can tell a story through an expression, it makes it even more special.
How do you think Web3 and whisky can come together?
In the same way that we see a new generation of luxury consumers engaging with fashion and luxury, we’ve seen a distinct interest in Web3 and NFTs. Whether in the physical or metaverse, our brand is very much committed to evoking emotion and enchantment in every encounter. We launched our first NFT with the Royal Salute Time Series 51 Year Old 2021 Release, followed by the House of Quinn by Richard Quinn NFT. Recently, it was the 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish, only available as an NFT.
The House of Quinn by Richard Quinn NFT is extremely special as it features flagon #1 from the limited collection of 200 crystal decanters, which Richard Quinn signed. It was accompanied by a silk pocket square designed by Richard Quinn. Rarely does the first numbered edition go on sale, as we usually keep it for archiving. This makes it a highly desirable collector’s item.
Where do you see whisky going in the next decade?
You can expect the whisky industry to delve further into the worlds of luxury fashion and art, as well as progress its presence in the metaverse. In addition to offering new drinking experiences, Royal Salute is constantly searching for new ways to connect with our consumers. The projects and experiments I am working on right now are really exciting. For now, I can’t tell you more, but stay tuned.
