Limited Edition Whisky to Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III
King Charles III will be crowned as the next King of the United Kingdom. People all over the world are celebrating the event in their own special ways but whisky producers are celebrating in their own way with limited-edition coronation whiskies.
We highlight some of the best coronation whiskies for a variety of budgets. So if you want to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III by adding to your whisky collection.
Glen Grant 1948 King Charles III Coronation Release (Gordon & MacPhail) – £25,000
You will have to be quick if you want to purchase the Glen Grant 1948 King Charles III Coronation Release. At the time of writing, there is only one bottle available from the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail on Master of Malt with a few other online outlets selling bottles.
Also, you will need £25,000 to make the bottle part of your whisky collection.
Distilled in 1948, the birth year of King Charles III, the special edition matured for over 74 years in a sherry cask.
When bottled on the 22nd December 2022 the cask produced only 281 bottles.
Tasting notes
The whisky has a deep amber colour from the sherry maturation cask. Tasting notes of the Glen Grant 1948 King Charles III Release include:
- Nose: fragrant festive spices complement mulled berries with a hint of raisin. Lemon zest comes to the fore alongside demerara sugar and subtle beeswax polish.
- Taste: red apple flavours infused with bitter orange and milk chocolate. Subtle smoke develops, accompanied by fresh peppermint leaves.
- Finish: full finish with lingering grapefruit and mature oak.
Read more: Gordon & MacPhail Shifts Focus: From Independent Bottler to Distillery-Centric Approach
Royal Salute – The Coronation of King Charles Edition – £20,000
Royal Salute has a connection with the royal family from its inception. Founded in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II it is only apt that they produce a scotch whisky for the coronation of King Charles III.
The distinctive decanter takes inspiration from the Gothic churches and symbolism closely associated with the Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom.
Royal Salute has crafted a whisky consisting of a blend of 53 rare malt and grain whiskies. Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, used 53 whiskies to represent the year of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as well as the founding of Royal Salute.
Tasting notes
The tasking notes of The Coronation of King Charles Edition from Royal Salute include:
- Nose: Fresh redcurrants, homemade strawberry jam, banoffee pie, dark chocolate praline, freshly-roasted chestnuts, clove spice and a hint of charred pineapple.
- Palate: A balanced mixed of poached pears, sticky sweet figs, rich toffee, lavish hazelnut chocolate and lively festive spice of fresh ginger, cinnamon and cloves.
- Finish: Long and rich with enduring, playful spice on the palate.
Highgrove Coronation Vatting Single Malt Whisky – £150
The Highgrove Coronation Vatting Single Malt Whisky costs significantly less than the previous two entries at £150.
The first of two English whiskies on our list, it was made on the Highgrove Estate using Heritage Plumage Archer barley. Then, it was distilled, matured and bottled at the Cotswolds Distillery. The maturation process took place in premium active ex-red wine barrels and first-fill bourbon casks.
At this price, and only 1000 bottles of whisky produced it could be an excellent opportunity to add a rare whisky to your collection.
Tasting notes
The Highgrove Coronation Whisky has tasting notes of:
- Nose: Honey and butterscotch
- Palette: Tannin-rich malt and Seville orange marmalade
- Finish: Dark red fruits and a hint of treacle
Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend – £137
If the Coronation Edition of Royal Salute is beyond your price range then why not add the 21-Year-Old Signature Blend to your collection?
Royal Salute as a brand is connected to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II so adding a bottle to your collection will add extra meaning.
The 21-Year-Old Signature Blend is an award-winning whisky. In 2017 it won the Super Premium Blended Scotch Whisky award at the Global Luxury Masters.
So if you want to celebrate the coronation in style, this whisky will be an excellent addition to your collection or one to be enjoyed.
Tasting notes
The Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend has tasting notes of:
- Nose: Sweet pears and citrus fruits are balanced with the fragrance of autumn flowers. An elegant blend of vanilla and dry oak is crowned with subtle notes of sherry and just a wisp of smoke.
- Palate: The welcome warmth of orange marmalade and fresh pears is followed by a brave explosion of spices and hazelnut.
- Finish: A lingering trace of smoke.
Read more: A History of Welsh Single Malt Whisky
The English Coronation Whisky – £85
The second English whisky on our list is The English Coronation Whisky.
Produced by The English Distillery as part of their Royal Collection, the English Coronation Whisky commemorates the crowning of King Charles III for a reasonable £85 per bottle.
The whisky has matured in ex-bourbon casks and PX sherry casks for a beautiful flavour.
Engraved with the royal seal, there are only 5,000 bottles available.
Tasting notes
The tasting notes of The English Coronation Whisky include:
- Nose: Aromas of toffee, cherries and baked apples.
- Palate: The toffee turns to chocolate and is joined by tastes of nuts and figs.
Wolfburn – Limited Edition King Charles III Coronation Whisky – £80
Wolfburn was inspired by a visit from His Majesty in 2019 to craft a whisky based on the tastes of King Charles III to celebrate his coronation.
Matured for seven years in fill-first bourbon barrels only 600 bottles will be produced. Ideal for the whisky collector with a moderate budget to build their collection.
Tasting notes
- Nose: Spring blossoms meet gentle oak smoke and dried fruit, all overlaid with a subtle sweetness.
- Palate: A mouthful of fruit cake: dates, almonds, maple syrup and dark chocolate are all present. Give it time and subtle spices reveal themselves – gentle layers of cardamom and cinnamon.
- Finish: Hints of vanilla gently fade gently away with a warming trace of caramel at the end.
Learn more about the Wolfburn Coronation Edition
How to start a whisky collection
A whisky collection always starts with one thing, a passion for whisky!
However, a whisky collection can also be an investment. The famous beverage has increased in value over the last few years so collectors may purchase a bottle of whisky today and it could be worth much more in 10 years’ time.
We have covered some auctioned whisky collections:
- World’s Largest Collection of Whisky Sold for £3.3m
- Whisky Collector Sells Bottle Collection for £30,000
- 128 Years After Shipwreck 7 Bottles of Whisky are Up for Auction
Collectors can start large or small depending on their budget for their hobby. As seen above, bottles of small-batch whisky could be as little as £80 per bottle, or as much as £25,000.
If you want to start a whisky collection the first step should be to speak to whisky experts.
UKV International AG have been brokers for whisky collectors for many years.
Our experts can help you understand what whisky is right for you, whether you want to acquire whisky for consumption, collection or for investment we can help.
Contact our whisky experts today and discover your next step in the world of whisky.
Featured image credit: Fabrizio Annovi / Shutterstock.com
