The pink day beds at Ember Beach Club were a sight to behold (All photos: Royal Salute)
While all sport offers moments of excitement, there are perhaps few as exhilarating as the final chukka of a polo match. Imagine horses speeding down the field towards the goalposts as players with mallets at the ready make a mad dash for the ball. The heat is on and tensions high. As the action peaks, the smell of grass and freshly upturned soil wafts through the air. Spectators in the stands, dressed to impress, are on the edge of their seats. With one confident swing, the winning score is made, and supporters leap to their feet as triumphant cheers erupt.
Known as the “Sport of Kings”, the game, played on horseback, has a long and storied history of attracting a diverse and undeniably affluent crowd. Originating in ancient Persia, with the modern version adapted from its predecessor played in Manipur, India, it has evolved into an international spectacle, with competitions held year-round across the globe.
One such event, the World Polo League’s annual Beach Polo World Cup, draws countless fans from around the world to one magical location — Miami, Florida, in the US. The coastal city’s vibrant landscape, beloved for its warm weather and gorgeous beaches, is also home to the world’s largest beach polo tournament.
Of course, the city is a hotspot for one more thing — extravagant nightlife. And where the party goes, libation swiftly follows. Hence, it was only right that Miami’s lavish reputation and strong ties to polo became the inspiration for Scotch whisky brand Royal Salute’s sixth and latest release from its Polo Collection. Named the 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition, the new addition highlights a flamingo pink flagon, succeeding the mustard yellow 2023 Jodhpur Polo and burnt terracotta 2022 Polo Estancia renditions.
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For the Malaysian launch, Royal Salute brought the high net-worth energy of Miami to the country’s pinnacle of coastal glamour — One&Only Desaru Coast in Johor. The event kicked off with a fun-filled afternoon of seaside activities on the sprawling white sands of Ember Beach Club, which had been decked out in pink decor and with polo memorabilia to match the occasion. While some partook in competitive games of beach croquet and cornhole toss, others elevated their heart rates with daring watersports or unleashed their inner equestrian with horse riding along the shore.
As the sun began its descent along the horizon, guests returned to the club dressed in their resort best. A brilliant sunset painted the sky with ribbons of pink and gold before sparklers and light shows kicked off the launch ceremony.
Once night fell, guests retreated into the club’s main dining space, which was transformed into an ambient cave drenched in moody fuchsia lighting and hundreds of pink roses decorating the linen-covered tables. Soon, a feast that stimulated all the senses was brought out and diners savoured a range of Royal Salute’s best whiskies paired with six decadent courses. The best of it all, however, was a plate of delicate sea bass sashimi in green nam jim sauce, coconut lime and cucumber, matched with the first sampling of the 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition.
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The amber spirit revealed notes of pear, honey blossom and marzipan to the nose, and on the palate unfolded into a summery, fruit-forward symphony against a backdrop of milk chocolate and gingerbread cookies. To complete the experience, Royal Salute curated a one-of-a-kind fragrance boasting airy, feminine florals which guests were encouraged to sniff as they ate and drank to experience how flavours and scents intermingle and shift in each other’s presence.
To fully grasp how truly unique the latest edition is, the subsequent dishes of lobster in lemon beurre blanc sauce topped with chives and ikura and tender wagyu, served with pickled onions and garlic oil, were paired with the 21 Year Old Signature Blend and 21 Year Old Malts Blend, as well as two more special perfumes. Naturally, the complexity of each whisky commensurated with the courses. While the Signature Blend, with its familiar vanilla, oak and sherried fruit notes, proved the easiest to approach in the line-up, the Malts Blend was a heavier, sweeter hitter with hints of banana crème brûlée and spice-tinged boiled candies. In a similar vein, the scents went from earthy and woody to musky and warm, rounding out each experience smoothly.
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With palates sated and the night still young, guests ran back to the beach to dance off the post-prandial stupor. Buffetted by sea breeze and with sand wedged in-between toes, the party was momentarily transported to the Florida coast. Miami, for whatever reason, has long enjoyed the nickname of “Magic City”. Conjuring up visions of an eternal summer and where life is always good and abundant, the collaboration between an iconic whisky and destination resort brought Biscayne Bay to the tip of the Malay Peninsula. Just like magic.
The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition is available in limited quantities. To discover more, visit royalsalute.com.
This article first appeared on Aug 19, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
