Royal Salute Polo Challenge Features Prince Harry And Miami Polo Edition

The Royal Salute Polo Challenge featuring Prince Harry, which took place on April 12 at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, was an exhilarating afternoon of high level polo.

The Royal Salute Sentabale team prevailed over both the Maseru Polo Team and Grand Champions Polo Club to take the trophy, which was presented by the Duchess of Sussex. The Royal Salute Sentabale team comprised of Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex; world-renowned 10-goal handicap polo professional, Adolfo Cambiaso Sr.; Royal Salute Brand Ambassador and professional polo player Malcolm Borwick, and Dana Barnes, founder and chief executive of Concord Equity Group. Cambiaso is considered to be the greatest player of all time and was once the youngest player to receive a 10-goal handicap (the highest rating). He has consistently maintained that ranking since 1994.

Polo professionals including Nacho Figueras and Facundo Pieres competed for Grand Champions Polo Club and Maseru Polo Team respectively, among other players.

The tournament raised funds for Sentebale, the non-profit organization that benefits vulnerable children and young people in the Southern African countries of Lesotho and Botswana. It was co-founded by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and Lesotho’s Prince Seesio. A charity dinner following the polo tournament was attended by nearly 300 guests including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The dinner took place at Santa Rita Polo Farm which is owned by the polo-playing duo of Marc and Melissa Ganzi, who also own Grand Champions Polo Club.

The tournament was also the launching pad of 21-Year Old Miami Polo Edition, the latest addition to the Royal Salute iconic Polo Collection. The Polo Editions transport people to a specific place, explains Borwick, former captain of the British National Polo team. “In the same way that people want escapism when they look at travel television shows, what we are offering here is a glimpse of a lifestyle in these different places,” says Malcolm Borwick. “We want these whiskies to embody an ideal of what that lifestyle represents.”

The Miami Polo Edition was created by Sandy Hyslop, Master Blender at Royal Salute. “Miami is such a dynamic city,” says Hyslop. “We wanted to craft a blend that would echo this with an exciting new dimension.”

Miami Polo Edition is the six and most recent addition to Royal Salute’s line of limited edition polo-themed whiskies. The first three Polo Editions celebrated the different terroir of where polo is played: grass, snow and beach. The latest trio celebrate iconic destinations where the international polo circuit is played, including Argentina, India and Miami, with each conveying the cultural dimension of the location it represents.

Miami Polo is first in the company’s blending history to finish the product in first-fill bourbon and first-fill rye casks. The wide array of molten grain whiskies, each aged for a minimum of 21 years, used to create the blend included several from lost and silent distilleries, according to Hyslop.

The result is a blend that offers notes of sweet vanilla, toffee and coconut flavors from the rye and bourbon casks are reminiscent of Miami’s golden sandy beaches, with subtle spice from the rye a nod to Miami’s vibrant, glamorous lifestyle. A rose petal flavor also comes through as a result of the rye casks. “I wanted it to be more delicate than our Royal Salute Signature 21 year old,” Hyslop explains. “The Miami Edition is fruity, exotic and has a little bit of gentle spice in the background.”

Royal Salute Estancia, finished in Malbec wine casks, which was launched in Argentina in 2021. The blend pays homage to Argentina which is the birthplace of the majority of the world’s most famous and top ranked professional polo players. This full-bodied blend offers notes of raspberry and blackberry with a hint of cinnamon spice in the background.

In 2023, Royal Salute launched the 21 Year Old Jodhpur Polo Edition in Jodhpur, India—the birthplace of modern polo. This blend of special malt whiskies finished in virgin oak casks celebrates the rich spices and flavors of India. The blend has notes of sweet mangoes and coconut, caramel and cinnamon cloves the blend has a long and spicy finish.

“The Polo Editions appeal to whisky appreciators who enjoy travel paired with an appreciation of polo,” says Paul-André Vacheron, Global Marketing Director, Ballantine’s and Prestige (which includes Royal Salute). “The whisky provides a luxury experience, discovery and the idea of a journey.”

The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition is presented in a pink flagon packaged in a cleverly designed presentation box decorated with palm trees, pink flamingos and images of iconic art deco buildings and sleek contemporary skyscrapers.

Miami Polo Edition will be released for a limited time starting this month and is available at select luxury retailers worldwide at an suggested retail price of $190. For more information, visit Royal Salute or follow @royalsalute.