Exclusive: Harris Reed Breaks Down His Collaboration with Royal Salute

When the elegance of haute couture meets the world of heritage whisky, the result is truly exceptional—a celebration of history, innovation and artistry. This very spirit defines Royal Salute, the master of aged Scotch whisky, as it once again redefines luxury through its Fashion Collection. Enter the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition, a collaboration with the British-American fashion designer Harris Reed. 

Reed’s design for the new Scotch whisky pays homage to his signature headpieces and the regal legacy of Royal Salute. Each flagon is adorned with a striking halo of feathers, seamlessly blending the timeless symbol of royalty with the avant-garde vision of the series. Cast in three sophisticated colourways, each design is a masterpiece in its own right, appealing to connoisseurs of both fashion and refined whisky. 

The synergy transcends artistry, as Reed joins forces with Royal Salute’s Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, to create a blend that is as complex as it is captivating. Sherry-matured Braeval whisky imparts rich notes of raisins and spice, while malts aged in American oak barrels enhance the natural fruitiness. A rare grain whisky, finished in charred virgin oak barrels, introduces a depth of flavour with delicate layers of vanilla, creating a smooth, creamy finish that perfects the blend.

Ahead, we speak with Harris Reed to uncover how he channels his craftsmanship into the whisky bottle and his thoughts on the exciting partnership with Royal Salute. 

What prompted your decision to collaborate with Royal Salute?

For me, it always felt like a completely organic collaboration. Royal Salute is a whisky brand I’ve long admired, and I was very excited when they approached me to collaborate.

Can you walk us through the creative process behind this collaboration?

It was a wonderful experience to visit Strathisla Distillery in Scotland and meet Royal Salute’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. We instantly bonded over our shared obsession for collector’s items—Sandy loves watches and collecting cars, while I’m a big fan of handbags and watches. I admired the passion he brings to everything he does, and it was a pleasure to spend the day blending whiskies inspired by our experiences, memories, images and ideas.

Together, we created a special blend that became the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition. The entire process was so much fun, and anyone who knows Sandy will know he’s an absolute delight to partner with and learn from!

Your work is known for its bold, unapologetic aesthetic. How did you ensure your distinctive style came through in the bottle design?

Designing the bottle for the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition was a dream because the team allowed me to be playful and push the design in many directions. As you can see from the three colourways, I wanted each to be bold and unique. The response has been outstanding; people have loved being able to get their hands on a bottle that truly feels like a jewel and is so collectable. Being able to incorporate the iconic Harris Reed headwear as the focal point is what really blew the designs out of the park for me.

What influenced your choice of the three colourways for the bottle design?

Because one was just not enough, we needed multiples! I’m a gold girl for life, but I think it was wonderful to have different colours to suit different tastes. My father loves the purple, my husband loves the blue and I love the gold—it means there’s a design for everyone. Fluidity was super important, and I wanted to ensure everyone got their piece of the collection.

How would you describe the new Scotch whisky in three words?

It would have to be powerful, rich and redefining.

It’s been noted that the blend includes sherry-matured Braeval whisky, which brings to mind your childhood memories. Can you share more about that connection?

It evokes memories of a roaring fire at Christmas or at a wonderful family event, and that feeling of warmth and intimacy that makes you feel so loved and cherished. As I reminisced with Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, he was able to take these fond memories and bottle them into an extremely gorgeous blend.

What were the most challenging aspects of working on this project, and were there any unexpected discoveries during the creative process?

When working with such an iconic bottle shape, there are sometimes limitations to making the artwork wrap perfectly. I wanted it to look as beautiful and flawless as possible, so I challenged myself to push my design boundaries throughout the process. However, I believe the beauty of what I do is that the most stunning results often come from the most structured, rigid spaces. The outcome was far stronger than we ever imagined, especially since we were already working with this incredible, iconic bottle shape.

Has working on this collaboration in any way shifted or expanded your design perspective?

Yes, 100%! The creative process during my collaboration with Royal Salute has truly shown me that, as a brand, we can adapt the Harris Reed DNA to suit a number of my deep passions, such as high-quality whisky. I want to ensure my designs remain authentic to my creative process while also resonating with my personal experiences and daily life.

What is your favourite way to enjoy whisky?

I love drinking my whisky chilled, with a large, round ice cube, served in a gorgeous whisky glass and topped with a small drop of water.

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