Inside Royal Salute’s New Fashion Collection Whisky Collaboration With Harris Reed

Royal Salute just unveiled its latest addition to its growing Fashion Collection series. Following up its collaboration with British fashion designer Richard Quinn, the Scotch whisky brand is teaming up with American-British designer Harris Reed, who is known for bold, gender-fluid designs.

As described by Royal Salute master blender Sandy Hyslop, the partnership and the debut of the Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Harris Reed Edition aims to merge the Scotch brand’s traditional craftsmanship with Reed’s modern aesthetic.

“Through this series, we connect with like-minded visionaries to catapult each other’s craft to stylistic new heights,” Hyslop tells Forbes. “When we were thinking about a new partner, Harris Reed was top of the list. He is renowned for his perfection in details, pushing boundaries in fashion design, and has a beautiful, bold yet sophisticated style.”

Reed recalls that his relationship with Royal Salute began over two years ago, attending some of the company’s events held at Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London.

“The partnership with Royal Salute was a very organic process, much like many collaborations I pursue with my brand, VIPs or clients,” Reed tells Forbes. “I immediately connected with the brand’s emphasis on historic modernity, regality and detailed design—all values that align with what I stand for. Though it started with just attending events, when they approached me about a year and a half ago to collaborate on a fashion collection, it felt like a natural progression.”

The collaboration began with a private blending session at Royal Salute’s Strathisla Distillery in Scotland, where Reed and Hyslop worked together to craft a unique whisky.

“Together we explored some of the most precious and audacious expressions in our portfolio, constantly inspiring each other with our own perspectives on creativity, innovation and craft,” Hyslop says. “We also spent a lot of time reminiscing on our fondest memories and recalling scents that have inspired us. It was a really dynamic collaboration, and Harris—who not only has a superb eye for fashion, but also has an exceptional nose for scent, let me tell you—had huge input into the unique flavors of the final blend.”

“Whisky has always been a special drink for me—it’s what my late grandfather used to drink, and I still have his whisky glass, the one thing he left me,” Reed says. “That connection made this project even more meaningful.”

As Hyslop describes, the expression marries “the finest Scotch whiskies,” including a sherry-matured Braeval whisky with notes of soft spice and raisin, malts matured in American oak barrels and a carefully selected grain whisky finished in virgin oak barrels with vanilla notes and creamy finish. All have been matured for a minimum of 21 years, as is signature to all Royal Salute blends.

“Because of the dynamism of the creative process, I knew we had to craft a blend that would be equally creative and bold,” Hyslop explains. “I mentioned the childhood memories that we shared, and actually this is why the sherry matured Braeval whisky was selected; its luxurious soft spice and raisin notes connected back to Harris’ childhood. The addition of the grain whisky matured in virgin oak casks was because it felt like the perfect opportunity to inject some bold playfulness into the blend. Grain whiskies are known for bringing impressive contributions to flavor and texture.”

Reed brought the creative flair to the bottle design especially, taking inspiration from his signature headpieces.

“As a contemporary demi-couture brand, I wanted to create something memorable that could bridge my brand with theirs,” Reed says. “I revisited my past shows, VIP projects and other significant moments to distill the essence of my brand into the bottle design. I drew inspiration from my headpieces—particularly those I created for figures like Solange and Peter Lindbergh, and a more recent feathered headpiece for Beyoncé.”

The design evolved into what Reed describes as a modern interpretation of a crown, which he says still felt true to his brand while aligning with the royal theme. But naturally, with a project of this magnitude, there were a few challenges along the way.

“The design process involved a lot of back-and-forth to adapt my vision to the existing bottle shape, which was complex due to its fully wrapped nature,” Reed says. “The colors and metallic finishes didn’t always translate well from screen to the physical bottle, so we spent several months perfecting them.”

Reed says his final blending session with Hyslop was instrumental in shaping the final design.

“I wanted the whiskey to have a sense of fluidity—appealing to all genders—and the visual elements of black, gold and fuchsia were chosen to reflect that balance,” Reed says.

Hyslop adds that sustainability—especially the packaging—was also a particular focus.

“For a few years now we have been using a beautiful, coated glass flagon, which due to its recyclability, is another positive step towards sustainable whisky production without losing our signature markers of quality,” Hyslop says. “We carry the values of integrity and respect into everything we do, including connecting with partners like Harris Reed, who share our ethos, and we both recognize the responsibility to continue defining luxury in environmentally conscious terms.”

The Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Harris Reed Edition will be available in select luxury retailers worldwide starting on September 12, coinciding with London Fashion Week, with a suggested retail price of $248.