Royal Salute has opened a pop-up boutique at Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 3, showcasing its Forces of Nature by Kate MccGwire collaboration, giving rise to the hub’s first art inspired whisky pop-up.

The 55 sqm space marries the worlds of fine art and whisky, presenting shoppers with a coveted chance to view and acquire the collectable US$81,433 (SGD 135,000) Forces of Nature by Kate MccGwire decanter and sculpture set.

Those passing through will be among the first people on the planet to discover the collection in global travel retail, with the pop-up live from 17 November to 14 January 2023.

“We’re excited to bring to life the new ultra-premium Royal Salute Forces of Nature collection through an immersive experience for shoppers travelling through Changi Airport,” said Liya Zhang, Vice President of Marketing at Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail.

“We have seen premiumisation and luxury items as a key growth driver in travel retail over the past year.

“We’re confident that customers who are seeking ultra-premium collectors’ items will love this new collection, and that travellers will be excited by the unique shopping experience.”

The collaboration with British sculptor MccGwire, who specialises in the medium of feathers, is the first edition in the brand’s new Forces of Nature collection, which celebrates the world of art.

It comprises 21 individually handblown decanters containing an ultra-rare 53-year-old blend.

The curved bottles are inspired by MccGwire’s sculptures, engraved with intricate feathers and gilded in 24-carat gold leaf.

The artist has created a striking sculpture titled ‘Paragon’ to accompany each decanter, featuring hand-picked and sustainably sourced pheasant feathers.

The Changi space amplifies the various elements of the collaboration, featuring an abundance of gold feathers and florals, and carrying through the golden touches of the gold leaf design on the decanters.

The pop-up has been developed with sustainable design principles, including recyclable and reusable materials, and designed with Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail’s bespoke life cycle analysis tool to minimise the carbon footprint of the installation.

“Lotte is proud to continue developing its strong relationship with Pernod Ricard and bring this sensorial experience to life for our customers at Changi Airport,” said Edward Im, Lotte Travel Retail Singapore Managing Director.

“We believe that our customers will be excited by the latest Royal Salute pop-up.”

Digital screens are positioned throughout the space, playing exclusive video content.

Also on display is an art book, which includes information about the collaboration and behind-the-scenes content.

While they are discovering the pop-up, travellers can have a complementary tasting of Royal Salute’s 21-Year-Old Pleated Blend and take part in a new olfactory experience.

Royal Salute gift bags and exclusive GWP promotions further elevate the activation.

“The Royal Salute Forces of Nature pop-up is a magnificent celebration of excellence, art and sustainability – concepts that we deeply value at Changi Airport,” said Ms. Teo Chew Hoon, Managing Director, Airside Concessions.

“We’re honoured to be working alongside Pernod Ricard and Lotte to bring this exciting pop-up to life.

“We consistently strive to offer memorable and unique experiences for our passengers, and this pop-up will offer a truly immersive experience for visitors to Changi Airport.”

Also on display and available for purchase at the pop-up is Royal Salute’s permanent core collection, as well as the entire Platinum Jubilee Edition collection, which is made up of seven different decanter designs (to honour Queen Elizabeth II and her seven decades on the throne).

The first decanter and sculpture set in the Forces of Nature by Kate MccGwire collection was presented at the World of Wine and Spirits (WOWS) in Singapore.

Other sets will be available exclusively for shoppers passing through key global airports including Hainan, Sydney, London’s Heathrow, and Dubai International.