Charred staves from the barrels in which the whisky ferments in Scotland were re-used to line the walls of the tasting showroom in Seoul.

The Royal Salute Vault

The iconic Scotch whisky brand, Royal Salute commissioned Studio Mackereth to create a flagship showroom and VIP salon in Seoul to showcase the brand and tell its story.

Building on our previous projects for the brand, which includes Neolithic Bar for the Wallpaper* Handmade exhibition in Milan in 2015 and The Age Collection plinths made from 8000-year-old oak, our aim was to create a unique experience for this luxury brand. The goal was to abstractly embody both the regal values and timeless tradition of whisky making, combined with British craftsmanship and an avant-garde spirit. Inspired by the form and materiality of smooth porcelain in which their whisky is bottled, we shipped original charred staves from whisky barrels from Scotland to Korea then used them to clad walls with a dramatically contrasting surface of rough black wood against smooth white porcelain.

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Date: 2017

Client: Royal Salute for Pernod Ricard

Floor Area: 100 sqm

The New York Times
November 2017
Read the article

Dramatic monochromatic lines of white porcelain and black charred timber draw visitors into the tasting showroom.
Sally is incredibly creative and inspiring – there’s nothing superficial or meaningless in her work.
Olive Hong, Brand Director, Pernod Ricard, Korea
Left: VIP salon guests can sit on an original pair of red chairs designed by the queen's nephew, Lord Snowden, for the investiture of Prince Charles in 1969. Right: Detailed view of the tasting showroom.
Original charred barrel staves (complete with the authentic aroma of fermented whisky) were shipped from a cooperage in Scotland to clad the walls.
View of the VIP Salon with uplit shelves of whisky bottles cast into the walls.
General arrangment plan
Working sketch diagrams for display elements.