The limited-edition Celebrity Cruises x Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin.SuppliedCelebrity and theAustralian distillery have worked together for two years to offer on-board gin experiences like this. There are also gin and food pairings,gin cocktails and chocolate masterclasses and,on a recent voyage to Tasmania,an oyster and gin pairing event.
As the cruise sector continues to up its food and drink offerings,collabs and bespoke drink events are becoming increasingly more sophisticated.
On Cunard’s Great Australian Culinary Voyage,a Four Pillars representative conducted a gin masterclass,and the cruise liner has worked with Edinburgh’s Summerhall Distillery to make gins for its Queen ships (Queen Mary 2,Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth). In May,it will launch a gin for Queen Anne’s maiden voyage,which will sail to Australia in 2025.
Oceania Cruises is collaborating with whisky bottler Chapter 7 to create a 20-year-old cask of whisky for the liner’s two decade anniversary.Supplied by Oceania CruisesIt’s not all white spirits on the high seas,though. Oceania Cruises,which has a strong food and drinks focus,commissioned independent bottler Chapter 7 to create a cask of 20-year-old whisky for the liner’s 20th anniversary. It made 304 bottles for purchase on board Vista during its inaugural season this year.
Also on Vista,guests can dive deep into the world of premium single malt whiskies from The Macallan,and learn more about rum with hands-on tea and Brugal 1888 Doblemente Anejado Rum mixology sessions.
There’s been a cask of nine-year-old single malt by UK brewery Adnams sloshing around on Fred Olsen’s Borealis since January 5. It’ll age its final year on board using the sea’s motion to help impart barrel flavours,and the sea air is said to inject a hint of saline.
One of the drinks available via The Macallan Diamond Bar Cart on Oceania Cruises’s Vista liner.Oceania CruisesIn February,Sydney’s Lord Nelson Brewery celebrated its 10-year relationship with Carnival Cruise Line by launching another beer,the aptly named Smooth Sailing Cruising Ale. In 2017,Carnival launched RedFrog Pub&Brewery,which makes small-batch seasonal beers aboard ship.
Sarah Norris travelled courtesy of Celerity Cruises.