Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, whose headquarters are based in Ipswich, has teamed up with Suffolk-based brewer Adnams to host a nine-year-old cask that is in its final year of maturation.
The gentle movement of the ocean onboard the cruise line’s ship Borealis, which sets sail this weekend on its 103-night world cruise, will help the liquor reach optimal flavour with the constant motion of the sea churning the whisky, increasing its interaction with the wood of the barrel.
The constant contact with the wood brings out the colour and flavour of the spirit thanks to the intense caramelisation of the barrels’ wood sugars and the salt air penetrates the barrel and adds saline notes to the whisky as liquid evaporates.
Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “This is actually a centuries-old maritime tradition. In the days before glass bottles, spirits were transported in barrels from where they were made to where they were sold. The time and constant motion were known to mellow and mature these spirits, giving them a unique flavour.
“These days, many brands are returning to these routes and looking to age their products at sea, and we are absolutely thrilled to play host to a brand that is local to us here in Suffolk.
“On our world cruise, this cask will spend 54 days at sea and a further 49 days visiting beautiful ports including those in Mexico, the US, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia, the islands of French Polynesia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, giving it a great story to tell through its flavours.
“Weathered by its journey, the barrel will then be offloaded in Southampton in April and returned to the distillery. Eventually, the whisky will be available to guests onboard our fleet.
“Maritime traditions are very important to our brand and tie into the fact that we put 175 years of experience into every single day for our guests. This is a great adventure to be part of and we can’t wait to taste the results.”
Adnams and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines make for a perfect pairing, given the significant heritage of both brands. For more than 160 years, Adnams has been at the forefront of the hospitality sector, recognised and regularly awarded as distinctive brewers, distillers, wine merchants, retailers, publicans and hoteliers.
John McCarthy, Head Distiller at Adnams, said: “This collaboration with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines sees a 10-year-old celebratory whisky take an exciting detour from its usual journey. We’ve done our best to get things shipshape for the voyage, by using the finest East Anglian malted barley and maturing it in new French oak barriques, before it embarks on the maritime aging process aboard Borealis.
“It offers an extraordinary opportunity to enhance the whisky’s character, infusing it with the gentle sway of the waves and the rich narratives of global ports. We’re really intrigued to see what this adventure at sea imparts.”
As it sets sail, this Adnams Fred. Olsen Single Malt Whisky offers a rich and complex tapestry of flavours.
Borealis will set sail on her world cruise this weekend. Guests aboard this sailing will encounter wildlife in the rainforests of Costa Rica, revel in local cultures and volcanic vistas in Hawaii, find bliss among the paradise island of French Polynesia, discover scenic waterways in New Zealand and so much more.
