Cruise Ships Cater to Whisky Lovers

Cruising the high seas and sipping fine whisky may seem like something from the movies, but nowadays it’s a reality. Led by luxury lines like Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, and Celebrity, today’s ships offer a full range of exclusive whiskies, including private barrels and allocated labels that are sometimes hard for even landlubbers to find.

Holland America recently added several single barrels to its fleet, served aboard its ships in venues like the Ocean Bar and Gallery Bar. Holland’s whisky cruising started last year with just one private barrel—Buffalo Trace bourbon—which sold out in two months. It has since expanded to include nine single barrel offerings. The current lineup includes Weller Full Proof, Weller Antique 107, two Angel’s Envy port barrel finishes and a madeira finished, plus single barrels from Uncle Nearest 1884, Woodford Reserve, WhistlePig, and Westland. In addition, Holland America features a peated single barrel from Westland that’s used for its specialty Penicillin cocktail.

Holland America ships boast several other sought-after whiskies too, including Mister Sam Tribute, A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 year old, Willet 28 year old, Glenfiddich 40 year old, and Macallan M. The company’s Grand World Voyages can sail for up to 133 days, and an array of great whiskies is certainly one way to enhance the extended voyage. Each of the Holland ships also keeps a small library of scotches, bourbons, and other whiskies that are unique to that ship. Whiskies can be purchased individually or added to guest drinks packages.

At Regent Seven Seas, the Connoisseur Club on each ship offers a whisky experience in a setting of comfortable leather chairs augmented by cigars. Labels on offer include Macallan 25 year old, Yamazaki 18 year old, Glenfiddich 30 year old, and Johnnie Walker Blue. Other bars on Regent ships also offer whiskies including Chivas Regal, Glenmorangie The Original 10 year old, and Macallan Colour Collection 12 year old. It’s all designed to appeal to a broad span of whisky drinkers from connoisseurs to beginners, and available to all passengers, with more than 130 labels from all the major whisky making countries.

Tastings At Sea

Celebrity Cruises has touted its wine collection for years, and now this line is looking to do the same with whisky. Celebrity boasts more than 70 whiskies across its fleet and is expanding the list regularly. The company’s Craft Social bar, which is featured on five cruise ships, offers an extensive whisky menu and a “build your own Old Fashioned” option that allows guests to choose from 25 bourbons to craft a personalized cocktail.

Celebrity Cruises also hosts several tasting experiences at sea, with sessions featuring such stars as Macallan, Jack Daniel’s, Rabbit Hole, and WhistlePig. The Rabbit Hole bourbon tasting includes its Cavehill, Heigold, and Dareringer labels, and the WhistlePig session offers pours of the brand’s 6 year old PiggyBack bourbon, 10 year old small batch rye, and 12 year old Old World rye. These are available for purchase once aboard the ship. Outside of the tastings, Celebrity’s onboard whisky list includes standouts like Blanton’s Single Barrel Select, Old Forester Birthday bourbon, Rabbit Hole’s Artist Series, and a custom 12 year old rye blend from WhistlePig, all of which can be purchased through a drinks package or as individual pours.

Sailing with some whisky in your suitcase was once a fine old traveling tradition. Alas, that’s no longer allowed, but it’s nice to know you can take to the high seas on ships stocked with top-flight whiskies.