Holland America Line secures exclusive barrel from award winning Buffalo Trace Distillery

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Holland America Line’s beverage program is delighted to introduce a distinctive single barrel select bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery, esteemed as the longest continuously operating distillery in the United States. Crafted with meticulous care by Sazerac Master Blender Drew Mayville and Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee Freddie Johnson, this extraordinary offering will make its fleetwide debut in March, with availability limited to remaining stocks.

The distinguished choice emerged from Barrel #002, filled on December 21, 2015, and matured in Warehouse U on Floor 5, Rick 34. This personally selected barrel has been carefully bottled and distributed across the fleet, ready for guests to indulge in come March. Connoisseurs eager to savor this exclusive bourbon will discover it at the Ocean Bar aboard each Holland America ship, where it can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as a classic Old Fashioned.

The process of creating this distinctive bourbon in partnership with Buffalo Trace has been truly remarkable. This exceptional opportunity to present such a distinguished bourbon came about when Mayville, an avid Holland America Line cruiser, recommended the cruise line for the prestigious Sazerac Barrel Select program—a privilege reserved for a select few participants each year. With a portfolio boasting over 450 brands from renowned distilleries worldwide, Sazerac offers aficionados the rare opportunity to personally select a barrel from its esteemed collection of spirits through the Sazerac Barrel Select Program.

“We strive to share experiences with our guests that they won’t find anywhere else,” said Michael Stendebach, Holland America Line’s vice president of food, beverage and rooms divisions. “Collaborating with Buffalo Trace to craft a signature bourbon has been an incredible journey. Drew and Freddie guided us to select a barrel that will resonate with our guests and is the perfect representation of our two iconic brands.”

Members of the Holland America Line team were graciously welcomed to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, where they joined Mayville and Johnson in the exclusive barrel selection room housed within the renowned Warehouse D. During their visit, the group had the privilege of sampling from four different barrels under the expert guidance of Mayville and Johnson, both esteemed figures in the realm of bourbon and spirits. After careful deliberation, they settled on a barrel distinguished by the hallmark characteristics of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, featuring pronounced notes of oak and spice on the nose, complemented by a smooth, lingering finish. Reflecting on the experience, Mayville expressed his confidence in selecting a barrel that would offer Holland America Line guests a truly unique and memorable tasting experience.

The distinguished pick, Barrel #002, initially filled on December 21, 2015, and aged in Warehouse U on Floor 5, Rick 34, has now been carefully bottled and dispersed throughout the fleet, awaiting guests’ enjoyment from March onwards. Those eager to relish this exclusive bourbon can anticipate discovering it at the Ocean Bar on every Holland America ship, where it will be presented in multiple styles—neat, on the rocks, or as a timeless Old Fashioned.

The addition of Buffalo Trace to Holland America Line’s dynamic beverage program marks another exciting development, joining recent collaborations such as the partnership with acclaimed bartender Ivy Mix, who has crafted cocktails inspired by the flavors of Mexico and Latin America. Furthermore, the introduction of the cruise line’s own De Lijn gin and a traditional, pirate-inspired rum punch curated by renowned mixologist David Wondrich, available on Caribbean cruises, further enriches the onboard beverage experience. Stay tuned for more announcements regarding destination-inspired beverage partnerships in the near future.

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