Holland America Expands Single Barrel Whiskey Program

Cruise operator Holland America Line has significantly enhanced its single barrel whiskey program. What started last year as a single barrel select bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery has evolved to a collection of nine unique single barrel options sourced from top distilleries across the country.

Each whiskey and bourbon, featured in the Ocean Bar across the fleet, will have its own unique story and flavor profile. “With this collection of rare and unique spirits, we’re not only providing access to sought-after single barrel bourbons but also creating an experience that can’t easily be replicated anywhere else,” said Drew Foulk, senior manager, beverage and dining operations & innovation for Holland America Line.

For instance, Holland America Line secured two barrels of W.L. Weller bourbon in two distinct expressions from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY. Weller Full Proof bourbon features strong vanilla and oak notes, with a rich mouthfeel and a balanced finish, the company says, while Weller Antique 107 has notes of dark cherry and vanilla with bold heat up front and a smooth, rich finish.

Holland America Line also selected three unique barrels from Angel’s Envy in Louisville, KY. These single barrel flagship bourbons, aged five to six years, are known for their port cask finishes after initial maturation in new American oak.

Angel’s Envy Barrel #1 is port barrel-finished and well balanced, with notes of anise, nutmeg and brown sugar. Barrel #2 is Madeira barrel-finished, with notes of ginger, leather and caramel, ending with a smooth lasting finish. And Barrel #3 is port barrel-finished, with notes of butterscotch, malt, hickory and maple.

Holland America Line has significantly enhanced its single barrel whiskey program

The 1884 single barrel from whiskey brand Uncle Nearest in Shelbyville, TN, offers a balanced heat, with toffee and caramel notes on the finish, complemented by warming spices and notes of sarsaparilla. WhistlePig 15-Year Rye, bottled at 100 proof, features rich, earthy notes with subtle floral undertones. This is a blend of straight and malted rye, offering a complex yet delicate finish.

The Woodford Reserve collection will include a single barrel flagship bourbon from Woodford Reserve in Versailles, KY. This single barrel has a bolder flavor than the flagship, with notes of stone fruit, biscuit, toffee, caramel and a slight peppery spice on the finish.

And with American single malt recently recognized as an official whiskey category, Holland America Line will offer a port-finished expression of the style from Westland Distillery in Seattle. The American single malt whiskey offers notes of toffee, stone fruit, toasted marshmallow, and finishes with smoke and peat.

What’s more, Holland America Line will feature a peated single barrel from Westland specifically for its PNW Penicillin cocktail created by acclaimed bartender Sam Ross. A co-owner of Attaboy in New York, Ross created two of the most famous modern classic cocktails: Penicillin and the Paper Plane. In 2024 he developed a menu of exclusive drinks featured in the bars on all of the Alaska ships.

Guests can expect to see these single-barrel whiskeys on Holland America ships starting this spring, and they will be fully available across the fleet by May 2025. The line’s fleet of 11 vessels visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world.

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