Cunard Cruise Line Celebrates Launch of New Ship With British-Themed Gin

Candie GetgenNov 13th, 2023, 11:09 am

(Photo: Cunard Line)

As the countdown to the unveiling of Cunard’s latest ship, The Queen Anne, ticks away, the British cruise line has divulged plans to toast the occasion by introducing a bespoke gin, aptly named The Queen Anne Edition. Scheduled for release in May as part of the Cunard 4 Queens gin collection, the exclusive offering spotlights botanicals sourced from diverse corners of the British Isles.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be launching the Queen Anne Edition of our new Cunard 4 Queens gin collection, which neatly demonstrates our commitment to providing refined and contemporary experiences for our guests,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, in a press release.

“It’s been really special to have Merlin Griffiths bring the product to life and showcase how guests can make Queen Anne-inspired cocktails at home, but this new gin is more than just an exciting tipple, it is a celebration of the British Isles and its unique charm. At Cunard, we are very proud of our British heritage and always strive to reflect our legacy in new and elevated propositions for the modern traveller.”

Collaborating with renowned TV personality and bartender Merlin Griffiths, Cunard aims to present not just a beverage — but an experience. Griffiths, a maestro in mixology, has blended uniquely British elements, encompassing woody milk thistle, heather, sea buckthorn, Queen Anne rose petals and blackcurrant leaf to deliver gin with a “smooth and elegant finish.”

Crafted exclusively for Cunard, the artisanal London dry gin draws inspiration from a Bombay family recipe dating back to July 17, 1947, rekindling Cunard’s association with Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh.

The Queen Anne Edition is the latest addition to the Cunard 4 Queens gin collection, joining its counterparts: the Queen Mary 2 Edition, highlighting flavors from the Americas with apple, cinnamon and cherry notes; the Queen Victoria Edition, offering a taste of the Mediterranean through blood orange, lemon myrtle and olive leaf; and the Queen Elizabeth Edition, steeped in Oriental influences like lotus root, star anise, and makrut lime leaf.

The Queen Anne Edition will be available for purchase from May 3, 2024, through the Summerhall Distillery website and onboard the ship, with 70-cl bottles priced at £41 (about $50).

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Candie Getgen

Candie Getgen is an editor and the database manager for The Daily Pour. Before immersing herself in the world of spirits journalism, Candie has been many things: a bartender, a literary journal editor, an English teacher — and even a poet. Candie has a passion for gin and shares it with the world in hopes of helping others fall in love with it, too (if they haven't already!). When not writing, Candie enjoys sipping a Negroni while drawing or relaxing by the pool with a campy mystery novel.