By
Rebecca Gibson |
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has teamed up with expert gin makers Nigel and Debbie Wright to provide guests with premium gin masterclasses onboard its flagship Balmoral.
Offered as part of Fred. Olsen’s immersive onboard enrichment programme, the new two-hour masterclasses will take place in Balmoral’s Grill Restaurant and will be limited to between six and eight guests.
During the classes, guests will be able to learn about more than 50 botanicals – including several that have been specially chosen to match the destinations that guests will be visiting on their cruise. They will also be able to enjoy tastings and make up to six gins per session using Fred. Olsen’s new copper distilling equipment. Guests will also receive a 70-centilitre bottle of their own bespoke hand-crafted gin to take home.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Fred. Olsen guests to learn what goes into making a gin and to be able create their own bespoke bottle, tailored specifically to their individual tastes and preferences,” said Nigel Wright. “The masterclasses will offer, not just a practical experience, but also an educational one. Guests will be exposed to wide range of botanicals, and will learn what they like and do not like, from which they can develop their own recipe to reflect their personal taste, and get to take it home with them as a treasured memento of their Fred. Olsen holiday.”
The first gin masterclasses will take place on Balmoral’s 70-night ‘South American Exploration’ cruise, which departed Southampton, England on 6 January 2020. Destinations on the cruise include Madeira, São Vicente, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Colombia, as well as the Caribbean islands of Curaçao, Bonaire, Barbados, Antigua and St Kitts.
“We are delighted that Nigel and Debbie Wright will be sharing their knowledge and expertise with our guests and giving them the opportunity to develop their own gin,” said Thomas Rennesland, hotel operations director of Fred. Olsen. “This is a unique experience, which teaches the whole of the gin-making process, from picking the botanicals through to distillation, and we are very excited at the prospect of our guests enjoying this fantastic class.”