Cunard has revealed that it will be launching an exclusive gin as a tribute to its newest ship, Queen Anne, debuting in May 2024.
The Queen Anne Edition will feature as part of the cruise line’s new 4 Queens gin collection, celebrating the finest botanicals from across the British Isles.
To showcase the perfect pour for the brand-new Queen Anne Edition gin, Cunard teamed up with the UK’s favourite bartender, TV star Merlin Griffiths. As an award-winning cocktail aficionado, he was able match the uniquely British botanicals- which blend woody milk thistle, heather, and zesty sea buckthorn together with the sweetness of the Queen Anne rose petals and blackcurrant leaf.
The Queen Anne Edition joins the three other ship-inspired gins in the collection, each with their own individual flavours: the Queen Mary 2 Edition (infused with crisp apple, warm cinnamon, and juicy cherry notes); Queen Victoria Edition (with blood orange, fragrant lemon myrtle, and olive leaf); and Queen Elizabeth Edition (with Lotus Root, Star Anise, and Kaffir Lime Leaf).
Created exclusively for Cunard, the artisanal London Dry gin uses a recipe based on an original Bombay family recipe and re-establishes the cruise line’s partnership with Summerhall Distillery. Based in Edinburgh, the distillery’s co-founder, Marcus Pickering, has personal ties to Cunard, with his great-uncle, George Gibbons, sailing as Captain of Cunard White Star liners from 1909 to 1944.
The Queen Anne Edition will be served up in all bars and restaurants onboard Queen Anne. Additionally, it will feature in the (yet to be revealed!) cocktail for guests sailing onboard the cruise line’s newest ship. It will also be available to buy in 70cl bottles onboard from 3rd May 2024.
“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. 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.”
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard
