Holland America Line expands single barrel whiskey program for 2025 cruises, bringing rare and exclusive bourbon experiences to guests across its fleet.
What began with a single barrel of Buffalo Trace has grown into a curated collection of nine unique offerings, hand-selected from some of the most respected and innovative distilleries in the United States.
After the successful debut of a Buffalo Trace select bourbon in 2024, the cruise line is elevating its game. Starting this spring and available fleetwide by May 2025, guests will find these rare spirits featured prominently at the Ocean Bar onboard each ship. Each whiskey and bourbon tells a story, offering not only distinctive flavor profiles but also a new kind of experience for travelers with refined palates.
Each whiskey and bourbon, featured in the Ocean Bar across the fleet, will have its own unique story and flavor profile. These offerings include:
- Weller: Holland America Line secured two barrels of Weller bourbon in two distinct expressions from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.
- Weller Full Proof: This bourbon features strong vanilla and oak notes, with a rich mouthfeel and a balanced finish.
- Weller Antique 107: This bourbon has notes of dark cherry and vanilla with bold heat up front and a smooth, rich finish. It’s perfect for both bourbon connoisseurs and casual drinkers, offering a bold yet elegant palate experience.
- Angel’s Envy: This year, Holland America Line selected three unique barrels from Angel’s Envy in Louisville, Kentucky. These single barrel flagship bourbons, aged 5 to 6 years, are known for their port cask finishes after initial maturation in new American oak.
- Barrel #1: Port barrel-finished, with notes of anise, nutmeg and brown sugar, exceptionally well-balanced.
- Barrel #2: Madeira barrel-finished, with notes of ginger, leather and caramel, ending with a smooth lasting finish.
- Barrel #3: Port barrel-finished, with notes of butterscotch, malt, hickory and maple.
- Uncle Nearest 1884 Single Barrel: Holland America Line is proud to feature a single barrel from Uncle Nearest, a rising whiskey brand from Shelbyville, Tennessee. This barrel offers a balanced heat, with toffee and caramel notes on the finish, complemented by warming spices and notes of sarsaparilla.
- Woodford Reserve: The collection will include a single barrel flagship bourbon from Woodford Reserve in Versailles, Kentucky. 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.
- WhistlePig 15-Year Rye: Bottled at 100 proof, this 15-year-old whiskey features rich, earthy notes with subtle floral undertones. This is a blend of straight and malted rye, offering a complex yet delicate finish.
- Westland American Single Malt: Holland America Line is strengthening its relationship with Westland Distillery in Seattle. With American single malt recently recognized as an official whiskey category, the distillery will celebrate with a port-finished American single malt whiskey. This whiskey offers notes of toffee, stone fruit, toasted marshmallow, and finishes with smoke and peat.
Ross, best known for inventing the Penicillin and Paper Plane cocktails, created a specialty menu for Holland America’s Alaska ships in 2024. His creative touch adds a layer of cocktail credibility to the already exclusive whiskey program, enhancing the onboard experience for cocktail enthusiasts and casual sippers alike.
With this expansion, Holland America Line is not only embracing a booming trend in premium spirits but also creating an unforgettable experience that guests won’t easily find elsewhere. These are not mass-produced bottles — they’re single barrels, never to be exactly replicated again. For whiskey lovers, that means one thing: each pour is a once-in-a-lifetime sip.
The full collection is expected to be available across the Holland America fleet by May 2025. Quantities will be limited, and availability may vary depending on ship and itinerary. But whether you’re sailing through the glaciers of Alaska or the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, one thing’s for sure — there’s something special waiting for you at the bar.
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