Azamara Cruises and Milam & Greene Whiskey, the renowned American whisky producer, have announced a unique collaboration: Bourbon Quest, a pioneering experience that will consist of aging a barrel of bourbon on board the Azamara Quest, creating a limited edition shaped by the ocean, the weather and the passage of time.
One of the four barrels of bourbon will be loaded onto the ship on March 26, 2026, and will remain at sea throughout the 188-night 2027 World Cruise, which will visit 37 countries. The other barrels will continue their aging process on land in Texas, Kentucky, and Florida.
The experiment is being led by Marlene Holmes, master distiller at Milam & Greene. The goal is to analyze how climate influences the evolution of bourbon, with the only variable being the aging location. The results will be revealed in 16 months, once the barrel returns from its journey.
This initiative combines Azamara's destination immersion philosophy with Milam & Greene's expertise in artisanal spirits, renowned for its innovative aging experiments. For the first time, a barrel matured at sea will be compared to others aged on land in different climates, assessing the impact of maritime conditions on the whisky.
“Being on a ship exposed to the open air, we expect the higher humidity levels to slow evaporation compared to drier climates,” explained Rikk Munroe, distillery operations director at Milam & Greene.
“As for temperature, its fluctuations will cause the whisky to interact with the wood of the barrel, generating more complex flavors. We are excited to see how the ocean climate influences this process,” he added.
The barrels are in the final stage of an aging process of more than six years, which began in Kentucky on November 11, 2019. The comparison between aging at sea and on land—with differences in movement, temperature, and humidity—promises to result in unique flavor profiles.
According to Munroe, the dynamic environment of the ship could bring out a more intense wood character, with more pronounced notes of vanilla, caramel and spices, as well as a darker color, due to the constant movement of the liquid inside the barrel.
The result will be an ultra-limited edition bourbon, with approximately 400 bottles available exclusively to Azamara guests. During the cruise, the barrel will be on display onboard in a specially designed installation, allowing passengers to follow its evolution from start to finish.
“At Azamara Cruises, we are always looking for ways to enrich the onboard experience with unexpected and memorable offerings,” said Simon Blacoe, the company’s vice president of hotel operations. “This project combines craftsmanship, discovery, and storytelling in a way that guests can follow throughout their voyage.”.
The resulting expressions from the experiment will be:
- The Seafarer – aged at sea aboard the Azamara Quest
- The Wayfarer – aged in Kentucky
- The Pathfinder – aged in Texas
- The Pioneer – aged in Florida
The final product will be presented during the last stage of the 2027 Round the World Cruise, after traveling through four continents and crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans twice.
In addition, Milam & Greene's range of whiskies will be available on board Azamara Cruises, with exclusive guest experiences including tastings, explanatory sessions on the aging process at sea, gastronomic pairings, and content on the brand's distillation and blending techniques.
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