Salcombe Gin reveals P&O Cruises partnership

Salcombe Gin has announced a new partnership with P&O Cruises.

Salcombe Distilling Company Ltd (SDCo) has been selected by P&O Cruises as the gin partner to develop and implement the concept of the first distillery at sea. This will be installed onboard P&O Cruises’ new flagship vessel Iona, launching in May 2020. As part of this contract, in addition to providing consultancy services, SDCo will also develop a gin that will be distilled, bottled and labelled onboard Iona.

Angus Lugsdin, co-founder of Salcombe Distilling Co, comments: “We’re extremely excited to partner on this exciting project with P&O Cruises.  Our two brands have an amazingly rich and shared history. At the same time that P&O expanded into leisure cruising in the mid-19th century, the famous Salcombe Fruit schooners were entering their heyday, importing cargoes of precious fruits and spices from the Mediterranean to England’s ports and the ships probably passed each other on their voyages.

“Both brands are kindred spirits, born of the sea with a history of breaking new ground and exploring new horizons. To be responsible for creating a unique gin and distilling it onboard the first distillery at sea is a very romantic notion and brings us closer to the intrepid adventurers who travelled the world’s oceans seeking out the finest fruits, spices and herbs.”

Following the gin’s launch on Iona, SDCo will also distil the recipe at its waterside distillery in Salcombe. It will be shared and served across the P&O Cruises fleet as the official premium gin where it will be available in the bars and restaurants onboard and to purchase at duty free retailers alongside its gin portfolio.

SDCo will also bring their expertise onboard, creating masterclass experiences for P&O Cruises’ guests. 

Developed around the concept of ‘Making the Sea the Star’, the onboard distillery and gin experiences are some of the guest experiences onboard Iona.

President of P&O Cruises, Paul Ludlow, comments: “Salcombe Gin is the perfect partner for us as they share our zest for adventure and discovery. They have an unrivalled passion and attention to detail, not only in the award-winning gins they create, but also in the unique gin experiences they offer. We’re incredibly excited by the bespoke gin they are creating for us, the maiden production run of which will be distilled onboard the first ever distillery at sea.”

8 October 2019 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editor