Age of Discovery: A Unique Collaboration between Cunard, The Savoy, and Jack Daniel's

SOUTHAMPTON, England, Jan. 11, 2016 /CNW/ -- Three of the world's most highly acclaimed brands, renowned for their traditions of service and excellence, are embarking on a unique collaboration that circumnavigates the globe. This January (2016), Cunard, The Savoy and Jack Daniel's will produce Age of Discovery – a specially created, barrel aged, limited edition cocktail.

The cocktail itself will mature in a hand chosen 300 litre, Jack Daniel's barrel to be taken on board Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 during her 41,000 nautical mile, four-month World Voyage - departing from Southampton on January 10, 2016.

Age of Discovery has been formulated by the team at the world-famous Savoy Beaufort Bar, named Best International Hotel Bar 2015. Inspired and influenced by the tastes and aromas of the continents Queen Mary 2 will visit, from Europe to Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, the Jack Daniel's cocktail will be mixed at The Savoy before the barrel is sealed and bonded for its World Voyage.

The Age Of Discovery cocktail features a blend of Savoy Select Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Jack Daniel's Old No.7 and Bacardi 8, with Spice Trail Madeira, Dubonnet, Martini Riserva Rubino and Earl Grey and Cocoa nib bitters.

Painstaking attention to detail and refinement has gone into the choice of ingredients. The cocktail itself has been crafted to reflect both Cunard's 175-year ocean-going heritage and the decades of history and patronage associated with The Savoy's famous cocktail bars. Its home for the voyage, a Jack Daniel's first fill American oak barrel, was carefully chosen by The Savoy's Assistant Food and Beverage Director, Daniel Baernreuther.

Daniel travelled to the Jack Daniel distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee and personally chose the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel to be used in Age of Discovery. Daniel then had the barrel itself transported whole to The Savoy in London. This is the very same barrel that will play host to Age of Discovery for its global journey.

During her four month circumnavigation, Queen Mary 2 will visit 39 ports of call in 27 countries. The barrel will be secured in open deck space for the duration of the voyage to expose it to the varied elements and climates that will influence the final result. Prevailing temperatures, humidity and sunlight – as well as more inclement conditions - will combine to produce this truly unique barrel-aged cocktail.

The progress of Age of Discovery will be charted via social media throughout the passage, across the oceans, and will appear in the world's most iconic ports and cities. The barrel will also have its own unique Log Book.

When Queen Mary 2 returns to Southampton on May 10, 2016, the barrel will be ceremoniously unloaded and will travel to the specially-commissioned Houston Bottling & Co Pack plant in West Dunbartonshire.

It is estimated that the unique barrel will yield a minimum of 250 litres of Age of Discovery, which will become the latest in The Savoy Collection; one of the world's most prestigious and unique collections of one-of-a-kind spirits and liquids. Launched in 2013, The Savoy Collection was created with the support of esteemed cocktail experts, Speciality Drinks, to celebrate the rare and the beautiful from the world of drinks.

Created by the talented team at The Savoy's Beaufort Bar, the Age Of Discovery cocktail has been designed to represent the diverse areas through which it will travel on board the Queen Mary 2 and takes its inspiration from the thrilling era of naval exploration between the 15th and 18th centuries. The un-aged cocktail will be available at the Beaufort Bar from Sunday, January 10, 2016.

"The Jack Daniel's and Bacardi represent the discovery of the Americas, while the Dubonnet is there as a symbol of Cunard's royal associations," said Niel Donachie of the Beaufort Bar. "The spice-infused Madeira, used to sweeten the cocktail, is synonymous with the famous spice trail and oceanic expeditions and was known to be a favorite beverage of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II."

"We have a great partnership with The Savoy and they've been hand-selecting their own Jack Daniel's Single Barrel for five years," said Nidal Ramini, Head of Advocacy at Jack Daniel's. "It's great to take this partnership to another level and be involved with Age of Discovery. As the only whiskey maker in the world to craft every one of our own barrels, the idea of a barrel aged cocktail, containing the very whiskey that Daniel chose when we went to Tennessee together, travelling the world, was music to our ears. We can't wait to see and taste the outcome, and see how the special Jack Daniel's cocktail reacts to the elements."

"Cunard is proud to partner with The Savoy in creating Age of Discovery," said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard North America. "Both Cunard and The Savoy are distinguished luxury brands that are renowned for the rich experiences and service that we both provide for our guests. We are also delighted to offer the unique opportunity for our guests to sample a non-aged version of this cocktail on board Queen Mary 2 as we continue to inspire and captivate individuals worldwide in the adventure and excitement of a Cunard World Voyage."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Queen Mary 2 World Voyage 2016 - Ports of call
Southampton, Madeira, Gran Canaria, St Helena, Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Cape Town, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Reunion, Mauritius, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Melbourne, Sydney, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Yorkeys Knob, Rabaul, Cebu, Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shanghai, Busan, Jeju-Do, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Yokohama, Osaka, Osaka, Hiroshima, Okinawa (Naha), Keelung, Hong Kong, Nha Trang, Singapore, Singapore, Penang, Phuket, Chennai, Cochin, Dubai, Muscat, Salalah, Aqaba, Suez, Suez Canal, Port Said, Dardanelles, Istanbul, Dardanelles, Athens, Valletta, Valencia, Southampton. For the full itinerary including dates click here.

About The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel
Perfectly placed on the banks of the River Thames, The Savoy boasts 268 rooms and suites accompanied by some of the best restaurants in London. Kaspar's Seafood Bar and Grill offers luxury all-day dining, and great British fixtures include the Savoy Grill and Simpson's-in-the-Strand. The latest offering is Melba, a gourmet take-away counter located on the Strand.

Afternoon Tea continues to this day in the Thames Foyer, while Savoy Tea sells bespoke tea accessories. As day becomes night, the award winning Beaufort Bar provides a theatrical atmosphere and the American Bar harks back to the golden age of cocktails in the 1920's. 

About Jack Daniel's (http://www.jackdaniels.com)
Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel's is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey-Based Ready-to-Drink Beverages.

About Cunard
Defining true excellence at sea with over 175 years of legendary voyages, Cunard is the operator of luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth that are renowned for impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Cunard has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Today Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922. Visit www.cunard.com for further information.

Cunard is also here:
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YouTube: www.youtube.com/wearecunard | Blog: www.WeAreCunard.com

Cunard photography is available online at www.cunard3queens.com or at www.cunardimages.com
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For additional information about Cunard, contact:
Jackie Chase, Cunard, 661-753-1035, jchase@cunard.com
Maria Andriano, MGA Media Group, 212-251-1015, maria@mgamediagroup.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320875

SOURCE Cunard