Pickering’s Gin launches exclusive 3 Queens Gin for Cunard Cruises

Pickering’s Gin has launched a unique collection of gins for luxury cruise line operator Cunard, making it the largest export order ever for the company.

Based in Edinburgh, the brand has created three new unique gins exclusively for the luxury line’s three ships – the Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth.

The 3 Queens’ range has been launched as the company hopes to quadruple its annual turnover.

To coincide with the £34 million refit of the Queen Victoria – which is currently on its first voyage around the Mediterranean – the ship has been installed with the first draft gin tap at sea.

The launch is a lifelong dream of the distillery’s co-founder Marcus Pickering, whose great-uncle, Captain George Gibbons, sailed as captain of Cunard White Star liners from 1909 to 1944.

Pickering said: “Working with Cunard is a dream of mine and the ability for small companies like ours to work with a globally-recognized cruise brand has been a revelation. It is proof that it is possible for David to play nicely with Goliath in such uncertain times, and deals like this really help to secure the future of our business.

“Being a small part of Cunard has delighted my family. I might not be steering the ship, but at least I can lubricate its passengers.”

Matt Gammell, the distillery’s other founder and head distiller, set about creating three unique London Dry Gins, each expressing the routes that each of the three Queens sail. The distillery has created three distinctive gins celebrating the itinerary routes most associated with of each ship.

“As a distiller, I wanted to turn Cunard’s vision of three distinct flavour profiles into reality,” said Gammell.

“Each of the 3 Queens Gins contains an array of remarkable botanicals like lemon myrtle, chrysanthemum and sweet cherry that really evoke the legacy of the ships. It was a proud moment when we received such positive feedback from the team at Cunard.”

The 3 Queens Gins are now available to guests on-board Cunard ships, and a limited quantity from future batches will be released exclusively for Pickering’s #Ginfriends subscribers later in the summer.