The MS Fram expedition ship is for the second year running an experiment to see the effects that sea travel has on alcoholic drinks, having loaded a barrel of calvados on its voyages from pole to pole.
Last year, two 150-litre barrels of American oak were filled with 25-year-old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky and firmly anchored on deck 9 for the long journey around the globe. After bottling, the whisky became available for purchase on-board and is still regularly offered during whisky tasting sessions on-board.
This year, a barrel of 25 year old calvados has been loaded onto the ship and has been crossing the world’s oceans and covering thousands of nautical miles from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle. During its voyage it will cross the equator, Arctic Circle (north and south) and the Prime Meridian.
“We were delighted by the results of the Whisky project last year, which gave the single malt a superior roundness after it had been subject to the continuous rolling wave movements, temperature changes and sea air” says MS Fram captain Arild Hårvik. “This year we decided to try something slightly different, so are transporting a cask of calvados to ascertain whether it is improved by sea travel to the same degree. Who knows what we will try next year – maybe aquavit?”
At the end of its journey in August, the calvados will be will be transferred into limited edition bottles at 80 degrees north and will then be available for sale on-board.
Prices for a 10 day ‘Norwegian fjords’ voyage on-board the MS Fram start from $5,140 per person, based on two people sharing an inside cabin on full board basis. The trip departs on 1 May and starts and ends from Dover. Hurtigruten are currently offering 50% off the price of the second person when you book a twin cabin, meaning they can travel from $2,570 per person.
For more information contact your local Travel Agent, email Discover the World on hurtigruten@discovertheworld.com.au or call 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267).
SOURCE Hurtigruten