February 18th, 2025 – HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), the world’s largest and first expedition cruise company, is proud to introduce Navigator Whisky, bringing adventure to the glass with the first whisky to complete a pole-to-pole journey. This extraordinary single malt embarked on an epic voyage across the globe aboard HX ships, travelling through some of the planet’s most remote and extreme environments before being bottled exclusively for guests to enjoy onboard.
The whisky’s expedition spanned 56,314 nautical miles, crossing from Islay to Svalbard, through Iceland, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Alaska, Central America, and Antarctica before returning to Islay for bottling. To put that into perspective, the cask travelled twice around the Earth, covered a distance 18 times the length of the Great Wall of China, and journeyed 23 times the stretch from New York to Los Angeles.
This voyage exposed the whisky to an array of climates and conditions, from the icy waters of the Arctic to the rugged shores of Antarctica, shaping its unique character and making it a true spirit of exploration.
Available exclusively onboard MS Fram, MS Spitsbergen, MS Roald Amundsen, and MS Fridtjof Nansen, Navigator Whisky is a limited edition offering, with only 222 bottles in total. This exclusive whisky is part of HX’s newly enhanced drinks menu, featuring a curated selection of cocktails designed to ignite the senses and transport guests to the destinations they explore.
“As the world’s leading expedition cruise company, we create experiences that go beyond the ordinary. What guests taste and smell onboard should be just as immersive as the adventures they embark on,” said Stefan Engl, Vice President of Hotel Operations at HX. “By taking our Navigator Whisky on a journey like no other, we have crafted a drink that embodies the very essence of adventure.”
The whisky began its journey in 2023 when a cask was entrusted to Captain Terje Normann Nilsen and his crew aboard HX’s MS Spitsbergen. At the time of departure, it had already been ageing for seven years, allowing the expedition to add a final, adventurous touch to its maturation. Now, after travelling across the world’s most extreme environments, it has been bottled exclusively for HX guests to enjoy onboard.
Navigator Whisky boasts the following tasting notes:
- Nose – Floral and citrus notes with vanilla, orange peel and subtle peat smoke.
- Palate – Butterscotch, fresh citrus and tropical fruits, maritime peat smoke and salted caramel.
- Finish – Long and evolving with waves of mixed fruits and light integrated smoke.
With a legacy spanning over 130 years, HX continues to push boundaries – both on land and at sea. Now, guests can raise a glass to adventure with Navigator Whisky, the world’s most well-travelled whisky, available exclusively onboard select HX voyages
