Starboard has launched a groundbreaking agave program in partnership with WEBB Banks that will initially be featured on five ships before expanding later in the year.
Phillip Jarrell, Vice President – Innovation, Cruise & Key Accounts at WEBB Banks tells TMI that the agave program will feature four agave-based spirits from the WEBB Banks portfolio: Tequila Komos, Ghost Tequila, Teremana Tequila, and Dos Hombres Mezcal.
“We are starting off with a five ship pilot program, which will expand to 63 ships in Q4 and Q1 2025. It is one of the first agave programs that Starboard has done. It is rolling out now to the first five ships: Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Panorama, Celebrity Beyond, Virgin Valiant Lady, and Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas,” says Jarrell.
“We will be launching a tasting program in their store and will be the only agave tastings for the next nine months. When Starboard has done a program like this before, it has only been one brand. We approached them with the idea of a diverse portfolio, to give people a taste of different styles of tequila at different price points, and we added a Mezcal to give consumers another opportunity to expand their agave experience.”
Jarrell says WEBB Banks has an agave portfolio that hits all price points and flavor profiles.
“We’ve got super luxury with Tequila Komos and Casa Dragones, and LeBron James’ Lobos 707. We have a great spicy mix with Ghost, Tanteo, and Fiero. Plus we have a ton of celebrity tequila brands. There are several price tiers and different flavor profiles.”
Craft beer and cruise
Along with its extensive agave portfolio, WEBB Banks has a growing locker of craft beers.
In September, Tilray Brands, which WEBB Banks represents, completed the acquisition of craft beer brands and breweries from Molson Coors Beverage Company which added more beers on offer for its cruise clientele.
These new craft breweries add Hop Valley Brewing Company, Terrapin Beer Co, and Revolver Brewing to the Tilray portfolio that already includes Sweetwater of Atlanta and Montauk New York, among others. The acquisitions make Tilray the 5th largest craft brewer in the United States.
“We are a lot more focused on craft beer now. Terrapin already had a pretty decent business on cruise lines, so we’re hoping that the craft beer segment really aligns with us,” says Jarrell.
