Distinct Distillers are to release a commemorative gin to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Crafted in a secret, historic WWII underground fuel depot in Shropshire, the VE Day commemorative gin will support the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
In 1938, the MOD commissioned the site where the distillery now sits, to become a secret fuel depot that stored aviation fuel and serviced RAF bases around the country.
Distinct Distillers has transformed the site and re-purposed what they can, utilising the underground vaults for their maturation, the bunker for their tasting room and the old ethyl barrel store as the distillery where they produce their British spirits.
Hannah Boon, from Distinct Distillers, said: “Inspired by our history, we are creating spirits that pay tribute to the courage and resilience of all military veterans and help support the fantastic Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Our 1944 D-Day dark rum is crafted from the finest molasses and aged in sherry and bourbon oak chips and our new VE Day gin, distilled with a range of delicate botanicals, will be released on 1 April.
A £2 donation from the sale of every bottle of our D-Day dark rum and VE Day gin is made to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Supporting this charity is our way of giving back to those who risked so much for all of us during WWII. Their stories are full of courage and inspiration, and we want to help ensure they aren't forgotten as time moves on. We look forward to upcoming projects with them and continuing our donations.”
Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the Taxi Charity, said: “As a niche charity that is wholly reliant on grants and donations, the support from Distinct Distillers is most welcome. We had the pleasure of visiting their distillery last year and meeting the dedicated team who are committed to producing the best spirits. The D-Day dark rum they produced was very popular and we are looking forward to tasting the new VE Day gin.”
To find out more about Distinct Distillers, visit www.distinctdistillers.co.uk; to pre-order their VE Day gin, email info@distinctdistillers.co.uk.