Historic WWII bunker transformed to create VE Day commemorative gin supporting Taxi Charity war veterans
A distillery housed in a former WWII underground fuel depot in Shropshire is set to release a commemorative VE Day gin, with proceeds supporting the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
Crafted by Distinct Distillers, the new gin is distilled with delicate botanicals, including lemon verbena, for a light finish. The site, originally commissioned by the Ministry of Defence in 1938, once stored aviation fuel for RAF bases across the country. Now repurposed, its underground vaults are used for maturation, the Bunker serves as a tasting room, and the old Ethyl Barrel store houses the distillery.
Hannah Boon of Distinct Distillers explained the project’s historical inspiration: “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 & Bourbon Oak chips and our new VE Day Gin, distilled with a range of delicate botanicals will be released on 1 April.”
For every bottle of D-Day rum and VE Day gin sold, £2 will be donated to the charity. The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans provides essential support, trips and events for veterans across the UK.
Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the charity, welcomed the initiative: “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 rum they produced was very popular and we are looking forward to tasting the new VE Day gin.”
The project builds on the growing partnership between the distillery and the charity, ensuring that the stories of WWII veterans continue to be recognised and supported.
