First Derry Gin celebrates inspirational aviator Amelia Earhart

The amazing exploits of American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart are being commemorated in the first ever Derry gin.

Walled City Brewery, the first craft brewery established in the city for more than a century, has launched Earhart Craft Gin in honour of the renowned flyer who landed near Derry after becoming the first pilot to fly non-stop solo across the Atlantic, in 1932.

James Huey, the founder and managing director of Walled City Brewery in Derry, explains: “Flying solo from Newfoundland in Canada to land in a field at Culmore, just outside Derry, was a stunning achievement and a world ‘first’ which we are now celebrating in the launch of the city’s first craft gin.

“It’s an outstanding achievement which draws thousands of Americans here celebrating her courage and gritty determination,” he adds.

Earhart was aged 34 when she landed near the city.

“We thought that American visitors, other tourists as well as locals, who respect her achievement, would love to raise a glass of our unique Earhart Gin to toast her remarkable story and her historic connection with Derry,” he adds.

To showcase the aviator’s historic connection with Derry, he has extended his existing and hugely successful brewery and visitor centre to facilitate a new pot still for distilling. “Gin distilling was, in many ways, a logical development for us because the processes are similar,” he explains. “We’ve also been holding gin supper classes over many months at the brewery. They’ve proved extremely popular,” he says.

The brewery, located at Ebrington Square in Derry, was formed in 2015 by Mr Huey and wife Louise and has since developed a portfolio of original craft beers. It also operates an award-winning restaurant and a successful Homebrew Academy, the first in Ireland.

Earhart Gin (ABV 40%) features botanicals harvested from the pasture land where Amelia Earhart touched down after her challenging flight from Newfoundland. They include elderflower, hawthorn and purple saxiphrage - the flower of Derry - which are blended in the gin during the distillation process.

“Our aim has been to create a distinctive and authentic Derry gin with as wide an appeal as possible. In addition, we have created a number of unique cocktails which also mark Amelia Earhart’s achievement,” he says. “These Include Little Red Bus, Amelia’s nickname for her aircraft. “It’s a version of the traditional Bloody Mary cocktail. We’ve also taste tested with our focus group and received a very positive feedback,” he adds.

“There’s also Newfoundland Love, a signature cocktail featuring local apples for a really refreshing drink,” he adds. “The cocktails are aimed at female drinkers in particular and are also designed to enhance and celebrate the whole Amelia Earhart inspirational story, her connections with Derry and the mystery surrounding her sad disappearance on an attempt, in 1937, to become the first to fly around the globe."