New Portsmouth gin and Gosport beer launched to celebrate 40th anniversary of the raising of the Mary Rose

The Mary Rose Museum has marked the special anniversary by launching Mary Rose Beer from Powder Monkey Brewery in Gosport and Tudor Gin from Portsmouth Distillery. Both have been carefully crafted to include botanicals and flavour pallets symbolic of the Tudor Times.

The Tudor Gin was created using only botanicals found on the wreck of the Henry VIII’s flagship, which sank in 1545. These include dandelion, which would have been used as an anti-inflammatory in the surgeons’ quarters, along with hazelnut, hemp seeds and cherry which were also found on board. Dich Oatley, sales director at Portsmouth Distillery, said: ‘It has been fantastic to be involved in such an exciting and inventive project. The botanicals chosen would have been on board that fateful day in 1545. We are confident that what we have produced embodies a depth and flavour reflective of the time this iconic vessel sailed.’

Inspired by visits to the Mary Rose Museum, head brewer at Powder Monkey Brewery, Mark Hamblin, created a pale ale as a modern interpretation of the lighter beers that would have been drunk on board. The beer is flavoured with a hint of cracked black pepper, fresh citrus fruits and some herbal notes. Andy Burdon, the brewery’s CEO, said: ‘It has been a pleasure developing the Mary Rose Beer… (and) a great opportunity for Mark to turn inspiration into innovation, creating a pale ale symbolic of life on board.’

Both drinks are available from the Mary Rose Museum shop and from Powder Monkey Brewery and Portsmouth Distillery. A donation from every drink sold goes towards the Mary Rose Trust. Trust Chief Executive Dominic Jones said: ‘The ship was built in Portsmouth, defended Portsmouth, sank in Portsmouth and was finally recovered in Portsmouth, so it felt right that we partnered with local businesses to develop these fantastic new beverages to celebrate 40 years since bringing the Mary Rose back to the surface.’