Introducing 47º: AXIS Flight Simulation distills innovation beyond training solutions

 

AXIS Flight Simulation is renowned for delivering first class flight training solutions, having served pilots around the world for almost a decade. But while we are passionate about our pursuit, the expertise of our team isn’t limited to the cockpit. In early 2023, our executive board member, Christian Theuermann, decided to delve into the world of gin to create a drink that embodied our company’s ethos. Of course, only to be enjoyed outside of the training centre.

Recognised for its one-of-a-kind flavouring, 47º was awarded Silver at the 2024 World Spirit Awards (WSA), hosted last week at Stiegl-Gut Wildshut. We’ve taken the time to reflect on the distilling process, touch on details of our unique recipe, and outline our plans for future endeavours.

 

Sourcing local flavours

The journey to creating our own brand of gin started with a vigorous research process, looking into local distilleries that could support with forging a bespoke recipe. After assessing the options available, we made the decision to partner with Distillery Krauss, a family-ran craft distillery based in St. Martin im Sulmtal, Austria – just an hour’s drive from our head office in Lebring, close to Graz. With the freedom to create our own product, Krauss turned Christian’s vision into a reality.

We experimented with a range of herbs, fruits and other ingredients. Krauss shared their advice and eventually, our recipe was selected using five different botanicals to represent the five continents AXIS Flight Simulation serves. Distilled using fresh alpine water, fine juniper was paired with notes of Andaliman pepper, lemon, lavender and cardamon – giving the gin a unique, sophisticated flavour.

Distilled 47º latitude of Zurich and 47º latitude of Lebring, while also being 47% alcohol, we named the gin 47º to highlight its local heritage, central to our operation at AXIS Flight Simulation.

 

Award-winning taste

Producing only a select number of bespoke 47º bottles, the gin was gifted to our trusted customers, partners and team members who noted the quality and taste of the product. After receiving an overwhelmingly positive response and as testament to our highest standards, we put ourselves forward to enter the 2024 WSAs to let a panel of judges decide.

As a full flight simulator (FFS) company, demonstrating the quality of our products is engrained in our ethos. The team is proud to have been awarded Silver, classified according to WSA standards, and made the most of the celebrations during the ceremony, which included dinner and beer tasting.

 

The future of AXIS’ gin

While innovative flight training solutions remain our priority, the success of 47º will see us continue to experiment with new gin flavourings throughout the coming years. In fact, 2024 marks 20-years since our company’s inception. In honour of the years spent delivering flight training solutions to customers around the world, we plan to go the extra mile to create a second kind of gin to be shared with our longstanding clients who have supported us over the decades – watch this space!