Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
The Shed Distillery · The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland
The Gunpowder tea botanical is the masterstroke here — it binds the citrus and juniper elements into something cohesive and unmistakably different from any London Dry. Drumshanbo Gunpowder is the gin that makes craft spirit sceptics take a second look. The distinctive spherical bottle is famous in Irish bars, but the real story is inside it: a carefully developed recipe, an unexpected Chinese tea leaf, and a distillery that chose character over convention at every turn. Serve in a copa glass over ice with tonic, sliced pink grapefruit, and a twist of lime.
Nose
Juniper forward with an intriguing tea note underneath — citrus zest, meadowsweet floral sweetness, fresh coriander, a faint oriental spice
Palate
Beautifully layered — juniper, grapefruit pith, Gunpowder tea tannin, coriander seed, bright citrus sweetness, finishing with a gentle earthy warmth
Finish
Clean and pleasantly dry with lasting tea astringency and juniper resin
- Botanicals
- Gunpowder Tea, Meadowsweet, Angelica, Kaffir Lime, Caraway Seeds, Cardamom, Coriander, Orris Root, Grapefruit, Lemon, Juniper
- Base Spirit
- Irish grain spirit
- Distillation
- Slow distilled in a traditional copper pot still; botanicals vapour-infused and cold-compressed separately before blending
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — The Gunpowder and Tea Tonic: 50ml Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin · premium Indian tonic water · slice of grapefruit · slice of lime · sprig of lemon thyme. Build in a copa glass over ice, add tonic slowly, garnish generously. Let the botanicals bloom undisturbed.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Smoked trout pâté on rye crisp — the tea tannin and citrus cut through the fat while the juniper echoes the gentle smoke.
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