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.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Tulchan Speyside London Dry Gin
Tulchan
Tulchan Speyside London Dry Gin is a beautifully composed Scottish gin that marries classic London Dry architecture with the quiet confidence of its Speyside origins. It radiates warmth without demanding attention, making it equally compelling neat or as the backbone of a contemplative cocktail. A gin that speaks softly but carries remarkable depth.
Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin
Isle of Raasay
Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin is a study in clarity through constraint — a tight botanical bill drawn from the island's own terrain, distilled with disciplined intent. It proves that limitation breeds focus: every botanical earns its place, nothing competes, and the result is a gin of luminous transparency. A quiet triumph from one of Scotland's most purposeful young distilleries.
New Riff Distilling Kentucky Wild Gin
New Riff Distilling
New Riff's Kentucky Wild Gin is a beautifully aerated spirit—distilled with a thoughtful openness to the botanicals' natural character. It's proof that a whiskey-focused distillery can channel that same reverence for terroir and process into a gin of real poise and clarity. A versatile, sippable gin that breathes Kentucky air.
Cadenhead's Old Raj Dry Gin
Cadenhead's
Old Raj is a gin of rare character—the saffron infusion turns a classic juniper-forward profile into something genuinely singular, perfect for the waning warmth of November. Its navy strength makes it a commanding presence in cocktails or neat, and its Scottish provenance from one of the oldest independent bottlers in the world lends quiet authority. A gin that feels like the last golden light before winter.