Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, 70cl

Product Information

This is my go-to gin of choice. I’m not a fan of super citrusy gins, and prefer juniper and herbal flavors to stand out more than citrus, so this is really nice stuff. It’s more interesting than your bog standard classic london dry, but it still feels like a ‘real gin’ unlike some other ‘gins’ I’ve tried that were one step away from feeling like flavored vodka. Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder Gin has a fresh, herby, citrus heavy aroma with notes of green tea and star anise. Grapefruit, is the initial flavor followed by juniper then tea, finishing with herby, warm spices of anise, cardamom and coriander.

An incredible journey into the heart of rural Ireland and the Inner Sanctum of the first distillery in Connacht in 101 years: The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney – the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, and other remarkable creations from the Curious Mind of PJ Rigney. Tasted Drumshanbo at a wedding in Malaysia. It was a and hot and humid evening and the light yet flavourful gin with tonic and kalamatazi lime was the perfect drink .

Awards

The nose of the gin is bold with pepper and spice, with lots of juniper giving the aroma a grassy, almost green, character that’s studded with notes of dusky earth. The palate finds the green tea element exploding immediately. Slightly sweet, reminscent of matcha, there are hints of vanilla ice cream and even some saffron amidst the otherwise herbal base. A bold juniper note reprises the nose, melding quite well with the unusual green tea flavors. It’s not a combination I would have expected to work, but it does, and quite pleasantly.

I’ve never bought a bottle of gin or had gin straight. Today I decided to try this one neat before adding a splash of pink grapefruit juice. It’s so good!!! Fans of citrus-forward gins like New Amsterdam are apt to find Gunpowder Gin a pleasant, if not one-note alternative. It has the herbal complexity of bathtub style gins like New Deal Gin No. 1, but also the balance of old school favorites like Gordon’s and Plymouth.Gin and Tonic is definitely one of the most popular ways to serve Gunpowder. While the distributor promotes Elderflower tonic, I’d like to add that it’s equally delicious with Fevertree Indian & Mediterranean. The distiller recommends the best gin to vermouth ratio for Gunpowder is 4 to 1 and suggests grapefruit bitters in place of orange. I totally agree that Gunpowder and grapefruit are the winning combo. Grapefruit is the most recommended garnish so if you are partial to that citrus, this is the gin for you. What type of Gin is Gunpowder?

Gunpowder Gin works extremely well in citrus drinks like the Tom Collins, the Gimlet, the Bronx and even the Hot Toddy. Gunpowder Gin excels as a mixing gin despite it’s seemingly ostentatious botanical blend. It’s smooth enough for a Martini, while flavorful enough to stand out in a Gin and Juice. Absolutely love this gin since trying last week.. beautiful notes of fresh citrus makes it my new favorite mixing spirit.. although I must admit, it does just fine by itself!!.. or with some Fever Tree Elderflower TonicGrapefruit is overwhelming the most favored garnish. I’ll also add that dried grapefruit wheel is splendid! Gunpowder Martini The combination of botanicals though somewhat eccentric is well balanced. The green tea is at the fore. Gunpowder Gin does justice to its namesake. However, where this really stands out for me is how it balances the botanicals. Enough juniper for classic gin fans, but also heavy on the citrus and herbs, without overpowering each other. Have relied upon Bombay Sapphire and Tanq for our G&Ts for decades. Decided it was time to widen our experience with this Drumshando Irish gin. Yikes -a mistake to have bought such a large bottle. It may be the golden child of contemporary gins but the first note that sprung out offensively at me, was the floor cleaner PineSol. I don’t care what the ensuing notes bring; just take it away. Iccch.