Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, 50cl

Product Information

Gunpowder Gin works extremely well in citrus drinks like the Tom Collins, the Gimlet, the Bronx and even the Hot Toddy. 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. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin: a mouthful, yes, and one of the more unique mouthfuls to come out of an Irish distilling boom that’s seen plenty of new whiskeys (more in the last five years than the prior 50), but also a surprising rise in the Irish gin category, which went from marginally inoffensive to the fastest-growing spirits category in the country. But beyond that, Gunpowder Gin is a complex array of botanicals from a number of traditions. Three kinds of citrus fruit: grapefruit, lemon and makrut lime join the tea and are vapor distilled. The remaining ingredients, including Macedonian juniper, are macerated and distilled in a pot still.

The Botanist is similarly complex but has a subtler nose. It features pine, roots and woody notes and has a bigger, warmer finish than Drumshanbo Gunpowder. The Gunpowder Tea notes lend itself really nicely to mixing in citrus-forward drinks. Try Gunpowder Gin in a Tom Collins or Gimlet. If you’re literal, Gunpowder Gin is delightful in a hot toddy. Add some honey and lemon and it almost tastes as if you’re having a hot tea to sooth your throat. 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?

Tasting Notes

The meadowsweet, cardamom, angelica and orris root, coriander and caraway seed, juniper berries, and star anise go in a copper pot stills. Bombay Sapphire tastes closer to a London Dry than Gunpowder. It is even more citrus forward with the lemon leading the way. Its nose is more floral and earthy than herbal. It has more heat in the finish with balanced citrus and spice. This single estate spirit is made with great attention to detail from grain harvested from the estate. Once it has been turned into alcohol, it is used along with 11 botanicals in a triple distilling process in Classic London Dry Style. Below, you’ll find a mix of well-known and often missed Irish gin brands that are well worth considering. 1. Jawbox Classic Dry Gin

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. Those who enjoy citrus forward gins with moderate juniper will most likely enjoy Gunpowder. Tea drinkers will certainly like it and non-tea drinkers will not be turned off. The Drumshanbo distillery highlights 3 smart variations on the Gin and Tonic, a gimlet variation and a martini. These are spot on and I will make the following additions: Gunpowder Gin and TonicFor the final botanical bouquet, Rigney chose 12 botanicals, fruits, and spices, including the aforementioned green tea as well as ingredients like Moroccan orris root, Indian cardamom, and Macedonian juniper. Even with a mini-U.N. spice cabinet, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin throws in one more highly local ingredient: meadowsweet from the town of Drumshanbo itself. Meadowsweet lends a delicate floral sweetness to the overall bouquet, complementing the green tea notes. 4. The Drumshanbo Mascot is a Drinker, Too. Towards the end though, it turns sweet and spicy/herbal. Anise and cardamom are subtly and expertly played in here. Meadowsweet, especially late and towards the finish lends its a honeyed, vanilla-like nuance. The nose is light and citrus-forward. The more delicate handling of the citrus ingredients is quite evident here. Fresh lemon zest highlights a subtle herbaceous, sagey juniper with the slightest hint of green tea and meadowsweet.