Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin

Nose: Very citrus-forward. Orange, lemon and lime with floral aromas in support. Spicy notes are low-key here, there is a trace of juniper, cardamom and anise but these are foundational and not the stand-out fragrances. Over time an almost minty aroma comes out. Palate: Balanced arrival with a notable chilli and white pepper kick that expands as it evolves. Bright citrus flavours, but they are crisp rather than sweet. Over time there is a tea-like note, but if I did not know from the start that this contained green tea I probably would not have picked it. Very well integrated and soft throughout, but with a prominent crisp, fresh juniper presence. Finish: Medium. The peppery juniper notes from the palate smoothly segue into a refreshing and lightly citrus aftertaste with delicate seed-spice notes. At no point is there any bitterness or harsh quality to this gin. So, it’s funny how things happen. I was discussing this gin here earlier and lamenting the fact that it is expensive in Australia. Later I went for a stroll down to one of the local liquor stores to buy some aperitivo and what should I find but Drumshanbo at $20 off normal price. I couldn’t walk past that (the quoted price below is the normal retail). I definitely get why this is an award-winning gin and why it is so popular on this site (with the community, anyway – the official rating is too stingy). The distillation is excellent with the macerated botanicals handled gently to provide a solid support for a big bouquet of lighter citrus elements and tea leaves that have been vapour infused. This preserves their delicacy and prevents bitter notes forming. It reminds me a little of Roku gin, but because of the citrus element and the fresh floral tones, not specifically because both contain tea. I’d definitely buy this again but whether I bought it in preference to Roku would depend entirely on the relative cost of the two products at the time, and Roku is usually 2/3 the price. There is also a crisp, bright juniper note that reminds me a little of Cotswolds, but this is not so juniper-heavy. I’d certainly recommend it. So what is it with Ireland, huh? Three of my top 10 gins now hail from the Emerald Isle – Dingle, Method & Madness and as of today, Drumshanbo. By the way - if you use this in a G&T (where it is delicious) don't add a slice of lime or lemon, if that is your usual habit. This has enough delicate citrus notes to be fine without help. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25)

Nose - sweet lemon, lime, and grapefruit zest, thyme, cardamom, floral tea, juniper, white pepper, coriander, clove, anise, ginger, vanilla bean, orange, rose water, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - grapefruit zest, sweet floral tea, lemon, lime, orange, juniper, anise, cardamom, thyme, ginger, coriander, black pepper, allspice, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with sweet citrus zest, cardamom, tea, and juniper flavors. This has a very different nose and palate from the other gins I’ve tried. The dominant notes are sweet floral tea and citrus zest. The juniper is definitely present, but takes a back seat. It’s also much milder than the others I’ve tried. There is very little alcohol kick throughout the entire experience. I really like it, significantly more than Beefeater and Tanqueray and slightly more than Empress. It seems that I prefer gins that aren’t quite as juniper dominant. My review sample size is too small to make a definite judgement on that, but it appears to be leaning that way.

Really well balanced gin. Floral and citrus.