Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin 750ML

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin 750ML is a 43% ABV Irish gin distinguished by its use of slow-rolled Chinese gunpowder tea among twelve botanicals. Scoring 94 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2019 and 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, it has quickly established itself as one of Ireland's most acclaimed contemporary gins.

Quick Facts: ABV: 43% (86 proof)  |  Origin: County Leitrim, Ireland  |  Style: Botanical Gin  |  Distillery: The Shed Distillery

Production & Heritage

The Shed Distillery sits in the rural town of Drumshanbo in County Leitrim, a region better known for rolling green hills than spirits production. Distiller PJ Rigney uses medieval-style copper pot stills and a dual-infusion technique: eight botanicals — juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, caraway, star anise, meadowsweet, and cardamom — steep directly in the copper pot, while kaffir lime, oriental grapefruit, Chinese lemon, and the namesake gunpowder tea are vapor-infused by suspending them in the still's neck so gin vapors pass through during distillation. After distillation, the spirit rests for approximately 21 days before bottling, allowing the botanical profile to fully integrate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh and herbal at first pass, opening with assertive citrus — grapefruit and lemon zest lead — followed by green tea and a subtle, almost minty undercurrent. Star anise and light floral notes emerge as the gin breathes in the glass.

Taste: The entry is bright and citrus-driven, with grapefruit hitting the palate first. At mid-palate, juniper asserts itself alongside the distinctive powdery, slightly vegetal character of gunpowder tea. Cardamom, coriander, and star anise weave through the back palate without competing, giving the gin a layered complexity that unfolds sip by sip.

Finish: Long, peppery, and drying, with lingering grapefruit peel and warm spice. A gentle heat settles in the throat, accompanied by a refined floral hint that fades slowly.

How to Drink Gunpowder Gin

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the best way to appreciate the full gunpowder tea character and the interplay between citrus and spice. A splash of tonic — particularly an East India or aromatic style — pairs naturally with the gin's herbal backbone. Three cocktails where this gin excels: a Classic Gin & Tonic garnished with a grapefruit wheel, which amplifies the gin's dominant citrus note; a Bee's Knees, where honey syrup rounds out the peppery spice and highlights the tea undertone; and a White Negroni, where the gin's bold botanical intensity stands up to Suze and dry vermouth without being overshadowed.

Best For

• Gifting a gin enthusiast who gravitates toward unconventional botanical profiles
• Building an Irish spirits collection beyond whiskey
• Hosting a gin tasting focused on East-meets-West botanical styles
• Upgrading a home bar's go-to gin for G&Ts and citrus-forward cocktails

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gunpowder Gin taste like? Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin leads with bright grapefruit and citrus, transitions through classic juniper and green tea, and finishes with a long, peppery warmth accented by cardamom and star anise.

How does Gunpowder Gin compare to Hendrick's Gin? Where Hendrick's leans into cucumber and rose for a soft, floral profile, Gunpowder Gin is heavier on citrus and herbal elements, with its gunpowder tea providing a distinctive spiced, slightly vegetal layer. Gunpowder also delivers bolder, more assertive flavors that occupy different parts of the palate without competing with one another.

Is Gunpowder Gin good for sipping neat? Yes — at 43% ABV it carries enough body to sip without dilution, and drinking it neat is the clearest way to experience the gunpowder tea character and the vapor-infused citrus botanicals.

Where is Gunpowder Gin made? It is distilled at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland, using medieval-style copper pot stills and a combination of direct pot infusion and vapor infusion.

What foods pair well with Gunpowder Gin? Smoked salmon canapés complement the gin's citrus brightness; fresh oysters echo its briny, mineral undertone; Thai green curry mirrors the kaffir lime and spice notes; aged Manchego cheese balances the peppery finish; and dark chocolate with candied grapefruit peel ties directly into the gin's dominant fruit character.

What sizes does Gunpowder Gin come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, and it is also available in a 50ml miniature and a 1L format in select markets.

Is Gunpowder Gin worth the price? Gunpowder Gin positions in the premium tier — above everyday London Dry gins but below ultra-premium small-batch releases — and its 94-point Ultimate Spirits Challenge score and dual-infusion production method support that positioning with demonstrable quality.

Why Gunpowder Gin?

The defining differentiator is the gunpowder tea itself — a slow-rolled Chinese green tea dating to the Tang Dynasty whose pellets resemble gunpowder, lending the gin its name and a flavor note found in virtually no other widely available gin. The dual-infusion method, where delicate citrus and tea botanicals are vapor-infused separately from the heavier pot-steeped spices, gives the distiller precise control over each botanical's contribution. A 94-point score from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and back-to-back wins as Ireland's best gin in 2016 and 2017 at the Great Irish Beverages Irish Gin & Tonic Fest confirm that the technique translates to the glass. For drinkers who find classic juniper-forward gins one-dimensional, Gunpowder Gin offers a genuinely different experience rooted in a verifiable, unconventional production approach.