It’s a story of East meets West along with a few places in between. And in this review, I’ll tell you exactly why the end result is not only harmonious, but Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish has earned a seat at the table of Super Power Gins. Grapefruit is so good with this gin, that it makes a Gin Paloma a must! We did a full recipe and video here: Gunpowder Paloma Recipe Gunpowder Gin and Juice 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? All you need is gin & juice, and ice. While citrus juices are an easy win, white cranberry and pink lemonade are delicious mixers with gunpowder gin.

From the East – Slowly dried Gunpowder tea from China, caraway seed, star anise, cardamom and lemon from India, kaffir lime from Cambodia and oriental grapefruit from Indonesia. From the West – Meadowsweet from Drumshanbo, Ireland, juniper berries from Macedonia, angelica root from Germany, coriander seed from Romania and orris root from Morocco. 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. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is a product of The Shed Distillery, a boutique operation in rural Ireland. It’s also one of the most unusual gins you’re likely to encounter, made from a grain neutral base with some interesting botanicals in the mix. In the distillate you’ll find a relatively typical mix of juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet (an aromatically floral herb), cardamom, and star anise. Then, vapor-infused botanicals go into the mix, and here’s where it gets weird: Chinese lemon, Oriental grapefruit, Kaffir lime, and gunpowder tea. It’s the lattermost of these that gives the gin its name, and its real essence.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 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 Tonic 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.

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. Gunpowder Tea is so called because each tea leaf has been rolled into a small ball, reminiscent of gunpowder. It’s usually made with green tea leaves and it’s that special ingredient that gives Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin its name. 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 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. Side by side with the Botanist, Gunpowder Gin has a bolder bouquet with a greater emphasis on citrus and spice. Gunpowder vs. Botanist Gin Slowly dried Chinese green tea is blended with eight botanicals and three types of citrus to create a smooth gin with bold and fresh flavors. Gunpowder Gin is a modern or contemporary gin. It is not heavily juniper centered and it features the botanical meadowsweet, local to Drumshanbo, Ireland. Distilling Method 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.