Gunpowder Irish Gin ( drumshanbo )

A hand-crafted gin made in the Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim. 

Oriental Botanicals (berries and roots) and locally foraged Meadowsweet are added to a traditional medieval style still and only allowed to soak for 30 minutes max while the vapour infusion is being prepared.

Various oriental fresh citrus and leaves (gunpowder tea) are added into the 3 layer infusion basket, which lies in the vapour pathway between the still and the condenser. Steam is gently applied. The vapour rises through the unique shape of the medieval head, which allows maximum copper contact, which cleans and purifies the spirit. The vapour exits the still and passes into the infusion basket, where it gently extracts the oils and aromas from the citrus and tea. Boiling in the still would extract bitter compounds from these ingredients, whereas vapour infusion only extracts the aromatic oils. The vapour passes into the condenser and is condensed down into our gin at @ 75%. We take an early cut so as to avoid any harshness that tends to come off further into the distillation. The gin is allowed to rest for a week, which allows the oils and alcohol to infuse and for flavour to develop. It is then diluted to 43% with filtered water and gently filtered for clarity.