Infused with twelve botanicals like the twelve months of the year, the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is as well balanced as the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar. Distilled at the edge of a lake in a shed in a small Irish town called Drumshanbo —like the Vacheron Constantin manufacture founded at the edge of a lake—, the ordinary is made extraordinary. Within this small shed, the laboratory of PJ Rigney is located. PJ is a begetter of handmade spirits who slowly distills this gin with nature’s finest oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea. Twelve botanicals with their origins in Asia and Europe give this gin its unique character. Inspired by botanicals discovered during the travels of PJ Rigney, this is yet another similarity with the Vacheron Constantin Overseas conceived with the traveler in mind.
The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is infused with traditional and non-traditional botanicals including meadowsweet from Drumshanbo, juniper berries from Macedonia, Angelica root from Germany, caraway seed and cardamom from India, gunpowder tea, lemon and star anise from China, oriental grapefruit from Indonesia, coriander seed from Rumania, orris root from Morocco and Kaffir Lime from Cambodia.
With a 'jackalope' as its icon, nothing could be more fitting. The 'jackalope' is a creature of such mystery and wonder, the mythological progeny of a jackrabbit —not a real rabbit— and an American antelope —not a real antelope. The legend says that the 'jackalope' was conceived in a lightning storm and that it appears in Drumshanbo, Ireland at will, just as in a dream to then be gone in a flurry of feet and antlers. This little wonder is the perfect symbol of all that is remarkable about Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.
With prominent notes of citrus and gunpowder tea —a green tea that has been slowly dried with its delicate leaves then carefully rolled into shiny pellets—, the flavor of this gin is bold and bright with a slight spicy freshness.
Following the citrusy notes of this gin, one can taste a little bit of the cardamom that PJ Rigney discovered while picking up a bowl of shahi tukra in India. Then a very delicate hint of coriander seed can be perceived. PJ was fascinated by coriander while passing through Bucharest and enjoying pork and lamb mititei served by a street vendor. On his journey east, PJ found himself wandering the mountainous regions of Morocco. In the loose soil of these slopes, he uncovered the purple hues of the bearded iris. But it was not the flower itself that intrigued the curious mind, it was the oils from the root within the earth, that PJ knew would be a must-have for his secret tabernacle.
But perhaps the most unique ingredient of this gin is meadowsweet from Drumshanbo. As wild and unspoiled as rural Drumshanbo itself, this small, delicate flower was one of the very first botanicals added to this gin. Covering the fields around Lough Allen like a layer of gossamer snow, the aptly named meadowsweet, may have been the very thing that awakened PJ's love of all things botanical and ignited his quest through Europe and Asia.
Even though one can barely taste the gunpowder tea in this gin, it is clear that just like with any gin, each botanical plays a key role in the final flavor. While Drumshanbo recommends garnishing its gin and tonic with a thick slice of grapefruit, we decided to stick to the tradition and garnish with a fresh slice of lime. An incredible gin with strong citrus notes unlike any other gin out there. Even better when paired with a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar.
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