Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus 750ml

There are gin botanicals, and then there are botanicals that no other distiller in the world has thought to use. PJ Rigney found one of the latter along the 41st Northern Parallel, tracing the Mediterranean coastline through gnarled groves of cork oak into the rustic village of Siniscola, on the island of Sardinia. There, he encountered "sa pompia" — Citrus monstruosa, a rare, genuinely strange relative of the orange and grapefruit that grows nowhere else on Earth, prized locally for its uniquely fragrant, knobbly skin and complex, layered flavor. "I love gin," Rigney has said of the project. "But also, I have traveled a lot, and really wanted to bring something exciting back to Drumshanbo... to create a remarkable, delicious and very exotic tasting citrus gin that would compete with the best in the world."

Sardinian Citrus was the very first flavored expression added to the Drumshanbo Gunpowder lineup, and it follows the same architecture as every offshoot since: eight core botanicals — juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet, cardamom, and star anise — slow-distilled by hand in the distillery's medieval copper pot stills, joined by four vapor-infused botanicals where sa pompia takes the place typically held by Chinese lemon, alongside grapefruit, lime, and the brand's signature gunpowder tea. Every bottle is still hand-filled, labeled, and sealed by the distillery team in Drumshanbo.

Christopher Null, Drinkhacker's own founder and a 25-plus-year veteran of wine and spirits writing, gave the expression a genuinely detailed, independent assessment: "switching out lemon for Citrus monstruosa — a pulpy, bitter fruit found only on Sardinia — doesn't sound like a huge change, but this expression feels noticeably more citrus-forward than the original Gunpowder, the nose melding a strong orange-like peel character with notes of black pepper, turned earth, and hints of tea leaf — though here not particularly green." Retailer accounts converge on a similarly bright, layered profile: bright lemon peel, wild herbs, juniper, and sweet orange blossom on the nose, bursting into fresh citrus — lemon zest, mandarin, and grapefruit — balanced by earthy green tea and subtle spice on the palate, closing long and refreshing with lingering citrus oils and soft herbal notes. This is the gin that started Drumshanbo's whole ongoing series of global botanical detours — and, by most accounts, still one of the most genuinely distinctive.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus is produced at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland, founded by PJ Rigney. This expression was the first flavored brand extension of the flagship Gunpowder Irish Gin, born from Rigney's own travels along the 41st Northern Parallel, through the Mediterranean, into the rustic village of Siniscola on the island of Sardinia, where he encountered "sa pompia" — Citrus monstruosa, a rare citrus variety found nowhere else on Earth, related to both orange and grapefruit and known for its distinctively knobbly, fragrant skin.

The gin incorporates twelve botanicals in total: eight core botanicals — juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet, cardamom, and star anise — slow-distilled by hand in the distillery's 2,500-liter medieval copper pot stills, alongside four vapor-infused botanicals in which sa pompia replaces the Chinese lemon typically used in the standard Gunpowder recipe, joined by grapefruit, lime, and gunpowder tea. A combination of maceration and vapor distillation techniques ensures the citrus and botanical flavors remain balanced and true to their natural origins. Bottled at 43% ABV, with every bottle hand-filled, labeled, and sealed by the distillery team in Drumshanbo.

Critics Reviews

Christopher Null, Drinkhacker (extended independent review):
"Again it's a grain neutral gin that starts with the same eight botanicals as Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin: juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet (an aromatically floral herb), cardamom, and star anise. The only real switcheroo comes when Drumshanbo's vapor-infused botanicals are introduced, with Sardinian citrus instead of Chinese lemon — plus the original inclusion of grapefruit, lime, and gunpowder tea. Switching out lemon for Citrus monstruosa — a pulpy, bitter fruit found only on Sardinia — doesn't sound like a huge change, but this expression feels noticeably more citrus-forward than the original Gunpowder, the nose melding a strong orange-like peel character with notes of black pepper, turned earth, and hints of tea leaf — though here not particularly green."

Keg N Bottle / Palm Bay (official tasting note):
"Color: Crystalline. Nose: Gunpowder tea with Oriental botanicals are complemented by bright notes of Sardinian Citrus. Palate: Delightfully fresh and rounded up front with refreshing notes of juniper and spice, followed by a burst of Sardinian Citrus."

The Barrel Tap (extended tasting note):
"Nose: Bright lemon peel, wild herbs, juniper, and sweet orange blossom. Palate: Bursting with fresh citrus — lemon zest, mandarin, and grapefruit — balanced by earthy green tea and subtle spice. Finish: Long and refreshing with lingering citrus oils and soft herbal notes."

Bin Ends (extended tasting note):
"Aroma: Bright and zesty with a vibrant citrus profile dominated by the unique Sardinian citron, offering a blend of sweet and tangy notes. Juniper and earthy undertones from gunpowder tea provide balance, while subtle herbal and floral hints add complexity. Taste: Crisp and refreshing, with the Sardinian citron delivering a bold yet elegant citrus flavor. Juniper provides a classic gin backbone, while gunpowder tea imparts a soft, earthy bitterness. Finish: Long and smooth, with a lingering zestiness from the citron and a faint herbal and tea-like dryness."

LCBO (extended tasting note):
"Orange and grapefruit tones dominate, leading to a long finish. Creates a fantastic gin-based cocktail."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bright lemon peel and wild herbs open, joined by juniper and sweet orange blossom. A strong, orange-like peel character melds with black pepper, turned earth, and hints of tea leaf, notably less green and more layered than the standard Gunpowder expression.

Palate
Delightfully fresh and rounded up front, with refreshing juniper and spice giving way to a burst of Sardinian citrus — lemon zest, mandarin, and grapefruit — balanced by earthy green tea and subtle spice. Bold yet elegant citrus carries throughout, backed by juniper's classic gin structure.

Finish
Long and refreshing, closing with lingering citrus oils and soft herbal notes. A faint herbal, tea-like dryness carries through the close — genuinely more citrus-forward than the standard Gunpowder Gin, per independent critical assessment.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Suggestions

Gin & Tonic with Grapefruit or Orange — the recommended everyday serve.

Citrus Collins
2 oz Drumshanbo Gunpowder Sardinian Citrus · fresh lemon juice · simple syrup · soda water, garnished with a generous wedge of fresh red grapefruit.

Gunpowder Highball
Gin, fresh lemon juice, topped with ginger beer — the distillery's own suggested simple serve.