The Shed Distillery is the first distillery in Connaught in over 101 years, based in the tiny rural village of Drumshanbo in Co, Leitrim. The brand made its name creating the wildly popular Gunpowder Gin. It was crafted with an intriguing botanical selection that included gunpowder tea. This was followed by Sausage Tree Vodka, made with the fruit of the Kigelia Africana (also known as the sausage tree – because the fruit looks like sausages, definitely worth a Google).
Drumshanbo’s inaugural whiskey release is a triple-distilled, single pot still whiskey. The mash bill contains malted and unmalted barley as well as a 5% helping of Irish Barra oats, demonstrating both an appreciation for the pot still’s heritage and a helping of that experimental side we’re used to seeing from the Connaught-based producers.
Every drop of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Inaugural Release was crafted by head distiller Brian Taft at the distillery itself. The Shed Distillery made a decision that it would not buy any spirit made elsewhere, which is quite refreshing for an Irish whiskey brand. The distillery is also in the process of expanding and recently opened a brand new €1.5m visitor centre.
Fun fact: Prince Albert of Monaco and Count Carl Von Hardenberg of the German drinks dynasty are the proud owners of two of the first-ever casks of whiskey distilled in Drumshanbo.