Drumshanbo Single Pot Still

Nose: Blackberry jam. Other berries with cream. There's a pungent, floral herb present - it's vegetal, almost like a green onion, but softer and sweeter. I feel I shouldn't like it, but I do. Toasted nuts with orange citrus - almost like orange marzipan. Hearty oat bread. At times, two other scents are detectable above the rest: 1) pot still spices and 2) an indistinct fruity aroma, like the scent that wafts when you open the door to a smoothie bar, but more subtle and less sweet. Palate: Sweet caramel. Nutty orange again, but with less acidity now - more like orange candy. A hint of chocolate accompanies the blackberries. Vanilla extract with almond. The faintest hint of charred red fruit, just enough to suggest the wood, I guess. The mouthfeel is rich, falling between creamy and oily. It still feels more medium-bodied compared to other single pot still whiskeys. The finish initially brings more chocolate. That's fleeting. Later in the glass, the pot still spice builds deep in the back of the throat, then suddenly your tongue feels like it's on fire with every movement. It doesn't stop there: some time later, after you've likely finished the glass (but before pouring another), you notice a numbness on the sides of your tongue - the tannins have appeared, delivering a bitter conclusion to the experience, quite literally. Having consumed serious IPA for over a decade puts me in a position where I appreciate a bit of bitterness in a whiskey, so it's an interesting journey. Your mileage may vary. I enjoy this - it offers many different characteristics simultaneously and is tasty - but I truly wanted to LOVE this: 1) it's a single pot still whiskey (which I adore), 2) it's not produced by Irish Distillers (who make fine spirits, but variety matters, and I prefer more craft options), and 3) this originates from a region of Ireland where whiskey hasn't been mass-produced in over a century (geographic diversity yields distinct and interesting flavor profiles - consider Scotland, or just food in general). In reality, this is likely a notch below the Powers single pot stills, Redbreast, and the Spot whiskeys, all of which are Irish Distiller products. Perspective: this is the inaugural whiskey release from the Shed Distillery (to my knowledge), which began operations in 2014. They appear to be well-funded and determined to establish a name for whiskey in northwestern Ireland. Being a notch behind the major players on your first attempt is quite commendable. Let's observe their future releases and progression over the next decade, say. It could prove interesting... I hope it does.

Nose: Smooth, vanilla, spices, raisins. Hints of nuts and marzipan. Palate: Dried fruit, chocolate. A slight bready character. Finish: Citrus and orange. A medium to long nutty finish with a somewhat muted aftertaste. This whiskey tied for second place out of six, with 14% of attendees selecting it as their favorite for the evening. (59% of those present indicated they enjoyed the whiskey). The whiskies in the tasting were closely ranked in the favorite vote.

The gin from this distillery is among the best to emerge from the recent gin boom, so I wanted to see if their venture into whiskey was comparable. And... it mostly is, though perhaps not quite as remarkably. The aroma is sweet and rich, featuring notes of birthday cake batter, strawberry jam, wildflower honey, brioche toast, and marzipan. It's a rather impressive nose. The palate, however, is somewhat less vibrant. The sweet, cake-like flavors dominate everything else; there's a lack of the subtlety or complexity found on the nose. It's enjoyable, but one can't help but feel this dram has potential for more.

Nose: Surprisingly exhibits bourbon characteristics: Caramel, sweet stone fruits. Palate: Creamy, with hints of vanilla and spice, a very mild body. Finish: Short, fading with sweetness and spice and a touch of floral. This Irish whiskey is an easily drinkable mid-tier spirit. The influence of the barra oats and the bourbon and sherry cask finishes contribute to this single pot still's refined profile. This is a whiskey to savor, not to gulp down at the bar.

Produced at The Shed Distillery. Made with malted and unmalted barley and Irish Barra oats. Matured in Oloroso Sherry and Kentucky Bourbon barrels. Aroma: subtle grainy, apple, pear, and malt. Taste: Bright lemon and apple begin the experience. They blend with soft malt, honey, and oatmeal. This ranks among the top 3 Irish whiskeys. Fresh, fruity, and smooth. It deserves to be appreciated more.

A wonderfully enjoyable pour. A small addition of water remarkably enhances the aroma, revealing subtle notes of vanilla and jam. It has a smooth, oily mouthfeel, with a hint of berries present. The highlight is the spice on the medium finish, where prominent maraschino cherry flavors come to the forefront. An excellent choice for regular enjoyment if you appreciate sweet, spicy profiles with a lingering cherry essence.