From the makers of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin, The Shed Distillery’s latest flavored variation is made with Brazilian pineapple.
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Brazilian Pineapple Gin is produced using a combination of vapor distillation and maceration. Four botanicals are vapor-distilled: pineapple, grapefruit, lime, and gunpowder tea.
Tasting notes
Color: Perfectly clear (though the bottle itself is a bright yellow).
Aroma: Green pineapple on the nose, with hints of papaya, makrut lime leaf, and a touch of pine-forward juniper.
As it warms, the pineapple takes on a candy-like note—reminding me a bit of a white jellybean with lime undertones.
Flavor: If the nose made you nervous that the qualities you love about the flagship Gunpowder Gin might be missing, the palate tells another story.
Early notes of beautiful gunpowder tea, juniper, and a touch of cardamom open the experience. It slowly evolves into a pineapple-led heart that reads as more of a citrus blend—candied lemon, dried pineapple, and lime zest—with a touch of vanilla and almond, the latter two likely coming from the meadowsweet.
The flavor continues to develop, with green and slightly sour pineapple, resinous and somewhat dark juniper, and a mélange of baking spices. Anise sits far back in the mix with green tea, cardamom, and a faint impression of chai tea.
Finish: Surprisingly warm, with green tropical fruit and a touch of peppery cubeb and green citrus peel.
Cocktails and suggested serves
The attached flyer suggested a serve of Gin and Tonic garnished with grapefruit. Personally I would suggest going all in one pineapple as a garnish because Drumshanbo Gunpowder Brazilian Pineapple Gin isn’t as sweet as you might expect on its own.
The pineapple note is dominant, so I’d advice mixing in ways that harmonize with it. I thought it was somewhat unsuccessful in a Last Word or Negroni. It makes a bold, pineapple forward Martini, but this drink leads to my key recommendation— garnish with a lemon twist.
Try this gin in a Gin Sour, Tom Collins, Gin Rickey or Gimlet. It pairs nice with citrus— especially lemon and lime.
Overall, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Brazilian Pineapple Gin
The gin is what it says it is— if you go in expecting anything other than pineapple, you’ll be disappointed. But it isn’t a sweet pineapple bomb. It’s a citrus-led pineapple that gives it balance, though perhaps not versatility behind the bar.
I think it’s a fun expansion to the product line of a quite good gin.