Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Review (2025)

 

As we approach St. Patrick’s Day, it seems timely to explore some Irish whiskeys.

 

The Shed Distillery was founded in 2014 by PJ and Denise Rigby at Drumshanbo in Connacht, a western province in Ireland. It marked the end of a 101-year drought for distilling in the region. PJ spent 30 years creating and re-creating brands for other distillers before hanging up his own shingle.

 

Opening the distillery was a godsend to the village of 800, which had a 25% unemployment rate due to the shuttering of a local jam factory in the 1990s. Today, the village's largest employer is the distillery, with over 100 employees.

 

“A creator of new recipes, an inventor, an experimenter – PJ dreamed of building his own distillery, but not just any distillery. The location was crucial – it had to be wild, un-manicured, in the heart of rural Ireland. A place of curiosity & inspiration, surrounded by nature, immersed in rich history. He discovered the beautiful village of Drumshanbo Co.Leitrim, on the shores of Lough Allen, at the foothills of Sliabh an Iarainn (The Iron Mountain), and PJ knew he had found the location for his distillery.” – The Shed Distillery

 

Arnold Holstein of Germany made the copper stills. The Shed employs five pot stills: three pot stills for Irish whiskey, two for Irish gin, and two column stills for Irish vodka. It is the largest family-owned gin distillery in the world!

 

Its head distiller and general manager is Brian Taft, who constantly checks on its aging whiskey, at least monthly and sometimes weekly.

 

Today, we will explore Drumshanbo, the distillery’s Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Before we get to that, you should know what Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is. First, it must be made at a single distillery. Next, the mash is a blend of malted and unmalted barley. It can also include oats or wheat. Third, distilling must occur in a pot still. There was a time when Single Pot Still was the world's most popular style of whiskey. All of that changed with the collapse of the Irish whiskey industry in the 1960s when there were only two distilleries in all of Ireland.

 

Drumshanbo is made from a mash of malted and unmalted Irish barley and Irish Barra oats. Like most Irish whiskeys, it went through a triple-distillation process. Aging occurred in Oloroso Sherry and Kentucky Bourbon casks for at least three years by law. However, it does not carry an age statement. Naturally colored and non-chill-filtered, it is packaged in 750ml bottles at 43% ABV (86°) and has a suggested price of $65.99.

 

I’m grateful to The Shed Distillery for providing me with a sample of Drumshanbo in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what this whiskey is all about.

 

Appearance: I poured Drumshanbo in a Glencairn glass to sip neat. The bright, golden liquid looked like apple juice, establishing a thick rim with tightly spaced, husky tears.

 

Nose: I brought the glass under my nostrils and inhaled, allowing me to discern notes of thick caramel, dried pineapples, pears, almonds, raisins, and very faint oak. When I brought the aroma into my mouth, I found a plethora of vanilla.

 

Palate: The thick, buttery texture coated the entirety of my mouth. I tasted vanilla, dried figs, and raisins on the front of my palate. The midpoint included baked apples, roasted almonds, and walnuts. Flavors of oak, ginger, and clove were on the back of my palate.  

 

Finish: As I was busy concentrating on what remained in my mouth and throat, a kiss of limestone garnered my attention. It faded quickly, leaving ginger, clove, dry oak, baked apples, and vanilla behind. I timed the duration at 1:58, classifying it as long-lasting.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Whereas many Irish whiskeys are soft and subtle, Drumshanbo is full of character and depth. The Oloroso Sherry influence was unmistakable with the fruity, nutty notes. This whiskey holds its own at 86°. Higher proof could make it too spicy, taking away from its Irish character, and lower would likely mute what’s there. While drinking it, I was reminded of far more expensive Irish whiskeys.

 

If you don’t care for Irish whiskeys, you’ll want to try Drumshanbo. If you love more full-bodied Irish whiskeys, you’ll also want to try it. There’s nothing but greatness here, and I’m thrilled to give it my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.