Review: Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Irish Vodka
If the red bottle doesn’t get your attention sitting on the liquor store shelf next to the other brands clear vodka bottles, the name, Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Irish Vodka will. First of all the bottle is red. The vodka is colorless. The vodka is also unflavored. Irish vodka and gin have grown in popularity as more Irish Whiskey distilleries open and they need a source of income while their whiskey is barrel aged. The Shed Distillery was founded in 2014 by P.J. Rigney in Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim. In April 2015, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin was their first product released, but it was not their first product produced. The first was Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, but the whiskey needed to be barrel aged. They currently also craft Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin with Sardinian Citrus. From the curious mind of PJ Rigney Sausage Tree Vodka starts with Irish grain. The grain is distilled on a German built two column copper still handcrafted by Arnold Holstein. Sausage tree fruit, and Irish nettle are added before distilling again. Few production details are provided but it is bottled at 86 proof. Sausage Tree’s grow in Africa and are named such because of the sausage shaped fruit that grows on the tree. These fruit are poisonous to humans if consumed raw, but they are edible raw for some animals. Sausage fruit is a popular ingredient in African beer. Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Vodka was introduced March 2018 in Dusseldorf Germany. Where else would a vodka distilled in Ireland with African grown sausage tree fruit be launched. The aroma leads with malted grain. Herbal, Christmas tree, and citrus notes follow. The soft creamy entry leads with malted grain. Bright melon fruit arrives building to a malty lemongrass peak. It fades with lemongrass and finishes with nutty notes and lemongrass flavor, leaving a warm peppery sting, herbal, peanut, malt, melon, and lemon zest taste. I was expecting a gin vibe with the vodka instead I tasted a soft flavorful vodka that only showed the higher octane in this 86 proof spirit at the finish in the form of a warm peppery sting.
Signature Serve
40ml. Sausage Tree Irish Vodka
120ml. Chilled Premium Soda Water
Serve With Ice in a Rocks Glass
Squeeze of Fresh Lime
Garnish With a Thick Wedge of African Emperor Orange
Made in Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim Ireland
43% Alcohol
Score: 91
Award: Gold Medal