Drumshanbo Marsala Cask Single Pot Still
Posted by Irish Whiskey USA on
The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim is home to a range of innovative spirits derived from "the curious mind" of owner/founder P.J. Rigney. Launched in late 2014, the Shed Distillery produces the popular Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin (using Chinese tea and Irish botanicals), Sausage Tree Vodka (distilled with African sausage tree fruit), and a range of single pot still and single malt Irish Whiskeys.
The brand logo features the mythical creature, 'jackalope', a jackrabbit with antler horns. In this context, I like to think of Drumshanbo's brand mascot like the Irish Easter bunny bringing whiskey to of age drinkers on Sunday morning. The sprawling distillery features a bar, gift shop, and Jackalope Cafe to enjoy upon your visit to northwest Ireland.
The initial release of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still was the hit at WhiskeyLive Dublin in 2019, representing one of the first of its style outside of the Midleton Distillery. The original version was matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks. The Shed Distillery has since released two other single pot still editions, Marsala cask late 2024 and Tawny port cask in early 2025.
The Marsala cask edition of the Drumshanbo Single Pot Still sticks to the core recipe of malted barley, unmalted barley, and Irish Barra oats. At the time, The Shed Distillery was one of the first to incorporate oats into the mashbill, a practice more common today from many of the new distilleries. Inclusion of an unspecified "small amount" of oats (<5% per technical file limit) associates Drumshanbo to historic Irish mashbills while differentiating from single pot still brands from Midleton Distillery. Consistent with the other single pot still expressions in the range, Drumshanbo Marsala cask edition is triple distilled and bottled at 43% abv.
Maybe the most unique aspect to this edition from Drumshanbo is the cask maturation. Marsala casks are becoming more popular for finishing Irish Whiskeys after initial years in ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Brands such as Boann, Jameson, Knappogue Castle, Bushmills, Whistler, and Writers Tears have all utilized Marsala for finishing only. However, Drumshanbo aged this whiskey exclusively in Marsala casks from Sicily for a full 7 years.
Official tasting notes
Nose
Rich notes of clove and honey descend into subtle aromas of sun ripened fruit and toasty caramel.
Palate
Sumptuous, dried fruits, and hazelnuts with distinctive oak spice balanced deliciously with the influences of the delectable Marsala cask.
Finish
A delicate sweetness of spiced caramel, roasted hazelnut and raisin that lingers lightly on the tongue.
Those expecting marsala sweetness similar to brands incorporating the wine as finishing component may be surprised. Despite a full 7 years aging in marsala casks, the sweetness is light and more in the background. I'm guessing these were not first fill casks to dial back the sweetness given the extended maturation. Don't expect a "marsala bomb". The distillate is able to shine on its own as a result. Medium spice, mouthfeel, and finish.
I have a lukewarm affinity for marsala whiskeys. I find the Midleton Red Spot underwhelming and my least preferred of the spot range. I look forward to trying the recently released Port version to compare all three single pot still Drumshanbo expressions. As of this writing, I prefer the original Drumshanbo Single Pot Still to the Marsala Cask edition. I recommend you give them all a sample and experience the style from a non-Midleton producer. The original and Marsala editions are available in the USA.