Ireland’s The Shed Distillery has continued to churn out annual limited editions of its well-known Drumshanbo Gin, but less attention has been given to growing its single pot still whiskey portfolio. Until now.

In quick succession, Drumshanbo recently delivered two new pot still expressions fully matured in fortified wine casks: Marsala Cask at the end of 2024 and Tawny Port Cask a few months later. When Chris reviewed the classic pot still, aged in a mix of ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, he found it pleasant enough but a bit straightforward. Let’s see how some specialty cask aging changes that equation.

Drumshanbo Marsala Cask Single Pot Still Whiskey Review

Triple-distilled blend of malted and un-malted barley and Irish barra oats, aged for seven years in Sicilian Marsala wine barrels.  The aroma is bright and honeyed with an abundance of fruits. Top notes of dried orange slices and apple chips give way to juicier peach and melon as it opens. Undertones of pot still spice, earthy and peppery, balance the sweeter elements and eventually overtake them with time in the glass.

The palate is rich and sweet with a beautifully round mouthfeel. Early notes of orange blossom honey, clove syrup, and lemon pie are silky and inviting and give way to a bolder, high tone midpalate of juicy apricot, jackfruit, and barley sugar that lingers into a generous, warming finish. Undertones of white pepper and oatmeal raisin cookies hint at the pot still character at its core, but the Marsala cask is the star of the show here. And deserving of a bow. 86 proof. A- / $80

Drumshanbo Tawny Port Cask Single Pot Still Whiskey Review

Triple-distilled blend of malted and un-malted barley and Irish barra oats, aged for seven years in Tawny Port casks. The Port dominates the nose with big, sweet notes of raisin, cocktail cherry, and candy apple. The pot still character is more muted compared to the Marsala cask release with only hints of spice and grain darting in and out of the aroma.

On the palate, top notes of strawberry jam and cherry lozenges are a bit syrupy and oversweet and the mouthfeel is a touch thin, but a healthy kick of pot still spice on the midpalate helps to temper some of the sweetness, harmonizing somewhat into notes of sugared plums and Linzer cookies on a medium-length finish. An after-dinner dram to be sure. 86 proof. B+ / $80

The post Review: Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Whiskey – Marsala Cask and Tawny Port Cask appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.