Drumshanbo Single Pot Still is one of those bottles that makes you sit up and pay attention. Irish single pot still whiskey is a category that was nearly extinct a couple of decades ago, dominated for years by the big Midleton releases, and now we're seeing newer distilleries step into the ring with their own takes on this uniquely Irish style. At 43% ABV and carrying no age statement, this NAS release sits at £54.95 — a price point that puts it squarely in the "treat yourself" bracket without requiring a second mortgage.
The Style
For anyone unfamiliar, single pot still whiskey is made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley, distilled in copper pot stills. That unmalted barley is what gives the category its signature creamy, spicy character — it's a texture thing as much as a flavour thing, and it's what separates Irish pot still from Scottish single malt. The method dates back centuries, originally a way for Irish distillers to dodge malt tax, and it ended up creating something genuinely distinctive. At 43%, Drumshanbo has bottled this slightly above the legal minimum of 40%, which I always take as a good sign. That extra bit of strength tends to carry more flavour through to the glass.
Without confirmed distillery details, I can't speak to specifics of their production setup, but the single pot still designation tells you exactly what you're getting: copper pot still distillation, a mixed grain bill of malted and unmalted barley, and Irish provenance. The NAS status means the blending team has prioritised flavour profile over any particular age bracket — something I'm increasingly comfortable with when the liquid backs it up.
Tasting Notes
I'll be upfront — I'm not going to fabricate detailed notes I don't have to hand. What I can tell you is that the single pot still style typically delivers that lovely combination of orchard fruit sweetness, baking spice, and a creamy mouthfeel that coats the palate. At 43%, you should expect enough weight to carry those characteristics without any harsh alcohol bite. This is a style built for sipping and savouring.
The Verdict
At £54.95, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still sits in competitive territory. You're paying a premium over entry-level Irish blends, but you're getting a genuinely different category of whiskey — one with real heritage and character. The 7.5 out of 10 reflects a whiskey that does its job well: it represents the single pot still style faithfully, it's bottled at a sensible strength, and it offers something meaningfully different from the scotch and bourbon bottles most people already have on their shelf. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, and I respect that. For anyone building out an Irish whiskey collection or looking to understand what makes pot still whiskey tick, this is a solid entry point.
Best Served
I'd reach for this in a classic Irish Coffee on a cold evening — the creamy pot still character pairs beautifully with fresh coffee and lightly whipped cream. But honestly, pour it neat first. Give it ten minutes in the glass, let it open up, and get to know what that malted-and-unmalted barley combination actually tastes like. Once you've got a handle on it neat, try it in a simple Whiskey Sour — the spice and body of a good pot still whiskey gives you a cocktail with real backbone. Two parts whiskey, one part fresh lemon, three-quarters part simple syrup, shaken hard with ice. The pot still texture makes for a Sour that feels richer than you'd expect.
