Gunpowder California Citrus Orange Gin

Gunpowder California Citrus Orange Gin is bottled at 43% ABV by The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland. It is a citrus-led variation on the distillery's Gunpowder Irish Gin. The base recipe uses Gunpowder tea as a botanical, and here Californian orange is added to it. That puts the style in the contemporary, citrus-forward camp rather than the classic juniper-dominant London dry mold. Expect orange peel to lead on the nose and palate, with the tea giving a gentle, slightly leafy, tannic backbone beneath the fruit. Juniper should still be there to anchor the spirit, but as support rather than the headline. The 43% strength is a little above the 40% found on many gins. That helps the flavor hold up when the gin is diluted with ice and mixers, so the orange character stays clear in a long drink and doesn't wash out. A Gin & Tonic is the obvious first use. Pour 50 ml over plenty of cold, solid ice in a balloon glass, top with a neutral, crisp tonic, and finish with a wedge or wide strip of orange peel. A sprig of rosemary or thyme works as an alternative garnish and pairs well with the tea notes. A highball glass is a good choice if you want a taller, less boozy serve. In a Negroni, the orange profile suits the bitter-sweet balance of Campari and sweet vermouth. Use equal parts, stir over ice, strain over a large cube, and express an orange peel over the top. The result leans brighter and fruitier than one made with a juniper-heavy gin. A Tom Collins shows the gin's citrus side most clearly. Shake with lemon juice and sugar syrup, then top with soda over ice in a tall glass. A Martini works too, but expect a softer, more fragrant drink than a classic dry one. Keep the vermouth modest, stir well, and garnish with a twist rather than an olive. Whatever the serve, chill the glass and use more ice than seems necessary. Quick dilution from small or melting cubes is the main thing that flattens a citrus gin.