GINFLUENCED: Sling Shot Gin Uses Irish Peat From The Irish Midlands For A Unique Flavour

We've made it to the infamous "broke week" in January.

You're really feeling the effects of that early paycheck in December and you're counting down those precious days until your bank account is looking moderately healthy again.

Tough, isn't it?

You've probably been taking it easy on yourself, maybe you haven't even had a drink - when that paycheck arrives at the end of the week you deserve a treat.

What better treat in this world exists than a gin and tonic?

Welcome to Ginflunced, a weekly series dedicated to the spirit of life.

This week we're heading to the midlands - the lovely Longford to be precise.

Say hello to Sling Shot Gin, a contemporary craft gin that marries classic botanicals with citrus, fresh mint and local peat, creating a bold & fresh flavour.

This gin is relatively new to the scene since its launch in October 2018, but it's been getting quite a lot of traction. It is the first spirit created at the Lough Ree Distillery based in Lanesborough.

In the making, there were 3 essential components to this gin – creating a great spirit, presenting it in a striking bottle and selecting a brand name that would stand out from the crowd.

It seems they've achieved all of the above.

The Bottle:

This is one of the coolest bottles I've seen - as in it's definitely one you'd want on the top shelf of your gin cart. I have it on the top shelf of my own.

The bottle is longer than your usual, a deep eye-catching shade of blue with a bright yellow label on the front. The front of the bottle is simple, the name of the gin, the distillery, slogan and units, which I love - they get right to the point.

The bottle itself is contemporary, elegant and just really stunning.

Every bottle produced in the distillery and is labelled, bottled, sealed and packed by the team. No matter where you buy it from you'll know it was handmade in Ireland with love.

Background:

Sling Shot Gin is the first release from the Lough Ree Distillery.

This gin is created using four separate distillates - a classic, a citrus, fresh mint and peat, which are blended together to make the final product. This gives it a spicy, citrus flavour and a unique earthiness from the peat.

The story behind the name of Sling Shot comes from Irish mythology. Legendary Queen Maeve of Connaught was killed with a blow from a Slingshot while bathing at Inchcleraun on Lough Ree.

Sling Shot acts as a "nod to the ancient history carried on the winds of Lough Ree, but also as forward-looking manifestation of the modern and confident Ireland that Lough Ree Distillery represents."

Botanicals:

Juniper
Coriander
Angelica, Orris Root
Lemon Balm
Cardamom
Celery Seed
Fresh organic Oranges
Pink Grapefruit
Lemons and Limes
Mint
Local peat

On the nose:

Straight to the nose you'll get a citrusy aroma of zesty lemon and lime followed by fresh scents of mint. Continuing on, you'll get the distinctive notes of juniper berries as well as a spicy yet nutty kick from the cardamom.

Straight:

The gin has quite a spicy yet citrus flavour as well as a distinctive earthiness from the peat.

With Tonic:

Full-bodied and smooth as ever, this gin is bursting with flavour. Tonic adds to its sharp and bold flavour.

Signature Serve:

Sling Shot Irish Gin
The London Essence Grapefruit & Rosemary Tonic Water
A slice of grapefruit
Sprig of rosemary

Where To Find It

You'll be able to pick up a bottle of Sling Shot Irish Gin for €44.95.

You'll find it in The Celtic Whiskey Shop, Churchtown Stores, Deveney’s Off Licence, Dundrum, Higgins Off-Licence and SuperValu Churchtown as well as premium gin bars across the country.

Chin chin!