Lough Ree Distillery, in Lanesborough, County Longford, where the River Shannon flows into Lough Ree, describes itself as the first distillery ever to distil peat as a botanical in gin. For Sling Shot Gin, it makes four separate distillates, one of them with local peat, in a small copper pot still fitted with a vapour-infusion column, then blends them at the distillery before bottling at 41.7% ABV. The peat is distilled with the other botanicals rather than added afterwards as a smoky flavouring, a fitting choice in a region of the Irish Midlands long shaped by its peat bogs.

Citrus · Spicy · Herbal · Earthy

The botanical list is long: juniper, angelica, cardamom, coriander, fresh lemon, fresh orange, sweet orange, orris, fresh mint, lemon balm, peat, pink grapefruit and celery seed, which adds a savoury, green note. The name recalls a local legend: Queen Maeve of Connacht is said to have been killed on an island in Lough Ree by a stone, or in some versions a piece of hard cheese, fired from a sling by her nephew Furbaide.

Fresh citrus and mint lead the nose, with juniper and cardamom adding a firmer, spicy line. The mouthfeel is rich and smooth, and the peat brings depth and a rounded, earthy finish rather than an aggressive smoky taste. Mint returns at the end with a cooling lift, so the gin stays bright despite its earthy base, and lemon balm adds a soft, lemony herbal touch.

For a gin and tonic, fill the glass with ice, add Indian tonic, squeeze a wedge of lime over the drink and drop it in with a small sprig of fresh mint. The lime sharpens the citrus, and the mint echoes one of the botanicals. The earthy finish also makes it an interesting base for a Negroni or a dry Martini with a twist of orange.