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18th Mar 2018

The makers of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin have launched a new vodka, with a fittingly eye-catching name

Dave Hanratty

Sausage Tree Vodka

The bottle is something else, too…

P.J. Rigney of Leitrim’s Shed Distillery fame has officially launched his newest creation, following on from the huge success of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.

Unveiled in Düsseldorf at the international ProWein Trade Fair on Sunday; Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka will hit Irish shelves in May.

The 43% strength alcohol will retail between €43 – €49 and is inspired by the Kigelia africana plant, or “sausage tree.”

Thus that rather arresting name. The red-soaked bottle, meanwhile, proclaims that “Nature has no place for the weak” alongside ‘curious markings’ so you know it’s exotic.

The Shed’s ambitious new vodka marks a combination of the Kigelia plant’s “curative and purifying powers” along with the wild Irish nettle that grows in the Drumshanbo woodlands.

Its launch arrives at an especially fruitful time for the Shed, as it prepares to throw open the doors of a €1.5 million visitor experience in 2019, which will see the creation of 22 new jobs at the distillery.

What’s more, the vodka was served up to 600 dignitaries including Leo Varadkar at a St. Patrick’s Day reception in Washington on Friday.

No word on whether it had any effect on the Taoiseach’s disastrous emoji game come Saturday, though.

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