The Shed Distillery — County Leitrim Single Malt Whisky

The Shed Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery located in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland. It was founded in 2013 and is currently owned by its founder, drinks entrepreneur PJ Rigney. It holds the distinction of being the first distillery to open in the Connacht province of Ireland in over a century, and is best known internationally for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.

History

The Shed Distillery was founded in 2013 by PJ Rigney, a veteran of the Irish drinks industry with a background in brands such as Cooley Distillery and Boru Vodka. Rigney set up the distillery on the shores of Lough Allen in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, converting agricultural sheds on the site into a working distillery — a heritage reflected in the company's name. Production began in December 2014, making it the first distillery to open in Connacht, Ireland's western province, in more than 100 years. The distillery first built its reputation with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, a small-batch gin flavoured with gunpowder green tea alongside juniper and botanicals, before releasing its first whiskey. In 2020, the company completed a €3 million redevelopment of the site, opening a purpose-built visitor centre with a still house, tasting rooms, the Honey Badger Bar and the Jackalope Café, offering guided "Curious Journey" distillery tours. The Shed Distillery has since expanded into a genuine multi-spirit producer, releasing Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey — its first global whiskey release — alongside Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka, while continuing to produce and export its gin range worldwide.

Quick Facts

• Region: County Leitrim, Connacht, Ireland
• Founded: 2013 (production began December 2014)
• Owner: PJ Rigney
• Status: Active
• Stills: Traditional copper pot stills

Core Range

The Shed Distillery's core range centres on Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (43% ABV, non-age-stated), distilled from a mashbill of malted and unmalted barley with a portion of Irish Barra oats, and matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks. The distillery is equally well known for its gin range, led by Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin (43% ABV), a small-batch gin flavoured with gunpowder green tea, alongside limited-edition variants including California Orange Citrus, Sardinian Citrus and Italian Fig & Laurel editions. The range is completed by Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka.