S6E15: PJ Rigney - The Curious Mind Behind Irish Gunpowder Gin
Our Irish Stew Drinks Party is back with PJ Rigney, founder of The Shed Distillery--home of the breakout star of the burgeoning Irish gin category, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, along with its Sausage Tree Irish Vodka, and Drumshanbo Irish Whiskey.
The magic happened when PJ rolled the dice after an innovative career in the global drinks industry to strike out on his own.
“To build a distillery is one thing, to create the product is another thing, but to create a way of communicating to consumers to build a brand is another thing entirely,” he says.
PJ wanted his distillery to be in the wild, un-manicured heart of rural Ireland, a place of curiosity & inspiration, surrounded by nature, immersed in rich history. He found it all in the beautiful village of Drumshanbo Co.Leitrim, on the shores of Lough Allen, at the foothills of Sliabh an Iarainn (The Iron Mountain).
His Shed Distillery is now a major contributor to the Leitrim economy and a draw for spirits enthusiasts and tourists worldwide.
Join us as we explore the role of innovation and storytelling in spirits sector success straight from the curious mind of PJ Rigney.
Links
The Shed Distillery
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
PJ Rigney
00:00 - Introduction
02:49 - The Origin of a Curious Mind
04:07 - From Rural Dublin
08:01 - Beverage Beginnings
11:35 - Baileys - Ice Based Growth
15:51 - From Intrapreneur to Entrepreneur
19:01 - Why Leitrim and Drumshanbo?
23:06 - Setting Up In Drumshanbo
25:26 - Making Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin
29:17 - Bottle and Branding
32:49 - DIstribution - Getting It Out There
37:10 - The Leitrim and Drumshanbo Edge
40:46 - Getting Gin From Leitrim to New York
42:31 - Tasting Drumshanbo Irish Whiskey Single Pot Still
46:09 - Tasting Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
48:40 - Seamus Plug
53:06 - John and Martin Recap
54:37 - Credits
Founder
Patrick "P.J." Rigney is an Irish spirits industry veteran and serial entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience building globally recognized brands. He is best known as the founder of The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, established in 2014, which has become the world's largest family-owned gin distillery.
Rigney began his career in the early 1980s in marketing roles with Bulmer's cider, Gilbey's Gin, and Carolan's Irish Cream before spending a decade with Baileys, where he created the innovative twin-bottle Sheridan's Irish Cream Liqueur. He later co-founded Boru Vodka and Clontarf Whiskey in 1999.
The Shed Distillery is renowned for producing Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which has earned numerous accolades including Best Gin in the World at the 2019 Flaviar Awards and Spirit Brand of the Year at Wine Enthusiast's 2022 Wine Star Awards. The distillery also produces Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka and Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, marking the first whiskey distilled in Connacht in over 101 years.
Nicknamed "the modern Marco Polo" of spirits, Rigney draws inspiration from his extensive travels across Asia, Africa, and Europe, incorporating exotic botanicals into his products. A University College Dublin graduate, he combines traditional artisanal methods with premium branding, creating spirits that tell compelling stories while revitalizing rural Irish communities through employment and sustainability initiatives.
