Guided Tour to Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in Leitrim

The best part of this tour is the mix of working distillery access and tasting time. You get a look at the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, then finish in a botanical glasshouse with a gin and tonic in hand. It feels more personal than a quick sample at a shop counter.

I like the clear two-hour format, which gives you enough time to learn how spirits are distilled and flavoured without taking up a full day. I also like the value: the visit costs about $25.34 per person and includes the guided experience, a whiskey tasting, and a final gin and tonic. The main thing to consider is the location. The meeting address is in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, so check your route carefully if you are planning this as a day trip from Sligo.

Key points to know

• See Connacht’s first new distillery in more than 101 years: The Shed Distillery brings a notable piece of modern Irish distilling to rural Drumshanbo.
• Taste both whiskey and gin: The guided visit includes Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and ends with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic.
• Finish at the Honey Badger bar: Your last drink is served in a striking botanical glasshouse rather than at the start of the tour.
• Allow two hours: The schedule is long enough for explanation, tasting, and conversation, but short enough to fit into a wider Leitrim itinerary.
• Expect an English-language tour: No other tour language is listed.
• Plan for a small-to-medium group: The maximum group size is 26 people, which should keep the visit manageable without promising a private feel.

A modern Irish distillery in rural Drumshanbo

The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney sits at The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. This is the home of several spirits from PJ Rigney’s distilling company, including Gunpowder Irish Gin and Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

The setting matters. You are not visiting a famous old city distillery in central Dublin. You are heading into rural Ireland to see a newer operation that claims the distinction of being the first distillery in Connacht in more than 101 years. That gives the tour a useful sense of place. It connects the drinks in your glass with a particular corner of the country.

The experience is fully guided and offered in English. A curious ambassador leads you through the visit, although no individual guide names are supplied, so you should not expect to request a particular host.

What happens during the two-hour visit

The entire experience takes about two hours and begins at the distillery entrance. You return to the same meeting point at the end, which keeps the logistics simple.

The first part focuses on the distillery and its production story. You can expect an explanation of how whiskey and gin are distilled, along with discussion of the botanical flavours used in gin. This is the part that gives the tasting some context. Instead of simply being handed a glass, you learn why the spirits taste the way they do.

The visit is built around curiosity and experimentation, reflecting PJ Rigney’s range of creations. The information provided does not give a detailed room-by-room route or name each piece of equipment, so I would not book this expecting a technical engineering tour. It is better suited to someone who wants a guided introduction to the drinks, their ingredients, and the people behind them.

The pace should work well for mixed groups. Anyone already interested in spirits gets a closer look at the process, while a first-time distillery visitor can follow along without needing prior knowledge. The short format also helps if you have other plans in Leitrim.

Why the whiskey tasting matters

The tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a central part of the visit. It gives you a chance to focus on the whiskey on its own, after hearing how the spirit is made.

Single pot still whiskey is a distinctly Irish style, and the tasting gives the tour more substance than a simple gin promotion. You can compare the character of the whiskey with what you learn about distillation, rather than treating the bottle as just another souvenir.

The supplied details do not specify how many whiskey pours you receive or how large they are. That is worth keeping in mind if the tasting is your main reason for booking. The experience promises an expert tasting of the Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, but it does not provide a full tasting menu or a detailed list of pours.

Still, the structure makes sense. You learn first, taste second, and then move to the final drink. If you enjoy asking questions about flavour, ingredients, or the difference between whiskey and gin, this is the point where the visit should feel most useful.

Understanding the gin and its botanicals

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is the distillery’s best-known creation, and the visit explains how botanical flavours are infused into gin. That detail came through strongly in the experience feedback, with particular interest in learning how different botanicals shape the final drink.

Gin can be an easy spirit to oversimplify. A tour that talks about botanicals helps you pay attention to the separate aromas and flavours rather than tasting only the alcohol and tonic. You may find that this changes how you approach the final gin and tonic at the bar.

The precise botanicals covered during the tour are not listed, so I would avoid expecting a complete ingredient lecture. What you should expect is a practical explanation of how flavour is built into the gin and how the distillation process affects the result.

This section should appeal to both gin drinkers and curious beginners. If you usually order gin and tonic without thinking much about the spirit, the tour offers a reason to slow down and notice what is in the glass.

The Honey Badger bar and botanical glasshouse finish

The visit ends at the Honey Badger bar inside a botanical glasshouse. This is a pleasant change of mood after the production and tasting sections. Instead of finishing beside the equipment, you settle into a more relaxed setting with a refreshing Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic.

That final drink is included, which improves the overall value of the admission price. It also gives you time to chat with other people in the group, an aspect that can make a guided tasting feel less formal and more social.

The glasshouse is one of the most distinctive details of the tour. It gives the final drink a setting that feels tied to the botanical side of gin, even though the supplied information does not describe its size, seating, or plant collection in detail.

You should think of this as part of the tour rather than an optional bar stop. The visit is designed to end with the gin and tonic, so if you do not drink alcohol, the available non-alcoholic option is not stated. Service animals are allowed, but no other specific seating or facility details are provided.

Is $25.34 good value?

At about $25.34 per person, this is a fair price for a two-hour guided distillery visit with two tasting elements. You receive a guided explanation of the production process, a whiskey tasting, and a gin and tonic at the end.

The value is strongest if you are already planning to visit the Drumshanbo area. You get a focused activity without committing to a full day, and the included drinks mean the price is not simply paying for access to a building.

The value is less clear if you must make a long detour to reach the distillery. The address is in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, even though the experience is associated with Sligo in some booking information. Check the map and driving time before you reserve. A good-priced tour can become less attractive when it requires a costly or awkward journey.

For spirit fans, the chance to taste the Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and Gunpowder Gin in their home distillery adds weight to the price. For people who do not drink whiskey or gin, the visit may offer less benefit unless you are especially interested in the production story.

Group size, timing, and the feel of the tour

The maximum group size is 26 people. That is not a private tour, but it is also not an enormous crowd. Your experience will depend on the final number booked and on how much time the guide can give to questions.

The two-hour duration is one of the tour’s practical strengths. It gives the guide room to explain the process and lead a tasting, while leaving much of the day free for other plans. I would place it in the middle of a day in Leitrim rather than treat it as the only reason to make the journey.

The tour is offered in English. If you are comfortable following an English-language explanation of distilling and tasting, the format should be straightforward. No alternate language options are listed.

The activity begins and ends at The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney, The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, N41 WR22, Ireland. Since the end point is the meeting point, you do not need to arrange a separate pickup or find your way back to another part of town.

Who will enjoy this distillery experience?

I would recommend this tour to adults who want a short, guided introduction to Irish spirits. It suits people who enjoy learning how drinks are made, as well as those who simply want to taste whiskey and gin in the place where they are produced.

It is also a good fit for couples, small groups, and visitors building a wider route through County Leitrim. The final drink at the Honey Badger bar adds a social touch, so you do not need to be a serious whiskey collector to enjoy the visit.

You may want to skip it if you are looking for a long technical tour, a large selection of whiskey samples, or a private tasting. The details promise one expert whiskey tasting and one gin and tonic, not an extensive flight of spirits.

It may also be a poor match if you dislike alcohol or have no interest in how gin and whiskey are made. The tour’s strongest features are the production explanation and tastings, so those should be part of your reason for booking.

Practical points before you reserve

Confirmation is provided when you book. The experience accepts service animals, is near public transportation, and is suitable for most people to participate in. No special fitness requirement is stated.

The group can include up to 26 people. If you prefer a quieter or more personal tasting, booking on a date with lower demand may help, though the available information does not identify which dates are least busy.

This activity is often booked about 13 days ahead. That gives you a useful planning guide. You do not necessarily need to reserve months in advance, but leaving it until the last moment may limit your choice of times, especially if your Ireland route is fixed.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. That policy is fairly flexible for normal trip planning, but it does not protect you from a same-day change of plans.

The best way to fit it into your Ireland route

Because the meeting point is in Drumshanbo, I would build the tour around the distillery rather than assume it is a quick stop from Sligo city. The listing identifies Sligo as the location, but the full address places the activity in County Leitrim. Use the exact Eircode, N41 WR22, when checking your route.

Arrive with enough time to find The Food Hub and settle in before the scheduled start. The tour ends where it begins, so you can leave your onward plans simple.

If you are travelling with someone who does not drink, check the available arrangements before booking. The experience includes alcoholic tastings, and no alternative drink is specified. Service animals are allowed, but other accessibility details are not provided.

The final gin and tonic may be the most enjoyable part for some people, while others will prefer the whiskey tasting or the explanation of botanical flavours. That range is useful. You are not relying on one short sample to justify the price.

Should you book The Shed Distillery tour?

I would book this if you are interested in Irish gin or whiskey and will already be in the Drumshanbo area. The combination of a guided production visit, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey tasting, and Gunpowder Gin and Tonic at the Honey Badger bar offers solid value at about $25.34.

I would pause if you are based in Sligo and would need a lengthy detour, or if you want a specialist whiskey tasting with many pours. The tour is a well-priced introduction, not an all-day spirits course.

For most people who enjoy a practical explanation, a taste of local production, and a relaxed drink in an unusual glasshouse setting, it is a sensible addition to a Leitrim itinerary. Just confirm the route, allow two hours, and book at least a few days ahead if your schedule is tight.

FAQ

Where does the distillery tour begin and end?

It begins and ends at The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney, The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, N41 WR22, Ireland.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

What drinks are included?

The experience includes an expert tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and a Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic at the Honey Badger bar.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 26 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.