Guided Tour to Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in Leitrim

The best part of this experience is its setting and finish: you visit The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney, the first distillery in Connacht in more than a century, then sip a Gunpowder Gin and Tonic in the Honey Badger bar’s glasshouse. It is a good way to connect a rural Irish place with the drinks made there.

I like the clear two-hour format and the tasting balance. You learn about both whiskey and gin, taste Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, and get a refreshing gin and tonic at the end. The main thing to watch is the location: the experience is marketed from Sligo, but the meeting point is in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, so check your route carefully.

Key points to know before booking

• Two drinks, two styles: Learn about whiskey production and gin botanicals, then taste both in different ways.
• A rare Connacht distillery: The Shed is described as the first distillery in Connacht in over 101 years.
• The glasshouse finale: Your included Gunpowder Gin and Tonic is served at the Honey Badger bar in a botanical glasshouse.
• Small enough to follow: The group limit is 26 people, making the guide’s explanation easier to hear than at a large factory tour.
• A compact half-day plan: The visit lasts about two hours and ends where it begins.
• Good value for drinkers: At $25.34 per person, the price includes admission, a whiskey tasting, and a gin and tonic.

Why The Shed Distillery makes a good rural Ireland stop

The Shed Distillery gives you more than a look at bottles on a shelf. It places the drinks in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, an inland part of Ireland that many visitors pass over while rushing between better-known stops.

The distillery was created by PJ Rigney, whose creations include Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. The tour presents the site as the first distillery in Connacht in more than 101 years, which gives the visit a clear sense of place. You are not touring a generic drinks brand with the same presentation found in every country. The focus is one producer, one rural setting, and the methods behind its particular bottles.

That local connection matters if you are already spending time around Sligo or Leitrim. You get a reason to stop in Drumshanbo rather than simply treating it as a point on the map. The experience also suits a day when you want something indoors, structured, and easy to fit around other plans.

Still, the Sligo label can cause confusion. The actual start point is The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, N41 WR22. If you are staying in Sligo, do not assume the tour begins in the city. Plan the drive or public transport connection from the exact address.

Entering The Shed and meeting the story behind the bottles

The visit begins at The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney. The supplied details do not name the individual guide, but the tour is led by an expert ambassador. The ambassador takes you through the distillery and explains how whiskey is distilled, along with how gin is infused with different botanical flavours.

That combination gives the tour a useful rhythm. Whiskey and gin are often grouped together simply because both are spirits, but they offer different ways to talk about flavour. Whiskey begins with grain and gains character through distillation and maturation. Gin depends heavily on the botanicals used during infusion. The tour lets you compare those ideas instead of focusing on only one drink.

You should expect a fully guided experience rather than a self-guided walk. That is important for a working distillery visit, because equipment and production areas can make little sense without explanation. The guide’s job is to connect the process with the glass in front of you.

The experience has a maximum group size of 26. That is not an intimate private tour, but it is still a manageable number for a guided tasting. If you have ever stood at the back of a large tour group trying to hear a production talk, you will understand why this limit matters. The number also leaves room for conversation, which is part of the appeal of the visit.

Whiskey first: tasting Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

A central part of the tour is an expert tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. This is more than a quick sample added as an afterthought. The tasting gives you a practical way to connect the production explanation with a finished spirit.

The wording of the experience points to a tasting led by the ambassador, so you can expect some guidance on what you are drinking. The information does not specify the number of whiskey samples, the pour size, or the exact tasting notes, so you should not book expecting a full flight or a formal spirits course.

What you do get is a focused introduction to one of the distillery’s key creations. If you are new to Irish whiskey, this part can help you understand the difference between hearing about a spirit and actually assessing its aroma, taste, and finish. If you already know whiskey, you may find the value in learning how this particular bottle fits into The Shed’s wider range.

The whiskey tasting is also the strongest reason to book if your interest is spirits rather than architecture. You are not paying only for access to a building. The price includes an arranged tasting with an expert ambassador, which makes the experience feel more purposeful.

Keep in mind that alcohol is part of the tour. The information does not state whether non-alcoholic alternatives are available. If someone in your group does not drink, check with The Shed Distillery before booking rather than assuming another tasting will be provided.

Gin, botanicals, and the Honey Badger glasshouse

The visit finishes at the Honey Badger bar with a Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin and Tonic. This is a smart ending because it changes the pace. After the guided production talk and whiskey tasting, you get a more relaxed drink in a different setting.

The glasshouse is described as botanical, which fits the gin theme especially well. Gin depends on the character of its botanicals, and the setting gives that part of the story a natural visual link. You are not simply handed a drink at the door. The final serve takes place in a dedicated bar area with its own atmosphere.

The drink is included in the tour price. That makes the final stop more useful than a paid add-on, especially if you are comparing this experience with other distillery visits. The included gin and tonic also gives you a chance to taste the finished product in a simple, familiar form after hearing about its botanical ingredients.

The balance between the two tastings is one of the tour’s strongest features. Whiskey fans get a dedicated tasting, while gin fans get a full drink at the end. The visit does not force you to choose one style of spirit.

The limitation is that the available details do not say which botanicals are used, how the gin is served, or whether you can select a tonic. If those details matter to you, ask at the distillery. The useful point is certain: the Gunpowder Gin and Tonic is part of the experience and is served at the Honey Badger bar.

What two hours feels like here

Two hours is a comfortable length for this kind of visit. It is long enough to cover the distillery, explain the two spirit styles, taste the whiskey, and allow time for the final drink. It is also short enough to combine with other plans in Leitrim.

The stated duration is approximate, so leave a little room around the booking if you have a tight onward connection. The activity begins and ends at the same meeting point, which makes planning easier once you arrive. You do not need to arrange a separate return location.

A two-hour tour works especially well for:

• A couple building a drinks-focused day in Leitrim
• Friends looking for an indoor activity
• Visitors staying near Sligo who are prepared to travel to Drumshanbo
• Whiskey drinkers who also want to try a gin made at the same distillery
• People who prefer a guided visit with a clear start and finish

It may be less suitable if you want a long technical tour of every production stage, a large formal tasting, or a full day built around food and spirits. The available details point to a concise introduction, not an advanced distilling workshop.

Is $25.34 a fair price?

At $25.34 per person, the tour offers solid value for a two-hour visit. Admission is included, as is the Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey tasting and the Gunpowder Gin and Tonic at the end. You are paying for both the explanation and the drinks, not just a walk through the facility.

The value improves if you enjoy both whiskey and gin. A single-spirit tasting might leave one person in your group less interested, but this visit gives the group two different points of focus. The glasshouse drink also gives the experience a pleasant final stop rather than ending immediately after the production talk.

Price alone should not decide the booking. Add the cost and time of reaching Drumshanbo from your base in Sligo, and consider how the distillery fits into your day. If you are already nearby, $25.34 is an easy price to justify. If you need a long detour, you should be sure the combination of whiskey, gin, and rural setting matches your interests.

The experience has a 4.8 rating from 82 reviews and is recommended by 95 percent of customers. Those figures support the idea that the tour delivers what it promises, but they do not change the practical question of location. A well-liked tour can still be a poor choice if it sits too far from your route.

Planning the visit in Drumshanbo

The meeting point is The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney, The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, N41 WR22. Put the full address into your navigation system rather than searching only for Sligo.

The tour is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the location is near public transportation. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed notes about surfaces, stairs, seating, or hearing support. If you need a specific accommodation, contact the provider before reserving.

The group can include up to 26 people. That size gives you a social setting without the scale of a major attraction. One published comment specifically valued the chance to chat with other people at the end over the gin and tonic. That is worth noting if you enjoy meeting fellow drinkers, though it also means the final bar time is shared rather than private.

Plan on being at the meeting point for the full two hours. The activity ends back there, so any transport arrangements should be made from Drumshanbo rather than from Sligo city.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time, so check the booking time carefully if you are arranging the visit from another time zone.

Who will enjoy this distillery tour most?

I would recommend this experience first to people who want a clear, social introduction to Irish spirits. You do not need specialist knowledge to take part. The guided format, paired tastings, and moderate length make it approachable.

It is also a good pick for anyone who likes seeing how a product connects to its home. The visit is tied to Drumshanbo and PJ Rigney’s creations, rather than offering a general lecture about spirits with no local link.

Gin drinkers should not skip it just because the whiskey tasting comes first. The Gunpowder Gin and Tonic at the Honey Badger bar is an important part of the visit, and the botanical glasshouse gives the finish its own identity.

Whiskey drinkers may find the tasting more valuable than the gin portion, especially if Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is new to them. The best fit, though, is a group with mixed tastes. One person gets a serious whiskey sample, another gets a gin and tonic, and everyone gets the same guided introduction.

Families with children should check directly with the provider before booking. The supplied information confirms service animals are allowed and says most participants can take part, but it does not state an age policy.

Should you book The Shed Distillery tour?

Book it if you are interested in whiskey, gin, or the making of spirits, and you can reach Drumshanbo without turning the visit into an awkward detour. The combination of a guided distillery visit, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey tasting, and Gunpowder Gin and Tonic gives you good value for $25.34.

I would be especially keen to include it in a Leitrim or Sligo-area plan that has room for a two-hour stop. The botanical glasshouse finale and the chance to compare whiskey with gin make it more varied than a single tasting.

Skip it if you are not interested in alcohol, need a fully detailed accessibility plan, or expect a long technical workshop. For the right audience, this is a compact and well-priced way to meet one of Connacht’s modern distilleries on its own ground.

FAQ

Where does the Shed Distillery tour begin?

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

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at The Shed Distillery.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

What language is the tour offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

What drinks are included?

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

How large can the tour group be?

The maximum group size is 26 people.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed on the experience.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.