New Irish gin to be launched at ProWein trade show

Entrepreneur plans to produce 100,000 litres of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin in 2016

Spirits entrepreneur Pat Rigney will launch a new gin on the market in March, from his one-year-old Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin it will be launched at the ProWein trade show in Dusseldorf.

Mr Rigney expects to produce 100,000 litres of the gin in 2016, mostly for export. He has already achieved forward sales in Asia. This will almost double production at the distillery, which produced about 120,000 litres of whiskey in its first year. It follows a €250,000 investment in capacity by the company, which is backed by Enterprise Ireland.

The distillery has agreed a partnership with Germany’s third largest drinks company, Hardenberg Wilthen, and will produce a bespoke whiskey and gin for them.

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times