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
PJ Rigney
Founder
A University College Dublin graduate, PJ Rigney has worked in the drinks industry since the 1980s with such brands as Irish Mist, Baileys, Boru Vodka, and Clontarf Whiskey. He was the executive director at Baileys, where he created the Sheridan's brand.
Rigney chose Drumshanbo in County Leitrim as the location for The Shed Distillery because of its beauty, the connection he felt with the townspeople and the community's support.
His flagship product Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is made with botanicals from around the world and from nearby fields including gunpowder tea, meadowsweet, and fresh citrus.
Rigney has also developed PremierGrandCru Irish whiskey and SausageTree Pure Irish Vodka.
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