Guided Tour to Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in Leitrim

The most appealing part of this two-hour visit is the finish: after a guided look at The Shed Distillery, you settle in at the Honey Badger bar for a Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic inside a botanical glasshouse. I like the mix of working-distillery detail and relaxed drink in a setting that feels connected to rural Leitrim.

I also like that the tour includes an expert tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, not just a quick look around the building. The $25.34 price is fair for a guided visit, two tastings, and a full two hours, though the remote Drumshanbo meeting point means you need to plan your transport carefully.

Key Points Before You Book

• A rare Connacht distillery: The Shed is described as the first distillery in Connacht in more than 101 years.
• Two distinct drinks: The experience includes a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey tasting and a Gunpowder Gin and Tonic.
• A memorable final stop: The Honey Badger bar sits in a botanical glasshouse, giving the last part of the tour a different feel from the production areas.
• A small-to-medium group: The maximum group size is 26 people, so this is not an enormous coach-style tasting.
• A two-hour commitment: You get enough time for explanation and sampling, but this is still a compact visit rather than a half-day distillery program.
• Good booking flexibility: You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time.

Why This Distillery Visit Is Different

The Shed Distillery is not presented as a standard old-world whiskey stop. It is tied to the curious spirit of PJ Rigney, whose creations include Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

That gives the visit a useful balance. You are not only hearing about one drink or one production method. You are being introduced to a wider range of spirits made under the Drumshanbo name, with gin and whiskey both playing a central role.

The setting matters, too. The distillery is at The Food Hub in Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. The wider tour location is sometimes described as Sligo, but the actual meeting point is in Drumshanbo, so check your route before booking. This is rural Ireland, not a city-centre attraction you can reach casually between museum visits.

The distillery is especially interesting in a regional context. The experience presents The Shed as the first distillery in Connacht in over 101 years. That claim gives the visit a sense of place. You are learning about a modern Irish spirits maker in a part of the country not usually associated with big distillery tourism.

What Happens Inside The Shed

The visit begins at The Shed Distillery, where the guided experience covers how whiskey and gin are made. The available information does not give a room-by-room route or a named guide, so you should expect the emphasis to be on the distillery story, production, ingredients, and the ideas behind the drinks rather than a fixed list of individual exhibits.

A useful part of the visit is the explanation of how gin is distilled and infused with botanical flavors. That is particularly helpful if you know gin mainly as a mixed drink. The tour gives you a chance to connect the finished taste in your glass with the production choices behind it.

The whiskey side has a different focus. Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey receives its own expert tasting, allowing you to pay attention to the spirit on its own. This is more valuable than simply being handed a drink at the end because you can compare the character of whiskey with the botanical profile of the gin that follows.

You should allow about two hours for the full activity. That is long enough to avoid a rushed tasting, but short enough to fit into a day of exploring County Leitrim or nearby Sligo. If you are hoping for a long food pairing, a broad flight of several spirits, or a full afternoon workshop, this tour may feel limited. Those extras are not listed.

The Whiskey Tasting: A Focused Middle Course

The Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey tasting is the most educational part for many people. It gives the guide a chance to discuss the drink itself rather than only describing the distillery in general terms.

The wording specifies an expert tasting with one of the distillery’s curious ambassadors. No ambassador’s name is provided, so there is no reliable way to request a particular guide. Still, the format suggests that you will have someone explaining the whiskey while you taste it, rather than receiving a sample with little context.

I like this structure because whiskey can be hard to judge without a point of reference. A guided tasting encourages you to slow down and notice what is in the glass. It also adds substance to the price. You are paying for access to the production site and for an informed tasting, not simply a drink at a bar.

Keep your expectations measured. The information confirms a whiskey tasting, but it does not state how many pours are included or whether other whiskeys are sampled. You should not book this expecting a large comparative flight. The clear promise is a tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

Finishing at the Honey Badger Bar

After the distillery visit and whiskey tasting, the experience ends with a Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic at the Honey Badger bar. This is included in the admission price.

The bar is located in a botanical glasshouse, which gives the final drink a change of mood. Instead of ending beside production equipment or with a quick sample at a counter, you get a place to sit with the drink and take in the setting. The glasshouse is one of the most distinctive details in the whole visit.

The gin and tonic also works as a useful contrast to the whiskey. The whiskey tasting asks you to focus on a spirit served on its own. The gin is presented in a familiar long-drink format, with the botanical character expressed through a refreshing mixed drink.

The final drink is a good reason to keep the schedule open after the formal part of the tour. The information says it is a chance to chat with other people on the visit, so you may prefer not to rush away the moment the guide finishes. If you are driving, remember that this is an alcohol-focused experience. The supplied details do not state any transport arrangement, so plan a safe way back before you arrive.

Is the $25.34 Price Good Value?

At $25.34 per person, the price is reasonable for a two-hour guided distillery experience that includes admission, an expert whiskey tasting, and a Gin and Tonic. The value is strongest if you enjoy spirits and would normally pay separately for a guided attraction and a quality drink.

The price also works well for people who want a compact activity. You receive more than a short talk and a sample, but you are not paying for a long luxury package. The structure is clear: distillery visit, whiskey tasting, then a gin and tonic in the glasshouse.

The value is less convincing if you are not interested in alcohol production. The tour is built around gin and whiskey, and the tasting element is not an optional side feature. You might still appreciate the rural setting and the regional story, but the main appeal is the drinks.

Group size affects the feel of the price. The maximum is 26 people. That is large enough for a lively shared tour, but small enough to avoid the scale of a major attraction with several dozen or hundreds of people. The actual group may be smaller, but you should plan for a group of up to 26.

Timing, Location, and Practical Planning

The meeting point is The Shed Distillery, The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, N41 WR22, Ireland. The tour ends back at the same meeting point, which makes planning simpler once you have arrived.

The listing places the experience in Sligo, but the address is in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. Treat the full address as the important detail. If you are staying in Sligo, measure the journey from your accommodation rather than assuming the tour is in Sligo town.

The distillery is near public transportation, though no specific bus or rail route is given. Because of that, I would check the final connection before committing to a start time. Rural transport can be less forgiving than city transport, and missing the start of a timed tour can spoil the visit.

The tour is offered in English. Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. No special fitness level is stated, but the activity takes place over roughly two hours, so you may want to ask the provider directly if you need precise information about seating, walking distances, or interior access.

It is commonly booked about 13 days ahead. That is a useful planning guide, not a rule. If your schedule is fixed, booking around two weeks in advance gives you a better chance of getting your preferred date.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

This tour suits you if you like understanding how drinks are made and want both whiskey and gin in the same visit. It is also a good fit if you are building a day around rural Leitrim and want a structured activity with a clear two-hour length.

Gin fans will appreciate the focus on Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and the botanical glasshouse finish. Whiskey drinkers may find the Single Pot Still tasting more useful, especially if they prefer learning how a spirit tastes rather than simply ordering it in a pub.

The visit also works for couples and small groups who want a social stop. The included Gin and Tonic gives you a natural pause at the end, and the Honey Badger bar provides a place to chat rather than immediately returning to the road.

It may be less suitable if you want a child-focused attraction, a nonalcoholic activity, or a very detailed technical workshop. The available information does not describe family programming, alternative drinks, food service, or hands-on production. I would choose it for spirits first, scenery and local color second.

Booking and Cancellation Advice

You receive confirmation when you book. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time, based on local time.

Cancel within 24 hours and the payment is not refunded. Changes made within that same period are not accepted. This is a fairly standard policy, but it matters if your Ireland route depends on changing weather, rural transport, or a tight driving schedule.

I would book once your Drumshanbo plans are firm, then keep the confirmation handy with the full address. The activity returns to the meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate end location.

Should You Book The Shed Distillery Tour?

Book it if you want a well-priced, two-hour introduction to a modern Irish distillery with two different drinking experiences. The whiskey tasting gives the visit substance, while the Gunpowder Gin and Tonic in the botanical glasshouse gives it an enjoyable finish.

The main caution is location. Make sure you are prepared to reach Drumshanbo in County Leitrim, even if you first saw the experience described under Sligo. If you are comfortable with that journey and enjoy gin or whiskey, $25.34 is a sensible price for the time and inclusions.

I would pass if you are looking for a broad spirits flight, a full-day production course, or an attraction that does not revolve around alcohol. For everyone else, The Shed offers a compact, distinctive stop with a strong regional identity and a pleasant drink waiting at the end.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at The Shed Distillery, The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, County 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 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.

Is the Gin and Tonic included in the price?

Yes. The refreshing Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Tonic at the Honey Badger bar is included.

Is the whiskey tasting included?

Yes. The guided experience includes a tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

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.

Is the distillery near public transportation?

Yes. The experience is described as being near public transportation, although no specific route is provided.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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