Guided Tour to Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in Leitrim

A dram in rural Ireland, made simple. The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney tour is a tight, guided look at how Irish whiskey and gin come to life, then you get to taste the results. I like that it is built for real learning in a short time, not a long lecture.

Two things I especially like. First, you get an expert tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish Whiskey with a guided ambassador. Second, the tour ends with a refreshing Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and tonic at the Honey Badger bar inside the botanical glasshouse.

One thing to consider before you go: this experience is centered on alcohol tastings, so it is best if you are happy to participate in the tasting portion and take your time with it.

Key highlights you will care about

• Two guided tastings included: Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish Whiskey, then Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and tonic
• Honey Badger bar in a botanical glasshouse gives the last part a cool, relaxed feel
• A small group size (up to 26) means more talking time than in big bus tours
• Focused on Connacht distilling at the first distillery in Connacht in over 101 years
• Admission ticket included so you are not doing surprise add-ons at the door
• English-language tour makes it easy to follow the process and the flavor notes

A two-hour tour that gets to the point in Drumshanbo

This is one of those Ireland experiences where the timing is friendly. The tour runs about 2 hours, and it stays focused on what matters: a guided inside look at the distillery and two tastings that show you what the brands are about.

The group size also helps. With a maximum of 26 people, you get more chance for back-and-forth questions, and the guide can keep things moving without feeling rushed. If you are doing Sligo and the wider area, it fits neatly into a day without eating up your whole afternoon.

And yes, there is real value in the price. At $25.34 per person, you are paying for guidance plus admission plus tasting time, not just a quick look around.

Finding your starting point: The Food Hub, Carricknabrack

You will meet at The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim (N41 WR22), Ireland. The good news is that the tour notes say it is near public transportation, so it is not one of those experiences that feels impossible without a car.

Plan to arrive a bit early so you can settle in before the group heads into the distillery. That small buffer matters with tours that include tastings, because once you start, the clock is on.

The tour ends back at the same meeting point, so you do not have to worry about figuring out a second location after the drinks are poured.

Entering The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney

The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney is all about the contrast between rural Ireland and a working distillery that is built for curious people. The tour frames it as the inner sanctum of the first distillery in Connacht in over 101 years, which gives the whole visit a sense of comeback and purpose.

Inside, the focus is guided and practical. You are not just looking at equipment behind glass. You are learning how Drumshanbo’s whiskey and gin are made and then tasting the end products that those processes create.

What I like most here is the pacing. The experience is built to keep you engaged from the first moment, then move you toward flavor through explanation, and finally through tasting. It feels like the guide is translating the craft into something you can actually understand in one visit.

The whiskey tasting that sets the flavor baseline

Stop one is the heart of the tour: a fully guided tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish Whiskey. You will taste it with an expert ambassador who guides you through what you should notice as you smell and sip.

From my perspective, this part works because it sets a baseline. Whiskey and gin can blur together if you just drink them. The whiskey tasting first gives your palate structure, so when you move into the gin later, you are picking up the botanical character with more clarity.

You also get the key learning point behind the scenes. The tour is designed to teach you how whiskey is distilled and how that connects to the flavors you experience in the glass. In the reviews, this was a standout because people felt they learned something real, not just watched a process.

One practical consideration: tasting is not a race. If you want the learning to land, take small sips and listen for the guide’s flavor cues. If you rush, you will miss the whole point of the tasting.

Finishing with gin and tonic at Honey Badger bar

After the whiskey, the tour ends with a relaxing finale: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and tonic at the Honey Badger bar. This is served in their botanical glasshouse, which makes the last part feel like a reward rather than another classroom moment.

The gin part matters because it is explicitly tied to botanicals. You will connect what you learned about infusion with what you taste in the drink. That connection is where the experience turns from interesting to satisfying.

I also like that the ending naturally encourages conversation. The tour format includes guided time, but it does not cut you off right after the last tasting. Reviews highlight the chance to chat and compare notes with others in your group, which adds a friendly social layer without turning it into a party.

And since the gin and tonic is part of the included experience, you avoid the usual tourist math of figuring out whether it is worth buying a drink at the end.

Price and value: what $25.34 really buys

Let’s talk value, because that is the question that usually sits under the excitement. At $25.34 per person, you are getting:

• A guided distillery experience
• Admission included
• Tasting of Drumshanbo Single Pot Irish Whiskey
• A final drink: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and tonic

That combination matters. If you were to pay separately for a tour, then buy tastings, you would likely spend more for less structure. Here, the price bundles the key elements into a single, timed experience.

The other value is the time itself. Two hours is long enough to learn and taste, but short enough to fit into a real itinerary. You do not need a full day set aside, and you can pair this with other sights around Sligo and the north-west.

Also, the tour being in English removes one more uncertainty. You can follow what you are tasting and why, instead of guessing at explanations.

Who should book this Shed Distillery tour

This tour is a strong fit if you like craft food and drink experiences and you want the story behind what you taste. It is especially good for people who enjoy gin and whiskey and want an introduction that connects process to flavor.

You will probably have a better time if you are:

• Interested in the basics of distilling and botanical infusion
• Comfortable trying a couple of drinks in a guided setting
• Looking for a small-group experience, not a crowded rush

It might be less ideal if you do not want to participate in tastings at all. Since the tour is structured around whiskey first and gin at the end, the whole flow depends on that tasting portion.

Booking timing and how to get the most out of it

The tour is typically booked about 13 days in advance, which suggests it is popular enough that you should not wait until the last minute. If your plans are firm, reserve early so you get the time that works best with your day around Sligo and County Leitrim.

Also, consider how you will get there. The tour says it is near public transportation, but your exact route will depend on what is running when you travel. If you are using transit, give yourself a little extra margin to reach the meeting point calmly.

Finally, if you want the experience to feel worth your attention, go in with a simple mindset: taste slowly, ask questions when the guide prompts you, and pay attention to the difference between whiskey character and gin character. That is how the tour earns its 2 hours.

Should you book the Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney tour?

Yes, if you want a focused, small-group intro to Irish whiskey and gin that actually explains what you are tasting. The standout points for me are the two guided tastings and the smooth ending at the Honey Badger bar in the botanical glasshouse, all wrapped into a 2-hour format that does not drag.

Skip it only if you are not interested in tasting. If you are even mildly curious about how whiskey and gin reflect distillation and botanical infusion, this is the kind of Ireland stop that pays off fast and leaves you with something more than photos.

FAQ

How long is the Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney guided tour?

It runs for about 2 hours.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at The Food Hub, Carricknabrack, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim (N41 WR22), Ireland, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $25.34 per person.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 26 travelers.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.