Bold reality: Drumshanbo’s Irish gin maker defies tariff pressures with rising revenue and profits. The Shed Distillery in Co Leitrim, known for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, reported improvements despite U.S. import tariffs and a stronger dollar impacting the business. For the year ending September 2025, revenue climbed 4% to €17.99 million, while pretax profit grew to €2.9 million from €2.81 million a year earlier, a 3.2% rise.
Pat Rigney, co-founder with his wife Denise Rigney, called the results a positive story in a tough market. He noted volumes were up more than 10%, though this was tempered by a weaker dollar and some price adjustments. He explained that overall market activity might be down 5-10%, depending on region, so the company’s performance represents a 15-20% outperformance against the broader market.
The U.S. remains one of Drumshanbo’s largest markets, with over 100,000 cases sold last year. Earlier in 2025, the distillery announced more than $3 million (€2.6 million) in US market investment, including a high-profile Times Square billboard to boost visibility.
Tariff impact was a concern. Rigney had previously estimated that the tariffs could add roughly $2-$3 to the price of a bottle. Initially, Drumshanbo and its U.S. distributor absorbed the tariff burden, with five percentage points of the current 15% tariff passed on to consumers. The company emphasized a long-term view: top-line growth, higher profits, and stronger volumes in a market expected to stabilize over the next two to three years, ideally returning to zero tariffs, the level that could have been expected before the policy shifts.
Looking ahead to 2026, Rigney warned of continued headwinds for the spirits sector but outlined ambitious plans. The brand is pursuing new collaborations, including a notable partnership with Italian mixologist Bruno Vanzan that is already energizing the brand in the US. Expansions are planned on multiple fronts: more than doubling Irish whiskey production starting in January, the introduction of Drumshanbo’s first 10-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey in February, and a €2 million upgrade to the Drumshanbo distillery’s visitor centre (with an Indian-themed concept) along with enhancements to bottling facilities.
Geographic diversification is in the cards as well, with a push into Asia and South America. Rigney described the strategy as a bold, ongoing effort to support distributors, deepen market presence, and accelerate innovation. He sees significant opportunities in 2026 and 2027, provided the team remains relentless in fieldwork and strategic investments amid market uncertainty.
