It’s a challenging market for what is Connacht’s first distillery in 101 years, but CETA - the EU’s new trade agreement with Canada - opened some great export opportunities to this major global market. International markets manager, Eva Kelly, travelled over to Canada personally so The Shed could hit the ground running.
The visit coincided with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin winning the prestigious Flaviar Award, which annually presents Best Spirit ‘Oscars’ to just five of 22,000 eligible premium spirits.
Launching the brand in Canada is very significant in terms of what it means for the wider Drumshanbo community and employment in rural Ireland.
“The people of Drumshanbo have shared our vision of partnership, sustainability, employment and a thriving rural community from the very beginning,” says Patrick J Rigney, founder and managing director of The Shed Distillery.
“The remarkable international response to our first brand – Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin – has been fundamental in bringing this vision to life.
“We had just two employees when we launched in December 2014. Following the incredible international response to Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin since its launch in April 2016, the number of employees had risen to 32. Securing this listing in Canada - one of the world’s largest markets - will be key to further job creation.”
It is still very early days for The Shed Distillery but there are plans to launch a premier ‘grand cru’ Irish Whiskey brand, which will be the first whiskey distilled in Connacht for over a century.
“We will continue to reinvest as much as we can into the business for many years to come,” says Rigney.
“The continued ambitious international growth of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka, along with our new Visitor Experience will bring employee numbers at the distillery from 32 to 50 in 2020.”
- Project locations
- Co. Leitrim, Ireland