The Drumshanbo-based Irish gin producer is reporting rising revenue and profits for the year, despite having to absorb the hit from US tariffs and a weakening dollar. The Shed Distillery, maker of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, posted a 4% uplift in revenue to €17.99 million for the year ending September 2025. Pre-tax profit also increased, reaching €2.9 million from €2.81 million, up 3.2%.
“It’s a positive story in a very tough market,” noted Pat Rigney, who started the business with his wife Denise. “Our volumes are actually up by more than 10%, though we faced a weaker dollar and some price adjustments. The broader market is down roughly 5–10%, depending on the region, so our performance represents a gain of about 15–20% relative to the market.”
The United States remains a major market for Drumshanbo, with sales topping 100,000 cases last year. Earlier in 2025, the company revealed plans to invest over $3 million (€2.6 million) to strengthen the brand in the US, and it recently secured a prominent Times Square billboard to boost visibility.
Rigney had previously estimated that tariffs could add roughly $2–$3 to the cost of each bottle of the Irish gin. Initially, Drumshanbo and its US distributor absorbed the tariff impact, but Rigney indicated that five percentage points of the current 15% tariff would be passed on to consumers, with the remaining burden carried by the business and its distributor.
Despite these pressures, the company has grown its top line, earnings, and volumes, and remains focused on the long game. Rigney expects 2026 to be another challenging year for the spirits sector but believes the brand’s strategy is well-positioned to weather the headwinds. Notable plans for growth include a collaboration with Italian mixologist Bruno Vanzan that has already begun energizing the brand in the US, ongoing expansions in Irish whiskey production starting in January, and the launch of a 10-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey in February.
The Distillery is also investing €2 million to expand its visitor centre in Drumshanbo, featuring an Indian-themed concept, and to upgrade bottling facilities. A push into Asia and South America is underway as the company doubles down on market development, field presence, and distributor support. Rigney suggests that increased investment and ongoing innovation will be essential to navigate uncertainty and to seize opportunities anticipated in 2026 and 2027.
