Best Gin celebrates
From left: Thomas Short from Zozimus and Patrick J Rigney celebrate Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin’s winning of the first-ever Best Gin ‘Oscar’ for an Irish gin.
Dublin’s Zozimus bar & cocktail venue threw a gala party in honour of Leitrim brand Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin’s winning the Best Gin Award 2019 at the Flaviar Spirit Awards in New York.
The win has boosted the gin’s popularity across the world resulting in the brand landing in 10 new countries in just six months, with Finland becoming the 50th international market to list the brand.
This growth has led to 25 new jobs for Leitrim over the next 18 months – which will bring to 60 the total employed there – and moves to increase capacity at The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in Drumshanbo.
The experts at Zozimus teamed up with The Shed Distillery mixologists to make the night a Shed Distillery ‘Takeover’, creating an exclusive menu of remarkable cocktails featuring Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin & Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka.
The Rolling Donut got in on the celebrations creating a special ‘Flaviar Award’ donut bearing the blue & white Finnish Flag. Butler’s Chocolates also added to the celebrations – sending along exclusive Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Butler’s Chocolate truffles for all.
Despite hectic international commitments Patrick J Rigney himself turned out to celebrate with his team & thank the many well-wishers in attendance.
“We never imagined we would be in 50 countries across the world in just over three years,” he said, “The support from the Irish drinks trade has been crucial to building the brand internationally and we’re so fortunate to have such an exceptional team at The Shed Distillery who slow-distil every precious drop of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin and proudly fill, seal and label every bottle by hand.”
This is the first time in the history of the Flaviar Awards that an Irish gin brand has won a ‘Best Spirit Award’ and claimed the Best Gin title. Since the win earlier this year, 10 new jobs have already been added at The Shed Distillery, growing employee numbers to 35.
Amidst Brexit uncertainty, Distillery Founder Patrick J Rigney said winning the Best Gin ‘Oscar’ was a welcome confidence boost, adding new overseas markets including Singapore, Spain, Latvia and Malaysia.
“Brexit implications are a challenge for everybody in our sector,” he stated, “We’re pressing ahead with investment in our €2 million Visitor Experience and new job creation, but we’re always sleeping with one eye open.”
Flaviar awards ‘Best Spirit’ gongs to only five of the 22,000 eligible premium spirits brands each year.
“The Flaviar Awards is tipping this Irish gin as one to watch,” commented Flaviar Co-Founder Jugoslav Petkovic, “Once you taste Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin you can absolutely see why – It’s a real explosion of flavour in a bottle. Our members are raving about it.”
