Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin launches in China

Irish gin exports to China have grown by almost 200% within the past five years

Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. He Xiangdong, and Minister for European Affairs, Peter Burke, attended a ceremony at The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, to mark the launch of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in China.

Irish gin exports to China have grown by almost 200% within the past five years with demand for premium and super-premium gin brands set  to outpace the rest of the category by 2027. 

The launch of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in China follows shortly after the official state visit to Ireland of the premier of the People’s Republic of China, Li Qiang.  During his visit, the Taoiseach presented Premier Li with a special limited-edition ceramic Chinese dragon bottle.

Pat Rigney (founder and owners of family-run The Shed Distillery) said the entry to the Chinese market is a pivotal milestone for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which will precipitate significant new local job creation at The Shed  Distillery, which currently employs more than 100 locals. With China’s imports set to hit 17 trillion dollars over the next five years, Rigney says the launch of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in China is key to remaining competitive on a global scale as the brand  strives to become one of the top ten gin brands in the world.

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is officially available in China and will roll out to Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and other major Chinese cities over the coming months. EKO Integrated Services, who are The Shed Distillery’s distribution partners in China, say there is enormous potential for the Leitrim brand as the country actively focuses on accelerating high-quality imports.

Pat Rigney, founder, The Shed Distillery, said: “Chinese consumers and trade really embraced the brand with enthusiasm. They were intrigued by the Chinese elements of the brand, which uses gunpowder tea from China as one of the main botanicals in the gin, which is slow-distilled by hand with oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea in Leitrim.”

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin exports to more than 80 countries and is one of the fastest-growing gin brands in the world. The brand also sells in more than 60 international airports. 

“As a family-run business, myself and Denise value people and relationships above all else.  Relationships and respect are central to doing business in China, an extraordinary country and culture. Our Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin journey commenced in China where we discovered gunpowder tea.  

“This year, the Chinese Year of the Dragon, The Shed Distillery  celebrates our tenth anniversary, which we mark with our special limited-edition ceramic Chinese Dragon bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, celebrating the coming together of our two unique cultures” concluded Rigney.