To celebrate a decade of distilling, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin has signed an historic agreement with the Sichuan Green Foundation Giant Panda National Park in China, to champion the welfare of the giant panda.
The donation will be generated from the sales of the new Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Panda Conservation Bottle, unveiled to the international drinks trade at Prowein 2025 this month.
Funds from the family-run Shed Distillery will go directly to the Giant Panda National Park Public Welfare Fund to support the local indigenous people who take care of the pandas. The welfare of these communities is an integral part of China’s giant panda conservation programme, where residents are now identified as ‘Panda Guardians’.
Pat and Denise Rigney, who founded Shed Distillery, travelled to Chengdu to sign the donation agreement at the foundation in person late last year.
Located in the Sichuan mountains and stretching 27,134 km² across the Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces, the Giant Panda National Park ( 大熊猫国家公园 in Chinese) is home to the largest giant panda population in the world and is one of China’s richest ecosystems.
Other globally endangered animals living in the reserve include the red panda, the golden monkey, the snow leopard and the clouded leopard. Established in 2021, the reserve protects and preserves the giant panda’s natural habitat and has succeeded in bringing the species back from the verge of extinction.
“We are delighted to celebrate a decade of distilling by playing a small part in the future survival and thriving of the giant panda in its native habitat in the Sichuan mountains,” said Pat Rigney. “We are particularly happy that all funds we donate will go directly to the team at the nature reserve, all of whom come from the local, rural communities that intersect with the giant panda’s habitat.
“This partnership reflects the core values at the heart of The Shed Distillery at the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which was founded upon a deep partnership with the people of Drumshanbo, centred on a shared vision of employment, sustainability and a thriving rural community.”
The secretary general of The Sichuan Green Foundation in Chengdu, Zhou Zhigang, added: “In November 2023, Pat and Denise Rigney travelled thousands of miles from Ireland to Chengdu to sign a donation agreement at the foundation in person. We felt true respect & support for the natural environment and the giant panda cause in China.
“As a national treasure of China, the giant panda is a flagship species for global biodiversity conservation as well as a symbol of the friendship between China & Ireland. The conservation work requires significant funds and manpower. Like a timely rain, the donation from Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin has injected strong motivation into our work.
“We will employ these funds to help the surrounding community develop green industries and improve the living standards of residents to support the special harmonious existence between human beings and nature.”
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, the first brand from The Shed Distillery, which celebrates ten years of distilling this year, began its journey in China where PJ Rigney discovered gunpowder tea, the first of 12 botanicals that would make-up the final recipe for the leading Irish gin brand, which is now selling in over 100 countries across the world, and launched in China last year.
