Dingle tasting with BCWS

The Black Country Whisky Society have held a number of successful virtual tastings during Covid-19, this is the third one I've join in with.

This time is was to try a new distillery for me : Dingle in Ireland.

Dingle Distillery opened in 2012 by Oliver Hughes; Liam LaHart and Peter Mosley the guys behind Porterhouse Brewing Company; one of the pioneers of craft brewing in Ireland.

Located on the West coast of Ireland on the Atlantic Ocean the distillery's first whiskey flowed from the stills and filled casks on the 18th December 2012 with the first bottles from Cask #2 being released three years later in December 2015.

Dingle's Single Malt whiskey is released in batches, the first small being in November 2016, usually as a 'standard' 46.5% ABV bottling and a Cask Strength bottling. They have also started releasing Pot Still small batches.

In October 2019, after 25 years in the industry, Graham Coull joined the team as Master Distiller from  Glen Moray. Before that he'd gaining valuable experience at William Grant & Sons including times at their Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie distilleries

 

We each paid £25 for 5 x 30ml samples - 1 new make spirit, 2 from the standard range and 2 single casks, delivered.

On the night a Zoom session was organised with Graham Coull leading us through the tasting, sharing insights into the distillery and it's whiskey.

Fay by the side of Graham - running the show!

What did we try:

My brief thoughts on the drams:

New Make Spirit, 65% 

Single Malt Small Batch No. 5, 46.5% 5-6yo (45% bourbon, 45% PX, 10% Madera)

Nose: tropical fruit, almonds; Palate: tropical fruit, citrus peel, peppery spice; Finish: short and spicy.

 

Pot Still Small Batch No. 3, 46.5% 5-6yo (75% bourbon, 25% port)

Nose: cereal, musty berries, toffey; Palate: buttery toffee, vanilla, warming peppery spice; Finish: medium length orchard fruit, sweet and spicy.

 

Single Cask #278 Sod'em & Begorragh (Founding Fathers) 2013 Triple Distilled Single Malt 59.9% 5yo (says oloroso but probably bourbon)

Nose: vanilla; Palate: orchard fruit, strawberry jam, ginger spice; Finish: long lingering fruity spice.

 

Single Cask #537, PX, 2014 Pot Still 60% 6yo (PX) - cask sample - not available to buy

Nose: musty warehouse, strawberry jam, dandelion and burdock; Palate: thick spicy arrival, strawberry jam, berries, cut grass, very drying, very warming. Finish: long dry spicy with red berries. Yummy!

Many thanks to Martin, Mark & Rich at BCWS for organising, Graham for running the tasting and the rest of the tasters for an enjoyable night. Our final pick for the best of the night went to 6yo Single Cask #537, PX.

Geeky stuff:

Dingle's Single Malt Batches
Released	Batch	ABV	Cask types
'20	No. 5	46.5% & 59.3%	Bourbon, PX & Madeira casks
'19	No. 4	46.5% & 58.3%	Bourbon, Sherry & Port casks
'18	No. 3	46.5% & 59%	Bourbon & Port casks
'17	No. 2	46.5% & 60.1%	Sherry (PX & Oloroso) and Bourbon casks
Nov '16	No. 1	46.5% & 60.7%	Bourbon casks

Dingle's Single Pot Still Releases
Released	Release	ABV	Cask types
'20	Fourth	46.5%	Bourbon & Oloroso casks
'19	Third	46.5%	Bourbon & Port casks
'18	Second	46.5%	Bourbon, Oloroso & PX casks
'17	First	46.5%	PX  casks