Dingle Single Malt

The aroma drifted between two distinct locations. On the one hand, a wooden shed perched not far from a bubbling brook lined with mossy stones and air sweet with damp earthy decay. On the other hand, a well-kept dining room with a woolen blanket and a lacquered wood table whose starched table cloth scented with subtle violet and lavender while from the kitchen comes the smell of dried prunes and berries in syrup, whole nutmegs, ginger root, and cinnamon sticks. Between the dueling visions was a touch of spirited heat. Medium-bodied with a mild, smooth mouthfeel, almost oily at times, and a flavor profile that danced between dried fruits, musty oak, and baking spices. An earthy-mossy undercurrent ran throughout with a mustiness that occasionally brought to mind wool, while the dominant notes were dried prunes, dates, and berries. Antique furniture and lacquered wood crested on the mid-palate with a subtle mustiness that faded toward lavender and violets while a bit of spirited heat waited at the end. The finish was medium-length with dried fruits, a mild pepper, and hints of earthy dried grass.

An intriguing introduction to Dingle Distillery— a distillery whose name I always find a little bit funny because I am, without a doubt, a little bit childish. I was impressed by what I found on this malt as it balanced several elements, all of which ultimately felt coherent and gave the dram a lovely smooth quality as it crossed the palate. There was a touch of spirit on the nose and a bit on the finish, but none of those were massive faults or distractions— sometimes, a tingle right after a sip is exactly what you want.

I am unsure if Irish whiskey has reached the level of a Renaissance, but considering the dark ages of the early and then late-twentieth century, it does feel like the breaking of a new dawn— and that is undoubtedly a kind of rebirth. Distillery closures and consolidation left the once mighty distilling industry gutted and, though maybe new distilleries have opened, the industry faces serious headwinds in rebuilding, especially with a national housing shortage and an incredibly ferocious real estate market.

Overall, I thought this was delightful, and I hope I can revisit a Dingle malt again in the future.