Jay Sullivan
Google
During our trip around Edinburgh and Ireland, I tried to taste as many different local beers, gins and whiskeys as I could.
On a rainy afternoon, we had booked in for a tour and tasting at the Dingle Distillery, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I learned a lot and liked what I tasted, so over all it was a great way to spend some time.
It’s a beautiful establishment, full of local stories and like lots of businesses like this, it was a passion project, and who knew how it would go.
What stood out to me initially was that the tour guide really knew their stuff and had been making alcohol for over 15 years. They knew a lot, and were clearly passionate about the process, care and effort that goes into making Dingle Gin, Vodka and Whiskey.
The tour itself was not only informative, but really deepened my appreciation for the craft behind whiskey production - especially how the grain, cask type, and aging all significantly shape the final product.
As someone who enjoys whiskey, but always adds a bit of ice, I appreciated the guide's open, relaxed and less puritanical view - telling us that it doesn’t have to be had straight, and encouraging people to enjoy their whiskey how they personally like it: and noting that if you add a little water or ice it actually opens it up. I was glad to hear that it is also how the guide liked to drink theirs.
Dingle Distillery is still relatively young by global standards - founded in 2012 as part of the new wave of Irish craft distilleries. They have a sort of small-batch, artisan approach and began by selling casks of their first products to investors, lots of whom they knew - and it grew and grew from there.
Everything is made on-site in Dingle, with a focus on quality over mass production. The distillery uses locally sourced botanicals for its gin (which is an excellent gin), and carefully selected casks for aging their whiskeys, including bourbon, rum and port casks that bring real depth and complexity.
Their by-products are collected by local farmers and put to good use, and you can tell they’ve thought a lot about the end-to-end process.
Before visiting, I couldn’t remember seeing or coming across their products, but since the tour, I’ve started seeing Dingle Whiskey and Dingle Gin everywhere, and by my taste buds, this is for good reasons. It was nice to support a distillery that’s still independently owned, and building its reputation for quality one batch at a time.
If you’re visiting Dingle, don’t skip the tour. It’s a unique and memorable experience, whether you're a serious whiskey enthusiast or simply curious I think everyone would get something out of the tour.
