Dingle Single Malt Batch No. 3

Nose: Initially, there's a slight ethanol sting. Following the initial heat, it presents a warm field of barley. Hints of herbal notes and warm wildflower honey are present. Sweet, light butter, a subtle orange citrus, more spice, and a touch of toffee are also detected. Palate: Thick, sweet, and surprisingly oily! The front of the palate is hit with spicy herbal notes and oak spice, while the back experiences a wave of red fruit and floral honey. Sweet butter and deep malt surround it all, continuing into the finish. It's challenging to discern all the occurring elements due to the constant shifts in flavor. There's a note resembling a slightly smoked plum or grape that gives way to a dry orange shortbread taste. Finish: Long, warm, and slightly dry. The finish is predominantly malt-driven, like tasting sweet grain, vanilla honey, and a hint of orange citrus. Conclusion: My spirits dropped after the initial sniff - appearing quite one-dimensional and not particularly complex beyond the ethanol burn - but a single sip is a revelation! It's a rich, thick, sweet whiskey with continuous transitions between honey, spice, fruit, and abundant malt. The buttery grain taste lingers for an extended period. I'm pleased I purchased a full bottle for myself in addition to this sample. I wouldn't hesitate to pay even more for a bottle, though it would certainly be reserved for special occasions.

The aroma is weak and subtle. Some unrefined hazelnut notes are present alongside delicate honey, vanilla, and lanolin. It’s full and smooth on the tongue, featuring notes of golden raisin and dried cherry. The flavor deepens to a darker plum profile near the end. The conclusion is remarkably pure, with all the elements harmonizing wonderfully!

Finished the bottle. Time for an updated review! This is a very sweet whiskey. The aroma is of candied fruits, with a hint of cinnamon and oak. Palate: Sweet and quite smooth, especially for a young whiskey. The finish is moderately long and very satisfying, showcasing the port cask influence. A dessert whiskey.

Nose: Rich malt reminiscent of butter, dried fruit with banana notes, a grape-like sweetness, vanilla cake, and a touch of port sweetness. Palate: Similar to the nose, featuring buttery malt, banana-tinged dried fruit, grapey sweetness, vanilla cake, and a hint of port sweetness alongside a prominent cinnamon spice. Finish: Medium to long, presenting buttery malt, port sweetness, and spice.

This is the whiskey by which all others are measured. It's excellent enjoyed neat or with a little water. It has pleasant notes of citrus and chocolate.

A superb drink. My initial experience with this distillery, and the port cask influence somewhat masked the distillery's signature character. Nevertheless, a very well-balanced and pleasing whisky.