Dingle - Original Gin (700ml)
Price: $40.07
World's Best Gin. World Gin Awards 2019.
| Producer | Dingle |
| Country | Ireland |
| Region | County Kerry |
| Subregion | Dingle |
| Style | Gin |
| Sku | 03877 |
Dingle Description
THE DISTILLERY
The Dingle Whiskey Distillery was crafted and conceived by three independent spirits: Oliver Hughes; Liam LaHart and Peter Mosley. Oliver, Liam and Peter are the people behind Porterhouse Brewing Company; one of the pioneers of craft brewing in Ireland in 1996. Craft beer in Ireland in the mid-1990s was not appealing to the masses. The idea was radical to some, simply mad to the rest. The refined pallets of the then youthful Oliver, Liam and Peter had seen a love for beer. As their palates became more and more experienced to the taste of Earth’s natural ingredients, the attention turned to whiskey.
This gave the three guys another idea; an artisan distillery. Could it work? Distillation in Ireland was controlled by three major brands. How would a small, independent distillery fit into the mix? In 1996, Oliver and Liam had the stomach to take on the challenge of the big boys; to do something different. Would they have the desire to go again? You bet they did!
The Dingle Whiskey Distillery came into being in the cold winter of 2012. Ireland was beginning to come out of the greatest recession in many people’s memory. However unbeknownst to many, the most significant event in the Irish whiskey industry in decades was happening in a tin shed in the town of Dingle, Co. Kerry. Witnessed by few, the first Dingle Whiskey Casks were filled on the 18th December 2012. Three years and a day later on the 19th December 2015, one cask, Cask No. 2 was released. Our whiskey was born. Our distillery was ready.
We have always had quality over quantity at the forefront of our thoughts. We never had any interest in distilling enormous quantities of bland whiskey. We understand and respect the concept, it just wasn’t for us! We aren’t passionate about bland spirt. We are hugely passionate about flavoursome, well-crafted spirit.
To achieve the flavors we want to achieve in our whiskey, we use three distinctive, hand-crafted copper pot stills to create what we believe is the ultimate Irish whiskey. Their distinctive design, incorporating a boil ball, encourages reflux and has much to do with the remarkable smoothness and purity of our spirit. We use a small, swan neck pot still to achieve our desired effect on our award-winning Gin and Vodka.
Once again, we appear to be at the forefront of a minor revolution in that the Dingle Whiskey Distillery is the first of what appears to be – and we certainly hope will be – artisan distilleries throughout the island of Ireland. The future of the Irish Whiskey industry looks bright and we are proud to have been the first to break the mould. Long may it continue!
DINGLE ORIGINAL GIN
Dingle Original Gin is the product of a considerable amount of research, both technical and historical, and experimentation. Our aim was to create a totally unique gin, one which worked within the great tradition of gin distilling but which also came with a degree of innovation.
In terms of its broad style, this is what is categorised as a London dry gin but the unique character and flavor come from our painstaking and original choice of botanicals.
This combination of flavor elements are macerated in spirit for 24 hours. Then, when the spirit is distilled, it passes through a flavor basket in the neck of the still. This process underlines the attention to detail that is an essential part of our whole approach to the art of distillation.
We use, amongst other botanicals, rowan berry from the mountain ash trees, fuchsia, bog myrtle, hawthorn and heather for a taste of the Kerry landscape. It’s a formula unknown elsewhere and is calculated, amongst other things, to create the sense of place and provenance. The spirit is collected at 70% abv and then cut to 42.5% abv using the purest of water which we draw from our own well, 240 feet below the distillery.
Peter Mosley sums up DOG’s unique character in a few words: “The uniquely Irish botanicals give a fabulously fresh, floral character that perfectly balances the traditional juniper. But, to be honest, you really have to taste it for yourself.”
Dingle Original Gin is best served with large cubes of ice, a wedge of fresh orange and a sprinkling of juniper berries.
Ultimate Spirits Challenge: 92 Points
Eye-opening aromatics of juniper and heather are met with lime zest on the nose of this Irish gin. Lush fruit notes of muddled red berries and lemon verbena are met with hints of black pepper, coriander, and hint of minerality that cools the palate.
