The Irish distillery Dingle recently expanded its core range with a Single Pot Still and a 10-year-old single malt, also updating the non-age statement single malt’s recipe and ABV while unveiling new packaging. Since Paddy Foley stepped in after Graham Coull’s departure, the distillery has remained active, committed to growth despite an undesired pause is their expansion plans. It’s encouraging to see Dingle continue being so active. Up next are reviews of the brand new Single Pot Still, Single Malt, 10-year-old, along with their first ever 10-year-old released in 2023.
Dingle Single Pot Still (2025) Review
Dingle followed five consecutive Small Batch Single Pot Still releases – each featuring unique cask maturations – by launching a permanent Single Pot Still in its core range. This non-age statement whiskey blends spirits aged in Bourbon (59%), Oloroso Sherry (33%), Pedro Ximénez (4%), and Red Wine casks (4%). Dingle bottles it at 46.5% ABV, omits chill filtration and added colour, and prices the release from €45 across much of Europe, €60 in Ireland due to higher taxes, and £57 in the UK.
Colour:
Old gold.
Nose:
Neat: The nose displays (yes) a fruity aroma with peaches, apples, pears, and some oranges. Baking spices and pot still spices are present, together with freshly cut grass. A slight red wine character appears, bringing hints of red fruits and red grapes, notably pronounced despite the red wine cask(s) making up only four percent of the cask recipe. A gentle touch of wood completes the nose.
Palate:
Neat: The palate closely follows the nose but adds more spice, mainly pepper, along with wood and dark chocolate bitterness. Sweetness increases with icing sugar and fruit salad candies, complemented by richer fruits such as blackcurrant and dark cherries. The mouthfeel is silky and coats the mouth.
Finish:
Peppery heat persists, joined by wood, brown sugar, and dark chocolate, all lingering for a long moment.
Comments:
This Dingle Single Pot Still shows the typical characteristics of a single pot still whiskey. Fortunately, the wine cask – likely just one in the vat – exerts minimal influence on the nose and virtually none on the palate. The pricing aligns with what Dingle previously set for their first core Single Malt, with the expected slight increase due to the pot still process, which requires more barley in the mash compared to their single malt.
Rating: 7/10
Dingle Single Malt (2025) Review
Dingle added its Single Malt to the core range in 2021, and many have enjoyed it over the years, myself included (I’m two thirds down my case…). Now the distillery offers a revamped version in the latest core range. The Dingle Single Malt 2025 vats 47% ex-bourbon casks, 33% ex-Oloroso, and 22% ex-Pedro Ximénez casks – updating the original core recipe, which was 39% ex-bourbon and 61% ex-PX. The new release also steps up to 46.5% ABV, aligning with the rest of the range, compared to the former’s 46.3%. As before, Dingle bottles this expression without chill filtration or added colour. Pricing remains consistent, with bottles at €55 in Ireland, from €43 in Germany, and £55 in the UK.
Colour:
Amber
Nose:
Neat: The nose reveals a nice malty character layered with aromas of custard-filled Basque cake and warm cinnamon and pepper spices. Citrus zest from lemon and lime adds fresh brightness, complemented by mandarin notes. The sweetness is evident in caramel and butterscotch, while a subtle touch of wood and cool mint provide a bit more complexity.
Palate:
Neat: The palate feels full-bodied with a syrupy mouthfeel. Flavours include apple caramel and tarte tatin, with a light dusting of cinnamon and pepper on a slightly overcooked shortcrust pastry. This is followed by a secondary dessert note of dark fruit cake and melted chocolate, concluding with espresso. The overall impression is akin to having two desserts and a coffee, offering a satisfying end to a meal but likely with fewer calories.
Finish:
The finish is medium length, featuring lemony malt, chilli pepper, dark chocolate, and cherry notes. The warmth is comforting and lingers pleasantly.
Comments:
This new Dingle single malt also proves delightful, presenting a noticeably lighter sherry influence than its predecessor. The palate delivers a full tarte tatin experience, which adds an enjoyable richness. On the nose, it reveals inviting aromas reminiscent of custard-filled Basque cake, a dessert this humble reviewer finds particularly appealing and could enjoy daily (yes, I like talking about myself using third person).
Rating: 7/10
Dingle Single Malt 10-year-old (2025) Review
To complete the core range, Dingle also added the Single Malt 10-year-old. Considering that distilling only began in December 2012, releasing a 10-year-old after just 13 years of production marks a significant milestone. Of course, a core range doesn’t necessarily mean large volumes; Dingle likely bottles only a few casks each year. The 10-year-old spent its maturation in 65% ex-Bourbon, 30% ex-Port, and 5% PX casks. Dingle bottles it, like the two other core expressions, at 46.5% ABV without chill filtration or added colour. The price remains reasonable – around €80 to €90 in Europe – with Ireland among the cheapest markets, and £77 in the UK. As for the €115 charged by La Maison du Whisky… well, that hardly needs further comment.
Colour:
Burnished.
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers a pronounced orchard fruit character, dominated by apples and pears, which contribute a strong cider-like aroma. Warm honey and vanilla pods add sweetness, while ripe plums introduce richness. Spices feature prominently with cinnamon and nutmeg, balanced by a distinct maltiness. Additional aromas of honeycomb, orange candy, fresh pine needles, fresh traditional baguette, polished oak, and subtle hints of candle and beeswax.
Palate:
Neat: The palate initially feels lighter and less textured compared to the non-age-stated single malt, but it gains syrupy weight and thickness as it develops. The initial sweetness presents as sugar and confectionery, quickly balanced by wood spices and a touch of bitterness. Flavours of dried apricot, strawberry jam, and bitter orange marmalade emerge alongside a balanced spice complexity featuring pepper, cloves, and nutmeg. Oak is evident but restrained. The influence of port casks is perceptible through subtle winey notes, forest berries, and hints of hazelnut and walnut.
Finish:
The finish is warm and medium in length, with lingering pepper, cloves, nutmeg, dark chocolate, light tannins, and mild astringency.
Comments:
This Dingle single malt impresses with a richer, deeper profile than the non-age-statement expression, a clear result of the added years and influence of port casks. It suits colder, wetter days perfectly, making it an excellent dram for an autumn evening. Despite the extended maturation, the whisky retains the core character characteristic of Dingle. Notably, Dingle prices this age statement reasonably, unlike the following dram, which is welcome news. It’s a confidently recommended purchase.
Rating: 7.5/10
Dingle 10-year-old Single Cask (2023) Review
Dingle’s first 10-year-old came from a single ex-bourbon cask, distilled in 2013 and bottled at cask strength in 2023. The distillery filled 237 bottles at 58.1% ABV and priced them at an unexpectedly high €385. The packaging looked beautiful – admittedly so – but also costly, and even staff at the distillery found the retail price surprising. Of course, production teams rarely make those decisions. Despite the steep cost, the bottles sold out quickly and soon fetched several times the original price at auction.
Colour:
Yellow gold.
Nose:
Neat: The nose opens with prominent summer and tropical fruits, including peaches, apricots, mango, and guava. There are also pineapple cubes in syrup notes. Despite the ABV, the aroma remains soft rather than intense. Raw wood, forest honey, vanilla, and caramel, with subtle floral nuances.
With water: The nose reveals white beet sugar, the scent of dusty books, and custard.
Palate:
Neat: The palate delivers far more intensity compared to the nose. It begins with ripe summer fruits such as peaches and apricots before a wave of spice emerges, composed of pepper, chilli, and nutmeg. The wood influence grows stronger here, bringing spicy notes and a slight bitterness. Black coffee and dark chocolate also appear.
With water: The mouthfeel thickens and becomes waxy, while the fruit character shines, introducing maracuja and guava. Complementary notes of heather and buckwheat honeys, honeycomb, and lemon also emerge.
Finish:
The finish offers wood bitterness, chilli heat, and bright lemon peel.
Comments:
This is a delicious whiskey that, regrettably, the distillery targeted more at collectors than drinkers, placing it out of reach for many Dingle enthusiasts, myself included. The bottle frequently appears on auction sites at inflated prices, having become a speculative item. This is unfortunate, as the whiskey itself is superb and deserves to be enjoyed. The nose initially hesitates but opens up with aeration to fill the glass. However, it is the reduction that truly unlocks the palate – very good when neat, exceptional with a few drops of water. I often watch auctions hoping to acquire this Dingle 10-year-old, only to be discouraged by the rapidly escalating prices that keep it beyond my reach.
Rating: 8/10
As I’ve mentioned in my other Dingle reviews, I worked with the distillery for several years, assisting them at Whisky Live Paris. In April 2023, I also spent a week at Dingle taking part in every stage of whisky production, from mashing to bottling. Graham Coull, the former distillery manager, kindly shared a sample of the original 10-year-old with me. I bought the three bottles from the new core range myself a few weeks ago, after tasting them at Whisky Live Paris during a chat with Paddy Foley. As always, regardless of any connection or source, I write exactly what I think.