Back in 1569 the beautiful little town of Dingle was a major trading port and one of the few, by act of Parliament, that was allowed to import Wine into Ireland. This act was to control, or more accurately make easier to tax, Spanish, French or Portuguese wines. The trade blossomed to a point where little Dingle had a real Spanish influence in it, including Spanish merchants who lived there. The main dock was once called “Spanish pier” and it was from there that many set off to go on pilgrimage to Compostella, on the Camino. I’m wondering how they booked the hotel back then, made sure it had a pool, near the beach etc without online booking or Tour company.

The wonderful little Dingle distillery sits beside Mt. Brandon, who legend says, sailed to America a thousand years before Columbus. So, it is fair to say that Dingle has, for a long time been a bit of a mixing pot, they even count a Dolphin as one of their own. Now on to Single Malt Batch four, after three amazingly successful small batches prior to this, the Dingle distillery have gone very cosmopolitan and mixed Bourbon, Port and two types of Sherry casks to give a real flavour burst.

Normally I am suspicious of too much mixing of flavours, it is sometimes used to cover up failings in other areas, such as lack of vintage. Dingle only started distilling in 2012 so this could be a suspicion, but the quality of their spirit, in previous batches, should ally those fears. This is a little busy for me and bottled at 46.5% it needs a little water to take it down and open it up, a teaspoon and a half worked for me. Since their first launch this little distillery’s produce has earned an international reputation, and saw collectors have wet dreams about it. Re-sale values have soared. This batch won’t be a collector bottling, so should be more accessible for the ordinary drinker. Give it a try, or maybe that should be exploration.

Nose – Menthol, Praline, Apricots, Spice/ Ginger 1.5/3

Palate – Peanut (skins still on), Dark Chocolate, Crème Brule, Sultana 2/3

Finish – Sherry comes on, good length which gets sweeter.  2.5/3

Value for money – This bottle costs £75 and considering the work that has went into it is value 1/1

Total 7/10