The distillery is located in a converted sawmill in Milltown on the outskirts of Dingle in County Kerry in Ireland.[4][5] The first whiskeys distilled and matured at the distillery were released in late 2016.[6] In addition to whiskey, the distillery also produces and markets Dingle vodka and Dingle Gin. It bills itself as an 'artisan' distillery.[7]
In 2017, Dingle Distillery became the first independent Irish distillery to release a single pot still whiskey in several decades.[8]
History
The initiative to start a distillery in Dingle was that of the now deceased Oliver Hughes, who was also a founder of the Porterhouse brewing and restaurant group.[9][4] The site, formerly the Fitzgerald sawmill, was converted for whiskey production in 2012, opening on 29 November.[5] The distillery was reported to have created at least 25 jobs.[5] The new copper pot stills used at the distillery were designed by John McDougall.[4]
As a promotion to attract investors, Dingle Distillery offered the first five hundred special casks to investors "Founding Fathers", to be ready for bottling from November 2017.[9]
The distillery announced plans to double spirit production in 2018.[10][needs update]
Products
Using pot stills the distillery produces two casks of whiskey per day in Dingle,[11] where the mildly cool climate is reportedly favourable for whiskey production.[5][9] Under Irish law, to be termed whiskey, a spirit is legally required to be matured for at least three years.[12] Therefore, Dingle Distillery only brought whiskey to market in late 2016.[6] The distillery also has a still for the production of gin and vodka.[4][9] As of 2017, 100,000 bottles per year of Dingle gin were being sold.[10]
The first batch of whiskey was released in late 2016, and consisted of two tripled distilled whiskeys, both of which were matured solely in bourbon casks:[2][13]
Dingle Single Malt Whiskey, 46.5% (7,500 bottles)
Dingle Single Malt Whiskey Cask Strength, 60.7% (500 bottles)
The second batch, released in 2017, consisted of four different bottlings, three single malts and a single pot still whiskey:[3]
The company also produced a series of limited edition whiskies which were marketed under names referring to the "Celtic cycle of the year" ("Wheel of the Year").[14][15][16]
