stir. This was not the case at Spillane’s. The gin was poured into a fishbowl glass with ice, my choice of citrus was used as a garnish, and my choice of tonic water was served in a single serving glass bottle alongside the glass. Having higher quality ingredients and the personal control over ratios elevated the cocktail to new heights for me. The Dingle Distillery is actively campaigning and working with bartenders around the country of Ireland to serve, not just gin and tonics featuring Dingle Gin, but all gin and tonics this way. Being at the forefront of the push for better gin and tonics elevates Dingle’s favor with bartenders, which helps grow their brand even more. Furthermore, refocusing on the gin in a gin and tonic cocktail highlights the spirit used so that consumers will start calling for brands they enjoy most at bars and retail shops. This is a great free advertising tool employed by Dingle that improves the entire cocktail and gin scene around them.
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WHISKEY — THE SPIRIT OF DINGLE The reason the Dingle Distillery was created was to make a true craft Irish whiskey. At the time of their founding, the number of Irish distilleries could be counted nearly on one hand — and every outstretched finger adorned with a corporate ring. Free of corporate influence, Dingle set out to mash, distill, and age a single malt whiskey. They filled their first casks on December 18th, 2012 and bottled their first single cask, Cask No. 2, on December 19th, 2015. Since then they have released three batches of whiskey, each with a more rigorous casking regimen than the last. Their first batch release used exclusively first-fill bourbon barrels. While on a tour of the facility the guide admitted that used bourbon barrels aren’t necessarily the best cooperage available, but they are the cheapest. Sherry or Port casks can cost up to three times more than used bourbon barrels. As Dingle’s success grew, they were able to lay down whiskey in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks that were included in Batch 2, as well as Port casks for Batch 3. As the company evolves, so do their products. While the gin and vodka are available in parts of the U.S. don’t expect to see the whiskey here any time soon. Their quality over quantity approach creates incredible results, but rapid growth is not their goal. The greatest lesson to be learned from them is undoubtedly to be hands-on and focused. Their role in shaping their local cocktail scene is a model that should be replicated by distillers everywhere. Keeping early batches of whiskey simpler allowed them to hone their craft more concisely and in a more cost-effective and profitable way. It shows that it’s okay to not reinvent the wheel at first, but you better make a damn good wheel.
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Dingle Distillery is located in Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Visit www.dingledistillery.ie for more information WWW.ARTISANSPIRITMAG.COM
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