Distillery Thursday: Dingle Distillery – Transforming a Barn into an Irish Whiskey Wonderland

This week in Distillery Thursday, we spotlight a somewhat younger distillery. We travel to the westernmost point of Ireland, to be exact, just west of Dingle. That's where Dingle Distillery is brewing all sorts of libations.

When thinking of southwestern Ireland in conjunction with whiskey, Midleton will undoubtedly cross your mind quickly. Significantly west and slightly north of this distillery lies a peninsula where the characteristic town of Dingle resides. We don’t stop there, but we travel just a bit further.

Just outside the borders of Dingle sits a large blue-colored building that feels almost like a warehouse. It's an old sawmill repurposed into something exciting. The stacked barrels outside the door and the large logo are telltale signs of what takes place inside: crafting the divine Irish drink - whiskey.

The distillery was brought to life by three individuals who'd already had their hand in the drinks game. Oliver Hughes, Liam LaHart, and Peter Mosley, the founders of the distillery, have previously gained expertise in their other venture, the Porterhouse Brewing Company. They’ve been brewing craft Irish beer there since 1996.

One day, the trio came up with an idea that required more attention: why not expand the brewery into an artisan distillery? The brewing experience they've gathered could serve as a solid foundation. There could be a gap in the market waiting to be filled.

The trio decides to embark on the adventure and establish the distillery. The plan is to craft various spirits such as vodka, gin, and whiskey. Such renovation, the purchase of barrels, and crafting whiskey doesn’t come cheap, and funds need to come from somewhere.

Through a unique program, the Founding Fathers program, Dingle Distillery ensures there's sufficient income. Whiskey enthusiasts can buy a numbered 'Founding Father' whiskey barrel through this program. The Founding Fathers themselves decide how long the whiskey should mature. Additionally, it's possible to sell the barrel back to the distillery.

The income from this investment program enables the distillery to purchase equipment. Using the three copper pot stills at Dingle, they distil a soft, incredibly pure whiskey. As with many Irish spirit makers, Dingle practices triple distillation.

The moment the distillery opens in 2012, the first barrels are filled immediately. Dingle Distillery has to wait another three years or so until their inaugural Irish whiskey is ready. Their most important principle being: quality over quantity.

The whiskey needs to be full-flavored and bring something special to the table. They don't, therefore, produce a massive quantity of whiskey. The distillers opt for a sort of ‘boutique-whiskey,’ crafted in small batches.

By now, Dingle Distillery has released numerous expressions. Multiple batches of single malt whiskey have come and gone, as well as different single pot still expressions. The distillery is also vigorously working on a series of whiskeys that mark the Celtic Wheel of the Year. The most recent addition to the series is the Cónocht An Earraigh Single Malt, celebrating the arrival of Spring.

If you're interested to see what Dingle Distillery is all about and ever find yourself in Western Ireland, make sure to stop by. The distillery offers tours where you can look behind the scenes and sample different spirits.

Photos: Dingle Distillery