We tasted the latest Single Pot Still Whiskey from the Dingle distillery, batch#4, and the much anticipated Blue Spot, that has completed the Spots range of Whiskeys.
DINGLE SINGLE POT STILL BATCH #4, 46.5% ABV, 8000 bottles.
Appearance – This Whiskey is light Amber in colour, very viscous and has super syrupy legs.
It does have a lovely colour to it, golden, lovey Angela Rippons too! #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 17, 2020
Nose – Some red berries here, cream soda, cereals, pears, there’s also a savoury meat note. There is some herbaceousness, and almost a whiff of smoke too. The nose over time becomes heavier, more dunnage, more earthiness, and the savoury meat more subsides.
There is a touch of smoke, but not campfire, more the smoke caused by friction (madam) #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 17, 2020
Palate – There’s the spice, spent cap gun caps, ginger, cinnamon coated apricots, cigar leaves, dunnage, earthiness, this is rather different from batch 3. Has a nice mouthfeel too, quite syrupy tbh.
The caps are a great note, well played! #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 17, 2020
Reminds me of being a kid again 😉#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 17, 2020
Finish – Yeah it’s quite long, some spiciness continues, black peppercorns, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom? It’s still herbaceous, currants, Pontefract cakes (most likely spelt wrong), and gentle, it’s a nice finish.
Chinese 5 Spice #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 17, 2020
Overall – It’s rather different to batch 4, heavier and darker for me, there is a tinge of sulphur from the Oloroso, and for some reason I’m getting this quite a lot in whisk(e)ys for some reason. Good flavours and good mouthfeel. As to whether i’d buy a bottle, i hate to say that I’m on the fence with this one personally, it has good flavours, mouthfeel and depth, but i do prefer the flavour profile of batch #3 just a little bit more, and to be honest I’m finding myself struggling in the sea of Ex-Sherry cask finished whisk(e)ys available, the light tinge of sulphur though not particularly strong isn’t something i like, and perhaps is the reason why i struggle with some Ex Sherry cask matured whisk(e)y at times, though others either don’t seem to pick up on it, or they don’t mind it.
Notes – This bottling is none chill filtered and natural in colour.
Thanks to – @Graham_Coull (Twitter).
Follow @Graham_CoullBLUE SPOT IRISH WHISKEY, 58.7% ABV.
Appearance – This Single Pot Still whiskey is mid gold in colour, beads up on the swirl line, and has slow thin legs and beads.
Nose – There is a fair ABV whack, lots of red berries, cream soda too, slight menthol, also dusty, royal icing sugar, the red fruit is quite strong on the nose.
Lots of dark fruit notes and Christmas spices (cinnamon, clove and nutmeg) #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 17, 2020
I agree, again not what I expected tbh.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 17, 2020
Palate – Lovely mouthfeel, syrupy, quite spicy, lots of ginger, blood oranges and cranberries, it’s a little drying. It’s getting spicier @gordonsmith63 might like this tbh, cigar leaves, cinnamon buns, ginger, but not the sweet stuff, some tannins, that’s quite a spice bomb tbh.
Definitely a high cocoa content dark chocolate 👍.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 17, 2020
Finish – Quite long, the spice continues, lots of oak and some tannins. The red fruit is still there, but dunnage, spice and cigar leaves take the lead, it’s a good finish tbh.
Notes – This bottling is none chill filtered and at cask strength.
Overall – It’s a very nice whiskey that comes across as being older than 7 years tbh, there are loverly dark notes, heaviness, oiliness and spiciness, a very pleasant surprise and worthy additon to the Spots range. i would definitely buy a bottle.
