About This Whiskey
Dingle Madeira Malvasia Cask 13 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey 70cl 51.3% is a significant limited-edition release from Dingle Distillery, created from some of the earliest stocks laid down at the independent County Kerry distillery.
Thirteen years in the making, the whiskey was initially matured in Bourbon casks before being transferred for an extended 18-month finish in Madeira Malvasia casks. The expression was created by Dingle's Head of Maturation, Paddy Foley, with the finishing casks selected to bring additional fruit, sweetness and spice to the mature Single Malt.
Only 1,585 bottles have been produced worldwide, making this an unusually limited opportunity to experience Dingle whiskey at 13 years of age.
The Madeira Malvasia casks have a pronounced influence on the finished whiskey. Sweet honey and sun-dried fruit introduce the aroma, accompanied by candied citrus, toffee and vanilla. On the palate, those sweeter notes develop into sticky dates and dark chocolate before spiced oak, clove and cinnamon emerge.
At 51.3% ABV, the whiskey retains considerable intensity and structure. The finish is particularly complex, moving through delicate spice and nutmeg into sugar-syrup sweetness, orchard fruits and toasted oak.
For anyone exploring mature Single Malt Whiskey, this limited Dingle release offers an opportunity to taste how more than a decade of maturation and an extended Madeira finish have shaped some of the distillery's earliest spirit.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Rich golden amber.
- Aroma: Sweet honey and sun-dried fruits lead, layered with candied citrus, toffee and hints of vanilla.
- Flavour: Dry, sticky dates and dark chocolate are joined by spiced oak, with clove and cinnamon weaving through the palate.
- Mouthfeel: Rich, full and concentrated, with its 51.3% ABV providing substantial weight and warmth.
- Finish: Long and delicately spiced, with nutmeg and sugar-syrup sweetness developing into orchard fruits and a final touch of toasted oak.
The Madeira influence is particularly effective alongside the mature Single Malt. Fruit and sweetness provide richness, while dark chocolate, oak and baking spices stop the whiskey from becoming one-dimensional. The higher bottling strength allows those flavours to remain concentrated and expressive.
Distillery Overview
Dingle Distillery is an independent Irish distillery located in Dingle, County Kerry, on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.
Founded in 2012, Dingle became one of the early names associated with the modern revival of independent Irish whiskey distilling. Rather than sourcing spirit from established producers, Dingle set out to distil and mature its own whiskey in County Kerry.
That decision meant patience was required. Irish whiskey must spend a minimum of three years maturing before it can legally be sold as whiskey, and Dingle's earliest releases therefore represented an important milestone for the young distillery.
More than a decade later, releases such as this 13 Year Old demonstrate just how far that original stock has progressed. Dingle describes the whiskey as being drawn from some of its earliest stocks, giving this particular bottle an additional connection to the beginnings of the distillery.
The whiskey was created by Head of Maturation Paddy Foley, with Bourbon casks used for the initial maturation before an 18-month finish in Madeira Malvasia casks.
Malvasia is a historic grape variety associated with rich styles of Madeira wine. Casks that previously held Madeira can contribute dried and preserved fruit, sweetness, spice and oxidative complexity to maturing whiskey. In this Dingle release, that influence can be seen in the honey, sun-dried fruit, candied citrus, sticky dates and spice running throughout the tasting profile.
Importantly, the whiskey remains entirely a Dingle product. The distillery distils, matures and bottles its whiskey in County Kerry, giving releases such as this a clear connection to the distillery that produced the original spirit.
With just 1,585 bottles released worldwide, the 13 Year Old Madeira Malvasia Cask also represents one of the more limited opportunities to experience mature Dingle Single Malt.
Explore more releases from Dingle Distillery, including its Single Malt and Single Pot Still Irish whiskeys.
Food Pairings / Serving Suggestions
Dingle Madeira Malvasia Cask 13 Year Old is best approached first as a sipping whiskey.
At 51.3% ABV, try a small measure neat at room temperature and give it a little time in the glass. This allows the honey, dried fruit, citrus, toffee and vanilla aromas to develop before drinking.
A few drops of water can also be worthwhile. With a whiskey bottled at this strength, a small amount of water can soften the alcohol and reveal different layers of fruit, spice and sweetness. Add water gradually rather than diluting the whiskey heavily from the outset.
The rich Madeira-cask character also creates some excellent food-pairing opportunities.
Dark chocolate is a natural choice, echoing the chocolate character already present on the palate while contrasting with the honey and fruit. Chocolate with orange or candied citrus can work particularly well with the whiskey's own citrus notes.
Dried fruits such as dates and figs complement the Madeira influence, while roasted nuts can pick up the nutmeg, oak and warming spice found towards the finish.
For cheese, try a mature hard cheese or a rich blue cheese. The intensity of the whiskey and its combination of sweetness, fruit and oak can stand up to stronger flavours that might overpower a lighter spirit.
Desserts featuring caramel, dark chocolate, dried fruit or warming spices such as cinnamon are another good option, although the whiskey has enough complexity to work perfectly well as the dessert itself.
For collectors and established Dingle drinkers, the combination of 13 years of maturation, an extended 18-month Madeira Malvasia finish and a worldwide release of only 1,585 bottles makes this a particularly notable expression in the distillery's story.
For more mature and cask-led Irish whiskey, browse our Single Malt Whiskey collection or explore the wider range from Dingle Distillery.
Order your whiskey online for delivery across Ireland or visit us in-store at Carry Out Tyrrelstown in Dublin 15. Shop the best of Irish whiskey and premium spirits online with TheCru.ie or in our Dublin whiskey shop.