Dingle Grianstad an tSamhraidh Pot Still is one of those bottles that catches your eye before you even get the cap off. The name — Irish for Summer Solstice — tells you Dingle is leaning into seasonal character here, and at 52.5% ABV, they're not holding anything back. This is a pot still release bottled at a strength that means business, and at £72.95, it sits in that interesting middle ground where you're paying for craft without entering collector territory.
What I find compelling about this bottle is the approach. Pot still whiskey — made with a mix of malted and unmalted barley — has a texture and weight that sets it apart from most other styles. That unmalted barley brings a spicy, oily quality to the spirit that you simply don't get from a standard single malt. It's the defining characteristic of the style, and it's the reason pot still whiskey has been making such a strong comeback among serious drinkers. At 52.5%, you're getting that character without any dilution smoothing the edges. This is the distiller showing you what the spirit actually tastes like coming off the still and out of the cask.
The NAS designation means Dingle has opted to blend casks of different ages for flavour rather than chasing an age statement, which is an honest move. With a relatively young operation, it makes more sense to focus on getting the liquid right than slapping a number on the label. The higher bottling strength supports that philosophy — if you're confident in what's in the bottle, you let the ABV do the talking.
Tasting Notes
I don't have detailed tasting notes to share on this particular release, but based on the pot still style and cask strength bottling, expect that signature oily mouthfeel with baking spice and cereal grain character. At this ABV, a few drops of water will open things up considerably, so take your time with it. The strength suggests there's a lot packed in, and rushing a pour like this would be doing yourself a disservice.
The Verdict
At 7.9 out of 10, the Dingle Grianstad an tSamhraidh Pot Still earns a strong recommendation from me. The combination of pot still character, cask strength bottling, and a price under £75 makes it genuinely good value for what you're getting. This is a whiskey that rewards patience and attention. It's not trying to be easy-drinking or crowd-pleasing — it's a pot still release with conviction, and I respect that. If you're looking to understand what modern pot still whiskey is capable of, this is a solid entry point at a fair price.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn and let it sit for five minutes. Then add a few drops of water — at 52.5%, it genuinely needs it, and you'll be rewarded with a more expressive pour. If you're feeling adventurous, this would make a knockout pot still Old Fashioned: two ounces of this, a barspoon of demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, and an orange twist. The oily body and spice of pot still whiskey were made for that combination. But honestly, most of this bottle should be enjoyed straight. You're paying for the character of the spirit — let it speak.
