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Feasting by an open fire with a good drop in hand…Dingle’s exclusive series of events to mark the “Return of the Light” sounds like a whiskey lover’s dream. To mark the latest release in Dingle Distillery’s Wheel of the Year Series, Bealtaine Single Pot Still, Dingle will host two ticket-only, immersive events in the wilds of Wicklow this May.

TheTaste team has been lucky to attend previous events to mark the Wheel of the Year releases, most notably a Lá Le Bríde feast at L. Mulligan Grocers with Seaneen Sullivan leading a Dingle tasting evening we won’t soon forget. This next celebration to mark the latest Dingle release promises to take things to the next level to mark Bealtaine, the Celtic festival heralding the beginning of summer in the ancient Celtic calendar, which is a Cross Quarter Day, halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.

Dingle will host two Bealtaine events on Monday, 1^st May and Tuesday, 2^nd May. Guests will be transported from Dublin to the heart of Wicklow to experience premium Dingle serves from the Wheel of the Year series, including Samhain, Lá Le Bríde and Bealtaine, as well as fire inspired cocktails.

Wood fired cuisine will cater to every taste with a three-course meal and entertainment will be provided by storytelling performers Aindrias de Staic on May 1^st and Candlelit Tales on May 2^nd, with live music before guests experience a truly spectacular fire show from Pyro Collective bringing to life the true meaning of Bealtaine. Guests will be transported back to the city centre having experienced a transformative event, signifying the returning light.

Tickets to the Bealtaine tasting events are priced at €50 per person and include return transport from Dublin City Centre to The Wicklow Escape, a three course dinner, whiskey tasting, two cocktails, entertainment and fire show. Tickets can be purchased here. We are delighted to be teaming up with Dingle to offer one lucky reader two tickets to this event, enter here or via the button to be in with a chance of winning.

Following the successful launch of their Samhain and Lá Le Bríde editions, Bealtaine Single Pot Still is the latest edition in its Wheel of the Year series, and third release in a series of nine limited-edition whiskeys. This exciting new release is available May 1^st, 2023, at DingleDistillery.ie and across off-licenses and stores nationwide.

Elliot Hughes, Managing Director at Dingle Distillery, comments: “We are delighted to launch Dingle Bealtaine Single Pot Still, the third highly anticipated whiskey in our Wheel of the Year series. This launch will be of particular interest to those looking to try something new, or those who have tried the Samhain and Lá Le Bríde editions. We are really proud of this launch which honours our culture and heritage, and we can’t wait for whiskey fans to try it. We hope you can join us at our upcoming events to get a taste of our newest whiskey and to immerse yourself in the heritage behind it.”

The Dingle Bealtaine Single Pot Still has matured in Bourbon casks with a Shiraz cask finish. There are 5,500 bottles set to be released of this limited release that have been bottled at 52.5% ABV. Bealtaine Single Pot Still expresses sweet aromas of sun-dried raisins, sweet dates and vanilla cream on the nose. On the palate, it is warm with a suggestion of dark cherries in syrup, nutty caramel and velvety dark chocolate. The syrup texture slowly melts to a warm spice finish. The result is a unique and vibrant flavour. The new release is set to be highly sought after due to the limited supply available.

The Celtic Wheel of the Year is divided into eight periods and following suit the Wheel of the Year series from Dingle Distillery is set to launch nine editions, which includes an additional ninth and final release to mark Wren’s Day, following the rhythm of the seasons, equinoxes, and solstices. Though Wren’s Day is not part of the Celtic Wheel of the Year, its release is in recognition of the importance of the day in Dingle culture and heritage.

The ancient Celtic celebration of Bealtaine marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer. In Irish history the festival was marked with animals moving to summer pastures and the lighting of bonfire. The beginning of the summer season was said to have started with fire festivals at Bealtaine. These fires marked a cleanse and transition into the new season with the hope of successful harvests to come. 

Tasting notes for Dingle Bealtaine Single Pot Still:

Nose: Sun dried raisins, sweet dates and vanilla cream.
Taste: Dark cherries in syrup, nutty caramel and velvety dark chocolate.
Finish: Warm spice.

Priced at €95 per 70cl bottle, Dingle Bealtaine Single Pot Still (52.5% ABV) is available to order May 1^st, 2023.

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Instagram: @DingleDistillery & @DingleGin 

Twitter: @DingleWhiskey

Facebook: Facebook.com/DingleWhiskey