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The English Distillery Introduces Their First Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky!

October 4, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The English Sherry Cask

Whisky pioneer The English Distillery is introducing the first sherry matured single malt release to its award-winning core range!

As England’s oldest registered whisky distillery reinforces its mission to create the country’s finest offering of single malt whiskies, and share them with whisky lovers around the world.

Bottled by hand at its Norfolk distillery, The English Sherry Cask is an unpeated single malt whisky, which has been matured from start to finish in the finest PX sherry casks to create a stunning expression that has been well worth the wait.

The new addition will sit alongside The English Original and Smokey

Aromas of rich dark fruits from the sherry-filled casks combine in a nose of raw honey and vanilla, leading to a burst of sweet toffee, cherries and digestives on the palate. The result is a wonderfully balanced and rich whisky that is not outshone by the wood.

Bottled at 46% abv, non chill filtered and natural in colour, this no age statement whisky will join The English Original and The English Smokey to enhance the distillery’s core range.

Founded in 2006 by farmer James Nelstrop to fulfil a lifelong dream, the distillery – guided by the experience of legendary Master Distiller Ian Henderson – began to lay down whiskies in its dunnage warehouses, with the sole aim to make world class single malt whisky.

The whisky is made using barley grown locally and on the Nelstrop family farms. The entire distillation process of milling, mashing, distilling with a pair of traditional and beautiful copper stills, maturing in the finest oak casks and hand bottling – all take place at the distillery.

After a mere 17 years of distilling, we finally have just enough stock to add a Sherry cask matured single malt whisky to our core range.

This is a momentous step for the distillery and a big milestone as we continue to demonstrate the skill of our distillers and the depth of our maturing stock.
– Andrew Nelstrop: Chairman

Available to order now (RRP: £60, 700ml bottle), the new addition will sit alongside The English Original and Smokey (RRP: £47.50 each)

The entire distillation process of milling, mashing, distilling with a pair of traditional and beautiful copper stills, maturing in the finest oak casks and hand bottling – all take place at the distillery

English Distillery products are available to buy from these Merchants:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt
  • Hard To Find Whisky

About

The English Distillery is England’s oldest registered whisky distillery. Founded by the Nelstrop family in Norfolk in 2006, the distillery is still independent and creates multi-award-winning whisky from local barley.

The distillery has a unique place in history. In 1901 the last recorded whisky distillery in England swapped from whisky to gin production before being destroyed by fire. This saw the end of whisky distilleries in England until The English Whisky Co. Ltd was granted a license to distil whisky by HMRC. In 2006 it opened the first registered, operational whisky distillery in England for over 100 years.

Our founder James Nelstrop was the young er son of a Lincolnshire farmer. James spent his formative years farming in Lincolnshire before emigrating to Australia, where farms were bigger and opportunities were plentiful. James returned to England in 1976 and went to work the land in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire. He also set up farming charities in Russia to improve the agricultural industry as the country emerged from 30 years of communist control before returning to Norfolk.

As James neared retirement, a lifetime’s dream to make whisky became a possibility. The dream had grown from a throwaway comment made by James’ father, who said it was a “shame all this barley has to go to Scotland to be turned into whisky.”

The decision to build the distillery in Norfolk was quick and with only one caveat: The distillery would produce only the very finest single malt whiskies, regardless of the time it took to get there. This mantra has become the foundation of everything that we do at The English Distillery.
The distillery is now led by James’ son Andrew, who continues to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Filed Under: English, English Whisky Co, New Arrivals, News

Sampling The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7: A Masterpiece For The Enjoyment Of The Taste Buds!

September 29, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7

Unveiled at The Whisky Show London, The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7 is a refined and fragrant finale to what has become an internationally award-winning series of sherry-led single malts!

Non-chill filtered, natural colour, and bottled at 52% ABV

Matured in the finest Oloroso, PX and red wine casks, comprising Spanish and American oak, No.7 is “a celebration of the whiskies that came before it”, sharing rich layers of honeyed fruits, hints of cocoa nibs, and dark chocolate with the familiar buttercream texture and character of previous editions, evolved with an elegant sweetness.

As the first English distillery to be awarded the coveted title “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky” (World Whiskies Awards 2022, for The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4), The Lakes’ modern approach places flavour creation at the heart of everything they do.

With multiple layers of flavour designed through the art of élevage, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7 draws to a close a series that charts a journey of exploration of maturation and oak for The Lakes; one that will lead to the release of an enduring signature style for The Lakes’ Single Malt in 2024.

The Lakes Distillery have kindly sent me a sample of their new dram to try (Thanks Lakes Distillery!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – The Lakes “Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7” English Single Malt Whisky (52%)

The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7 draws to a close a series that charts a journey of exploration of maturation and oak for The Lakes

Nose: Syrupy, stewed, fruits with vanilla. Some attractive shades of citrus including lime and there’s also dusky rooms and furniture polish – all adding up to a great treat for the nose!

Palate: Sugary prunes, forest fruits coupled with smooth creamy chocolate limes.

Finish: Heavily spiced with some added chilli. Pleasantly, this is combined with some nice fruity toffee and a little salt.

Overall: It’s been a sensory joy to sample each Whiskymaker’s Reserve over the years and like the previous drams – this one doesn’t dissapoint. Truly, a masterpiece for the enjoyment of the taste buds!

Non-chill filtered, natural colour, and bottled at 52% ABV, the new expression is available for £85 from LakesDistillery.com

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

  • Hard To Find Whisky
  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt

The Lakes were the first English distillery to be awarded the coveted title “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky”



About The Lakes Distillery:

Established in 2011, The Lakes Distillery is a design-led whisky maker. Pushing boundaries in pursuit of flavour creation, they adopt a modern approach, reframing their craft through a forward-looking lens.

Nestled on the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, the distillery attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually to experience and explore their home; and has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 – the highest award for excellence in English tourism.

Respecting tradition but refusing to be bound by it, The Lakes Distillery is open to new worlds of inspiration. Drawing inspiration from the art of élevage, not only do they look at what whisky is, they explore what it can become, and it is this approach to maturation and flavour creation that sets them apart.

The journey, so far:

• 2011 – The Lakes Distillery plc was founded by Paul Currie and Nigel Mills CBE.
• 2012/2013 – Renovation of an old Victorian model dairy farm took place to build a state-of-the-art distillery.
• 2014 – New make spirit flowed in the Lake District for the first time on 16 December.
• 2015 – The distillery was officially opened by Princess Anne in July.
• 2016 – Dhavall Gandhi joined The Lakes team to help lay the foundations for a sherry-led signature style.
• 2018 – Genesis, The Lakes’ first single malt whisky, broke three Guinness World Records at auction.
• 2019 – On 7 September, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1 was launched; the first in a series of widely available single malt whisky releases that showcase The Lakes’ sherry-led signature style and The Lakes Single Malt Whisky won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards, the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), and the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC).
• 2020 – The Lakes was named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the “1000 Companies to Inspire Britain”.
• 2021 – The first of a series of whiskies exploring flavour creation was released; The Whiskymaker’s Editions and production capacity at the distillery tripled to 400,000 LPA.
• 2022 – Following a cluster of international honours for their single malt, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4 was named “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky” in 2022 at the World Whiskies Awards.
• 2023 – Sarah Burgess, former Lead Whiskymaker for The Macallan, joined the business as the new whiskymaker and James Pennefather, former Regional MD at William Grant & Sons, as CEO.

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, New Arrivals, News, Sampling, Whisky tasting

Sampling Lakes Distillery: The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Iris’ – A Quality Whisky With Bags Of Fruity Flavour!

April 28, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Iris’

The latest Whiskymaker’s Edition, ‘Iris’ has been released and is a true departure from The Lakes’ classic sherry-led signature style!

‘Iris’ is a quality whisky with bags of flavour!

Inspired by the stunning Himalayan town of Gulmarg, which means “meadow of flowers,” this bold expression represents The Lakes’ spirit of adventure as it ventures into the creation of intensely tropical and modern flavour profiles.

Iris is a lively and uplifting experience that turns up the sensory volume to the max, transforming the mundane into a vibrant display of colours, aromas and flavours.

With its fruity and floral notes, including freshly-harvested red apples, juicy pears, and fragrant honeysuckle, ‘Iris’ is a spectrum of flavours bottled at 56% ABV and non-chill filtered, and it is available at The Lakes Distillery and select whisky retailers worldwide!

The Lakes Distillery have kindly sent me a sample of their new dram to try (Thanks Lakes Distillery!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Lakes Distillery: The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Iris’ English Whisky (56%)

Nose: Crisp apple and plump, summer fruits with some white wood. There’s also toffee coming through at the back and hints of tropical fruits for company.

Palate: A creamy palate of fresh apple and those plump, summer fruits joined by honeydew melon and tropical flavours.

Finish: Sweet spices with some punchy black pepper which gives a tasty counterpoint to the sugary fruitiness.

Overall: A very morish quality to this dram with the lighter fruits and heavier spice combining perfectly. Ideal as a perfect Summer evenings dram – or just great anytime when you fancy a quality whisky with bags of flavour!

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt


THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, New Arrivals, News, Sampling, Whisky tasting

Sampling “Join the great tumult” – Cask No: 146.2 From The SMWS – A Quiet Nose But The Palate More Than Makes Up For It!

April 6, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Join the great tumult – Cask No: 146.2

The The SMWS “New Wave” releases are a celebration of new whisky distilleries with illustrations by Bob Dewar, the artist who was instrumental in defining The Society look when started 40 years ago and whose artwork still adorns the ceiling of The Society’s spiritual home at The Vaults in Leith!

A quiet nose but it’s palate more than makes up for it!

You can get the complete picture of these releases from my previous blog post here …

The SMWS has very kindly sent me one of these bottles to try – namely ‘Join the great tumult – Cask No: 146.2’ to try. (Thanks SMWS!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes: “Join the great tumult” – Cask No: 146.2 (62.2%)


Cask Type: 1st fill STR barrique
Origin: England
ABV: 62.2%
£79.50

Nose: It’s a shy one, this dram. It gives up it’s aromas slowly. But give it time and there’s toffee apples, muted spring flowers, creamy biscuit and some citrus.

Palate: Luxuriant mouthfeel with cane sugar sweetness, syrupy orchard fruits, a little lemon and do I detect a hint of blackcurrant?

Finish: Herby, grassy spice complete with punchy pepper and some honey sugariness keeping it in cosy company. A short finish completes the experience with some woody dryness.

Overall: Well this whisky has a quiet nose but it’s palate more than makes up for this! If you like sweet fruits, wisps of flowers and some savoury bite then this dram is certainly for you!

The SMWS “New Wave” Whiskies

Spicy & Sweet

Join the great tumult


Join the great tumult
Cask No: 146.2

Cask Type: 1st fill STR barrique
Origin: England
ABV: 62.2%
£79.50

Peated

Christmas conflagration


Christmas conflagration
Cask No: 156.3

Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.3%
£75.00

Young & Spritely

A walk in the woods


A walk in the woods
Cask No: 149.3

Cask Type: 1st fill US oak px butt
Origin: Scotland
ABV: 60.6%
£77.50

Oily & Coastal

Fire festival


Fire festival
Cask No: 149.5

Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso butt
Origin: Scotland
ABV: 61.7%
£85.00

Many thanks to the SMWS (@SMWSUK) for sending me such a fine bottle of English Whisky!

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and has 37,000 members around the world.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask and single malt whisky, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 different single malt whiskies every month
• Members have access to four exclusive SMWS Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• The Society offers a variety of membership options that can be tailored.
• For more information about the Society, visit: https://smws.com/, Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)

• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• ASC owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and in 2021 it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. Inspired by its namesake, which was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland, in the 1700s, J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin. 

Filed Under: English, New Arrivals, News, Sampling, Smws, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Whisky, Whisky tasting

Lakes Distillery Releases “Elements” – Their First Whiskymaker’s Project!

March 30, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Elements

The Lakes Distillery offers an insight into the mind of a whiskymaker with Elements!

Designed as a library of whisky learnings, Elements shares a rare glimpse into the mind of a whiskymaker as they embark on a journey to create a new single malt whisky.

Only 1,386 Elements libraries have been produced …

Originating long before The Lakes Distillery ever released a single malt, their first “Whiskymaker’s Project” began chronicling the research undertaken to understand how the theory of sherry cask maturation would translate to a new distillery.

Focusing upon the impact oak has on whisky’s flavour creation, Elements seeks to expand on a deep understanding of sherry wine as it studies the micro-climate and how New Make Spirit behaves with different sherry-seasoned oak casks.

Understanding how the theory of sherry cask maturation translates to the surrounds of the Lake District and with our New Make Spirit was a fundamental step toward establishing our oak-led maturation philosophy and designing a new sherry-led single malt.
– DHAVALL GANDHI

Delving deep into the oak’s treatment, its seasoning and how each variation imparts a very different characteristic style to the whisky, Elements explores flavour, aroma and texture to give a snapshot of the distinct role seven sherry-seasoned oak casks can play: Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Cream, PX, and Oloroso.

Inspired by a simple question, to see what would happen if the idea of flavour creation in whisky was turned on its head, only 1,386 Elements libraries have been produced.

Individually numbered and accompanied by a Book of Elements offering a background to each sherry wine and how it interacts, Elements gives a unique insight into the way whisky is designed at The Lakes and the cask laydown needed to create the complex flavours and profile of The Lakes Single Malt Whisky.

Now available in the UK at specialist whisky retailers and LakesDistillery.com, Elements: A Whiskymaker’s Project contains seven 20cl bottles of single malt whisky, each at 54% ABV, and retails for £500.

Alongside the accompanying book, registered owners also receive online access to exclusive behind-the-scenes content, including an audio conversation between whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi and The Lakes’ commercial director Kirsty Taylor, discussing the project in more depth.

Designed as a library of whisky learnings, Elements shares a rare glimpse into the mind of a whiskymaker

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt


THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, New Arrivals, News

Sampling The Lakes Distillery New Release: “Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6” – A Very Welcome Dram Indeed!

March 16, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

“Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6” – A Very Welcome Dram Indeed!

The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6 is the penultimate release in The Lakes Distillery’s journey to define a signature style!

An intensely aromatic evolution, the new sherry-led single malt retains the bold and complex characters The Whiskymaker’s Reserve is known for, bringing rich new flavours to the fore.

No.6 is Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour, and 52% ABV

Delving deep into the subtleties of flavour creation, No.6 explores multi-layered nuances, turning the spotlight on exotic spices and gentle rose fragrance to create a distinctly different mood from its predecessors.

More flavour-driven, with a focus on accentuating notes of wood spice, it has been principally matured in bespoke-made Oloroso, PX, and red wine casks, hand-crafted from Spanish and American oak, and designed through the art of élevage and blending expertise.

Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour, and 52% ABV, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6 is available from LakesDistillery.com and specialist whisky retailers, with a recommended retail price of £85.

The Lakes Distillery have kindly sent me a sample of their new dram to try (Thanks Lakes Distillery!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6 (52%)

Nose: Intensely sherried (as highlighted in it’s colour!) and, surprisingly, cherries! Demerera sugar, caramel, creamy strawberries, mint and hints of rose – WoW!

Palate: Sherry and red wine in luscious abundance! Sugary caramel, creamy strawberries.

Finish: A tasty, peppery spice with some grapefruit and woodiness but the fruity creaminess is still there.

Overall: A fruit cocktail of a dram or maybe a sherry trifle of a dram! Whichever, it’s a taste sensation that always makes me wish the sample I was sent was a little bit larger! A whisky with a variety of flavours not always seen in a sherry-type dram – and that is a very welcome thing indeed!

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt


THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, New Arrivals, News, Sampling, Whisky tasting

The Lakes Distillery Releases “Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6” – An Intensely Aromatic Evolution!

March 2, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The ‘Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6

The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6 is the penultimate release in The Lakes Distillery’s journey to define a signature style!

An intensely aromatic evolution, the new sherry-led single malt retains the bold and complex characters The Whiskymaker’s Reserve is known for, bringing rich new flavours to the fore.

No.6 explores multi-layered nuances, turning the spotlight on exotic spices and gentle rose fragrance to create a distinctly different mood from its predecessors

Delving deep into the subtleties of flavour creation, No.6 explores multi-layered nuances, turning the spotlight on exotic spices and gentle rose fragrance to create a distinctly different mood from its predecessors.

More flavour-driven, with a focus on accentuating notes of wood spice, it has been principally matured in bespoke-made Oloroso, PX, and red wine casks, hand-crafted from Spanish and American oak, and designed through the art of élevage and blending expertise.

Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour, and 52% ABV, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6 is available from LakesDistillery.com and specialist whisky retailers, with a recommended retail price of £85.

To celebrate the release, The Lakes Distillery has partnered with renowned mixologists from some of the UK’s most exclusive bars to design a series of serves underlining flavour’s role in influencing your mood.

Taking over summer cocktail menus in Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London, The Stafford’s American Bar, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace, The Lanesborough’s Library Bar, The Mandarin Bar at Mandarin Oriental, and The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel, like The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.6, the curated collection of cocktails tell a story through the art of flavour creation.

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt


THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, New Arrivals, News

Sarah Burgess Appointed As New Whiskymaker At The Lakes Distillery!

January 11, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Sarah Burgess

In a creative shake-up to its whisky-making team, The Lakes Distillery has appointed Sarah Burgess to be its new Whiskymaker!

Former Lead Whiskymaker at The Macallan, Sarah’s time at Edrington focused on whisky range creation, innovation, and quality control for one of the world’s most revered single malts. And it was Sarah’s expertise that helped to design The Macallan Genesis, The Anecdotes of Ages Collection with Sir Peter Blake, and establish a global collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute™.

On leaving her role as creative director at The Craigellachie, where Sarah has been crafting a luxury lifestyle collection of drinks telling the story of Speyside at one of the world’s oldest whisky hotels, Sarah brings more than 25 years of whisky-making passion and knowledge to The Lakes Distillery at a time when they are accelerating production and planning for rapid international growth.

I was intrigued by The Lakes as a new distillery but one creating such high-quality whisky, I am excited to be part of a new and innovative operation and I am sure between my creativity and the quality casks we have in maturation that many great whiskies will follow.
– Sarah Burgess

We are delighted to welcome Sarah to our team. Not only does she bring a wealth of experience and creativity, but Sarah’s inclusive desire to guide, support, and develop our existing whiskymaking team is something we are very excited about.

With an acute understanding of the complete whiskymaking process, Sarah’s hands-on approach to taking concepts from inception through to creation aligns flawlessly with our whiskymaking philosophy. It is a very exciting time for us all.
– Nigel Mills: Co-founder at The Lakes Distillery

Having also worked at Diageo for more than two decades, managing the Oban, Glenkinchie and Clynelish distilleries, Sarah’s love for the whisky industry, and in particular sherry casks, will be invaluable as she takes over the top job from Dhavall Gandhi who, in January 2022, opened an eponymously named whisky consultancy alongside his role at The Lakes.

Dhavall has played an instrumental role in what has been an extraordinary journey for The Lakes over the past five years, culminating in The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4 being named the “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky” at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.

Dhavall has dedicated himself artistically to the distillery and helped us to forge a clear vision and philosophy for our whiskymaking. For that, we will be forever grateful.
– Tim Farazmand: Chairman at The Lakes Distillery

Sarah Burgess joined The Lakes Distillery on Thursday 5th January, working together with Dhavall to hand over The Lakes’ 2023 bottlings before taking over responsibility for all whiskymaking operations.

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are available to buy from:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt


THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, News, Whisky

Sampling The Lakes Distillery Latest Release: The Whiskymakers’ Editions ‘Infinity’ – A Whisky Designed For The Curious…

September 30, 2022 by Gary Leave a Comment

Infinity – a whisky designed for the curious…

The Lakes Distillery has released The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Infinity’ – a whisky designed for the curious!

Unlocking a new dimension with every sip, The Whiskymaker’s Editions Infinity is inspired by a never-ending fascination with the interconnectedness of fragrance and flavour.

Designed for the curious whisky drinker, this single malt is described by its maker to “stimulate profound thought” and “offer a unique experience” as it delves deep into the notion that everything in nature is entwined in a state of perpetual motion, leading to somewhere new.

Available online and from The Lakes Distillery from Friday, 7 October 2022

Matured in a multitude of The Lakes Distillery’s finest sherry butts, including rare Palo Cortado seasoned American oak casks, it is the art of blending, carefully layering complimentary and contrasting flavours, and learnedly counterbalancing aromas that makes it possible for Infinity to appear in a state of constant evolution on both the nose and palate.

Simultaneously complex and enigmatic, bewildering and delightful, each inimitable taste entices you to go deeper and deeper into a metaphorical rabbit hole of flavours, offering the opportunity to explore infinite ever-changing combinations that make it difficult to define where they come from and where they lead.

Created with a modern approach and a wide variety of exceptional sherry casks, Infinity is a whisky that offers a unique experience.

With layer upon layer of continuously changing aromas and flavours, perfectly balanced and each jostling to shine through, it is a complex whisky that unlocks a different dimension with every sip. As one door closes, another one opens up in this constantly evolving whisky.
– Dhavall Gandhi: Whiskymaker at The Lakes Distillery

Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour, and 52% ABV, The Whiskymaker’s Editions Infinity will be available this weekend at the Whisky Show London. Following the show, it will be available online and also from The Lakes Distillery from Friday, 7 October 2022.

The Lakes Distillery have kindly sent me a sample of their new dram to try (Thanks Lakes Distillery!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Infinity’ (52%)

Nose: Heady shades of lemon citrus and orange with sugary cane syrup, banoffee pie and creamy chocolate.

Palate: Creamy, sherried notes with luscious toffee, chocolate and a little citrus.

Finish: Smooth with a lovely punchy, slightly dry, peppery finish.

Overall: This is a super dram and really recommended – possibly one of the best Lakes Distillery expressions I’ve ever tasted!

Great flavours abound and the ABV, though high, is not harsh at all. I’d say this is certainly a dram to take you to infinity – and maybe even beyond!

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt


THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Filed Under: English, Lakes Distillery, New Arrivals, News, Sampling, Whisky, Whisky tasting

Sampling Circumstance Distillery’s First English Whisky – And It’s Sold Out Already!

September 23, 2022 by Gary Leave a Comment

Circumstance Distillery’s English Whisky – gone in under ten minutes!

On very rare occasions I get the opportunity to sample a whisky which basically doesn’t really exist anymore!

A strange experience indeed and such was the case with Circumstance Distillery based in Bristol who released their inaugural English Whisky onto the UK market earlier this month and it sold out in under 10 minutes!

Only 500 bottles were available …..

With only 500 bottles available, Circumstance English Whisky was available to buy directly from their distillery website for £60 – if you were lucky!

This single grain whisky was created from malted barley (85%) and unmalted barley (15%) that was processed by hand at Warminster Maltings. The grains were fermented on a French saison yeast for an extraordinary 14 days.

It was distilled in an 1800L hybrid still with a copper whisky hood and copper 4 plate column and then matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks at the distillery for over three years.

There is a lot more to whisky than single malts. Creating a mash bill that contains more than just malted barley requires some real skill – which our team have an abundance of. This inaugural whisky release is an important milestone, but our journey continues.

A single grain rye whisky and a single grain wheat whisky should be ready for release in near future. Watch this space…
– Danny Walker: Co-founder

This single gain whisky glows a golden straw colour with aromas of scrumpy cider, lemon zest and milk chocolate. On the palate there is a hay like sweetness with cream soda and some wonderful delicate spice. The mouthfeel is oily and creamy. The finish is zesty with a hint of savoury.

Circumstance Distillery believes “It’s ready when it’s ready”

Modern whisky distilleries don’t just rely on casks, they build flavour in their whisky from the start with carefully selected grains, carefully selected yeast strains and long fermentations. The results speak for themselves.

At Circumstance Distillery we are at the forefront of modern whisky and at the forefront of English whisky.
– Liam Hirt: Co-founder and Managing Director

Circumstance Distillery kindly sent me a sample to try – lucky me! So thanks very much circumstance.com / @andcircumstance!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Circumstance Single Grain Whisky (44.5%)

Nose: Sweet tropical fruits with added green apple, lemon citrus and caramel fudge.

Palate: Creamy, oily mouthfeel with vanilla fudge, apple and delicate tropical fruits.

Finish: Warming, smooth spice which gradually grows in heat but that cane sweetness and caramel stays close for good measure.

Overall: A light dram, both in colour and taste. It’s full of flavour and character though with crisp fruits, warming spice and tropical flavours all combined rather nicely – no wonder it sold out in under ten minutes!

Once again, many thanks to circumstance.com (@andcircumstance) for sending me a drop or two of English Whisky history!

About Circumstance Distillery

Our distillery in the heart of Bristol is considered to be “”Britain’s most innovative distillery” (- Master of Malt)””.

Our highly motivated team work long and hard to get as much great flavour into their spirits as they possibly can. To achieve this we use organic mash bills, beer and wine yeast, and long open fermentations.

Spirits are matured in a variety of ways using a variety of woods. We use first fill ex-bourbon casks, virgin casks, seasoned casks and charred english oak spindles. Maturation is all about a balance between the new make spirit and the wood.

We are very proud of our flavoursome new makes and as such some releases are considerably “younger” than traditional whiskies or grain spirits.

We believe it’s ready when it’s ready.

Filed Under: Circumstance Distillery, English, New Arrivals, News, Sampling, Whisky, Whisky tasting

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