The Lakes

The Lakes Distillery

The Lakes Distillery Logo

Following a £9m investment and three years in development, The Lakes Distillery opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National Park with the vision of producing world class spirits that will be global brands recognised and respected around the world.  Since then, we have become one of Cumbria’s leading award winning tourist attractions, welcoming 100,000 visitors in its first year.

The Lakes Distillery’s first spirit offering was The ONE, a unique blended whisky containing mix of the best whiskies from around the British Isles leading to a spirit which is remarkably smooth but full of character, giving a well-rounded balance of flavours. Our portfolio has expanded to include The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka, lovingly created in our hand-crafted copper stills at the distillery. Our eagerly-awaited Lakes Malt Whisky is currently resting in a selection of high quality barrels with a limited bottling due in 2018.

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Housed in a beautifully renovated 1850s Victorian model farm, the Distillery has a range of facilities for visitors to enjoy. This includes an interactive tour which last one hour and offers a sensory experience enjoyed by all ages including a tasting of our spirits. The tours follow the journey of how our world-class gin and vodka and our eagerly anticipated malt whisky are made. Visitors are also invited to see behind the scenes at the working distillery and explore the stillrooms, warehouse and tasting room.

The Lakes Distillery also has a luxury gift shop with locally-sourced products and our resident herd of friendly alpacas, which visitors can walk past whilst enjoying a walk down to the River Derwent.

The acclaimed Bistro at The Lakes Distillery has developed a tremendous reputation popular with tourists and locals thanks to menus created by head chef Andrew Beaton, with renowned Michelin star chef Terry Laybourne as a mentor.

After only one year, The Lakes Distillery has already built up an outstanding reputation; winning the ‘Tourism and Hospitality’ award at the CN Awards 2015, A ‘Master’ medal at the Global Spirits Masters 2016 and being named a top 50 icon of Cumbria by judges of Cumbria Magazine. On 22nd July 2015, The Lakes Distillery was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal with the Deputy Lord Lt. of Cumbria Charles in attendance.

The essence of The Lakes Distillery brand is one of beauty, honesty and a heartfelt sense of place. Our highly experienced team, experts in their field, are passionate about producing the best quality spirits and customer experiences.

https://www.lakesdistillery.com/

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes:

Official bottling
  • steel-bonnets-whisky Steel Bonnets (2018) - Steel Bonnets Blended English and Scotch malt whisky review: A robust blended malt, I'm guessing a healthy influence of sherry cask maturation involved in some of the components at least due to the influences on the palate of orange, herbal, wood-smoke and nuts, very likeable in fact. 84/100
  • the-one-bottle The One Blend (2015) - The One Blended British whisky 40% ABV, £29.95 Score: 84/100 What they say: The ONE is a unique blend of exceptional whiskies from the British Isles. Each has its own distinctive characteristics, […]
  • The One Moscatel Wine Cask Finish (2021) - Light, sweet and fruity with lots of cake notes, quite light on the palate this has spirity and vaporous touches which prevent it from becoming cloying. 84/100
  • The-One-Port-Cask-Finish The One Port Cask Finish (2020) - The One Port Cask Finish whisky review: Sweet and smoky but with a rather odd rubbery and metallic edge to it, reminds me of some of the more unusual Tobermory offerings from e.g. SMWS and although not displeasing it isn't really ticking the right boxes for me. I like my port-finishes to ooze jammy sweetness, this is much more reserved than that in an attempt to preserve the blend profile - I wish it had gone a little further. 80/100
  • The One Port Prototype Cask Strength The One Port Edition Prototype Cask Strength (2018) - The One Port Prototype Cask Strength whisky review: Definitely benefiting from delivery strength, this Port finish expression is dangerously drinkable at 60.2% ABV, With such and intensity of flavour you could almost be mistaken that this has spent some time around PX-sherry apart from the telltale jammy fruits, very much plum, damson and cranberry and of course that awesome Crimson colour! 86/100
  • the-one-limited-edition-pedro-ximenez-cask-finish-whisky The One PX Cask Finish (2017) - The ONE Pedro Ximenéz Cask Finish (40%, OB, 2017) Category: Blended British Whisky Origin: ? Bottling: The Lakes Distillery ABV: 40% Cost: £39.95 What they say: The ONE Limited Edition Pedro Ximenéz […]
  • the-one-limited-edition-sherry-expression-p280-935_medium The One Sherry Limited Edition (2018) - The ONE Sherry Limited Edition whisky review: Very balanced, quite robust for a blended whisky and the higher ABV really helps add meat to this ones bones. A pleasant mixture of spirit and cask, lively -most likely from the youthfull Lakes distillate, but really quite accomplished. A definite improvement on last years release. 84/100
  • The-One-Signature-Blend The One Signature Blend (2020) - The One Signature Blend whisky review: A great blend and definite improvement in flavour profile for me, the work on this from Dhavall and the Lakes Distillery really is starting to show here. 84/100
  • the-one-limited-edition-tawny-port-cask-finish-whisky The One Tawny Port Cask Finish (2017) - The ONE Tawny Port Cask Finish (40%, OB, 2017) Category: Blended British Whisky Origin: ? Bottling: The Lakes Distillery ABV: 40% Cost: £39.95 What they say: The ONE Limited Edition Tawny Port Cask Finish […]
  • the-lakes-single-malt-whisky-the-whiskymakers-editions-bal-masque The Whiskymaker’s Editions Bal Masque (2021) - Quite a refined and polished expression, quite tight or closed in places. A good malty caramel sweetness infused with fruits but encased in French oak, needs a little water to loosen it up. 84/100
  • The Whiskymakers Editions, Colheita - CutOut The Whiskymaker’s Editions Colheita (2020) - The Whiskymaker’s Editions Colheita Whisky Review: Very drinkable, a good intensity of aromas and flavours. This reminds me a lot of a good oaky and fruity red wine, perhaps the most easily approachable/drinkable expression so far from the Lakes Distillery. 84/100
  • the-lakes-whiskymakers-reserve-no1-whisky The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1 (2019) - The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1 whisky review: I found this a little hot and spirity at cask strength (as presented 60.6% ABV) but this expression takes water well and reveals a robust malty body. Some great flavours developing here but perhaps a little too woody and tannic with associated spice for me, hopefully this will calm with age and so the Lakes single malt is definitely one to watch out for in the future. 83/100
  • the-lakes-whiskymakers-reserve-no-2-whisky The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2 (2020) - The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2 whisky review: More of the same! The 1st edition was a very drinkable (albeit with a little water required) expression and this follows much in the same vein. Enticingly and subtly different, reflective of the cask used in its construction but to the same high standard and quality. 83/100
  • the-lakes-whiskymakers-reserve-no3-whisky The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.3 (2020) - The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.3 Whisky Review: A definite move in the right direction in this series, delivered at a more approachable ABV. This has a super nose but sadly it is not totally backed up on the palate. Perhaps an indication of the Lakes young spirit, given time (maturation) perhaps this inbalance will be redressed? 85/100
  • The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4 (2021) - Another expression packed full with fruit, nut and spice, these are starting to feel much more integrated though there is still a touch of a youthful spiced and vaporous nature towards the end. 85/100