An evolution in the journey to define their sherry-led house style, the new whisky is an artistic exploration of maturation and blending. Supremely balanced and complex, it is a single malt whisky matured in the finest, meticulously sourced Oloroso, PX and red wine casks, comprising Spanish, American and French oak. At 52% ABV and bottled at natural colour, it possesses the same sherry-led, wood-forward and flavour-packed characteristics of previous releases, with a more restrained, sophisticated, and almost Moorish influence.
The Lakes Distillery
Appearance
This whisky is dark gold with burnished deep copper in colour, it beads up on the swirl line and has slow syrupy legs.
Nose
A good ABV, lots of dark fruits, figs, cloves, a dustiness comes too. I’m also thinking wood varnish, pontefract cakes, some dunnage, grains, and linseed oil. It also smells spicy a light touch of ginger, dark chocolate, and some apricot now.
Interesting how this has developed since pouring, I was getting hazel nuts back when freshly poured.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 22, 2021
Yeah, that was an element of the foam sweets I mentioned earlier, also foam prawns #thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/iGQ0X9LjIa
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) April 22, 2021
Palate
Yes the spice is here, not too hot but definitely Sherry cask spice and warmth, it has a good mouthfeel too. We have ginger, the hazelnuts are back, cinnamon, tobacco/cigar leaves, and a touch of pineapple, grapefruit/pomelo, and a hint of seared bananas, It’s nicely rounded too.
I’m getting more fruit too, must be the red wine casks, red berries, strawberries, redcurrants and cranberries, with a light touch of drying.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 22, 2021
Finish
The finish is medium long sand initially starts off fruity carrying through from the main palate, then it soon changes into dark chocolate chilli, plenty of oak, cranberries still, cigar leaves, some sweetened espresso.
My thoughts
Having tried some Lakes distillery offerings before this tasting i was expecting a good quality single malt here. I have described it as deep, rounded, spicy and warming with a lovely mouthfeel, and i’d be very surprised if anyone disagreed to be honest, it is in my humble opinion, a cracking drop.
Would i buy a bottle
What can i say other than definitely, it’s a great whisky, one that i’d very happily sit with of an evening.
Transparency – This sample was gifted to me by the Lakes distillery, this has no impact on my Tasting notes and thoughts.
Thanks to – The Lakes distillery
Follow @LakesDistillery
