Whiskymakers Editions “Infinity” 52% ABV

From The Lakes Distillery.

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, the rich, intense character of Infinity stimulates profound thought. Offering a unique experience, it delves deep into the notion that everything in nature is entwined in a state of perpetual motion, leading to somewhere new.

Matured in a multitude of our 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.

Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour, and 52% ABV, The Whiskymaker’s Editions Infinity will be unveiled at the London Whisky Show on 30th September and available online and in specialist whisky retailers from 7th October.

The Lakes Distillery

Appearance

Mid gold in colour, with an orange/pink hue. It has a thick swirl line and medium thick legs.

Nose

It noses higher than it’s actual ABV, and initially I get sweet aromatic wood. That sweetness comes from cherry drop kids sweets and the red bobbly sweets in a pack of liquorice allsorts.

I have to say that smelling it after removing a glass topper reveals lots of red fruits, I’m definitely strawberries and raspberries, and a syrupy aroma like the syrup from a jar of cocktail cherries.

More time and there is faint eucalyptus, bringing a freshness, with sherry cask fruits. Raisins, figs, black currants, the filling inside mince pies in general.

Palate

The palate is quite spicy, and the mouthfeel is ok. Yes stewed dark fruits, blood oranges, pecan nuts, cranberries, and high cocoa content dark chocolate. I’m also going with a dark syrup, almost molasses, or a black coffee sweetened with a fruit syrup.

More time and cigar leaves arrive, and a stoned fruit sweetness is apparent now. The spices don’t lessen, the sweetness comes and goes, but the spiciness is a constant. Last flavours for me are Eccles cakes, a distant smokiness, and evergreen boughs.

Finish

The finish is long side of medium, and spicy dark notes now. Cigar leaves, coffee grinds, black liquorice and peppercorns.

My thoughts

I look forward to whisky releases from the Lakes distillery, and have been lucky enough to try most, if not all of their Whiskymaker releases so far. This, in my opinion is another lovely release into the series. Dhavall Gandhi certainly does know his woods and maturation, and this is a journey as the whisky develops rather nicely.

The distillery’s style is sherry cask, and they manage to add to that base, the end result enhancing it, and this bottling is a combination of a few sherry cask types, and they’ve been married very nicely. This is a bottle i’d happily have in my whisky cupboard.

For transparency – This sample was very kindly sent to me by The Lakes distillery, this has no effect on my review of it.