Only a few days in the past, The Lakes distillery introduced the most recent launch within the Whiskymaker’s Version collection: Reflections. It’s a collaboration with *** Michelin chef Simon Rogan. It appears to be a web-based unique.
Immediately we’re trying on the earlier (wide-scale) launch on this collection, referred to as Mosaic. The collection showcases one-off releases, usually diverting from the distillery’s sherry-led home type. For Mosaic the whisky takes its inspiration from the Silk Highway, though I couldn’t discover info on how this pertains to the cask varieties used for example.
The Lakes distillery was based in 2014 in Cumbria. You’ll want to examine to Whiskymaker’s Reserve N°1 and N°2 which I reviewed a while in the past.
The Lakes Mosaic (46,6%, OB ‘Whiskymaker’s Editions’ 2022, 2500 btl.)
Nostril: a really fruity type of sherry takes the lead. A mixture of baked apples and bananas, cinnamon syrup and candied cherry. Behind this we discover wealthy caramel notes, toffee and vanilla pastry. Then additionally burnt leafy notes and a touch of (newish) oriental wooden within the background.
Mouth: begins on toffee and caramel, with dried fruits (figs, raisins) within the background. Then the (first-fill) wooden turns into apparent, virtually giving it a way of bourbon whiskey or candy rum. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and brown sugar. Later additionally minty notes. It turns into drier and spicier because it strikes on. Lastly there’s a barely aromatic / floral trace of virgin oak as effectively.
End: fairly lengthy and candy, with caramelized pecans and loads of woody notes. Because it fades the spices come ahead.
The Lakes distillery appears to make characterful whisky and that is no completely different. Certainly there’s a barely oriental aspect to it, however you’ll have to just accept a considerable amount of woody notes too. An curiously cosmopolitan whisky in any case. Out there from The Whisky Change or TyndrumWhisky for example.
