The Lakes Distillery - The Whiskymaker's Editions
From the distillery website
The Whiskymaker’s Editions is a series of one-off releases showcasing the sense of adventure of our whiskymaker.
Each Edition is an exceptional diversion from The Lakes sherry-led house style; an expression of creative freedom, the product of a playground where instinct, experience and inspiration roam free.
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Sequoia - 53%
The iconic ever-changing landscape in North California's renowned wine country is the inspiration for The Whiskymaker’s Editions Sequoia. Heavily influenced by a diverse combination of cask types and exploring the subtleties of flavour through blending, Sequoia paints a very different picture to most red wine influenced whiskies, never failing to surprise and reward the adventurous.
Bold and expansive, the drinking experience is deep and multi-dimensional, with complex layers and intrigue, ripe for discovery.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Old gold on colour, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thin, oily legs
Nose: Red berries, caramel toffee, ripe figs, sultanas and oak spice
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel. Red fruit compote, dried fruit, in particular dates, figs and sultanas, caramel sauce, cinnamon and black pepper
Finish: Medium length. Drying tannins and wood spice
Overall: A really unusual whisky which flits from red wine style berry fruitiness to sherry-style dried fruit notes and back again whilst bringing in other cask influences. It’s different, it’s interesting and enjoyable, although for me it feels like it has more curiosity value than being a whisky you would choose as a regular dram
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Nostalgia - 49%
Unlock long-forgotten adventures with this sensory trip down memory lane. Inspired by endless carefree summers when the sun never sets, Nostalgia paints a colourful portrait of the moments that filled them.
A celebration of passing time, every sip of Nostalgia is a snapshot. A rose-tinted reminder of the golden days gone by.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Tawny colour, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Pear crumble with a touch of cinnamon, caramel sauce, honey, vanilla ice cream and lemongrass
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel. California raisins, fig roll biscuits, vanilla pods, poached orchard fruit and cinnamon
Finish: Drying and oaky, plenty of wood spice
Overall: Great nose and a really pleasant palate, but for me the woodiness of the finish is just too dominant to be enjoyable
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Mosaic - 46.6%
Made with carefully designed pockets of flavour from our bespoke collection of oak casks, the latest Edition, Mosaic, is a story told through art and flavour.
Taking inspiration from the Silk Road - the ancient intercontinental avenue of east-west trade and cultural exchange - it draws together a sense of adventure from East and West, uniting eclectic influences and flavours in a singular, sophisticated expression.
Taking you on a journey through time and cultural becoming, it seeks to immerse you in a tale of two worlds with a mellow, rustic elegance in keeping with its cosmopolitan influences.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Burnished gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thin, oily legs
Nose: Unsalted peanuts, dried fruit and malted milk biscuits
Palate: Medium body with a touch of creaminess. Raisins, sultanas, creamy vanilla, chocolate coated caramel toffees, woody oak, dark berries, cinnamon and black pepper. A few drops of water bring more chocolate caramel notes
Finish: Drying oak, wood spice, cinnamon and black pepper
Overall: An unusual nose and enjoyable palate but, as with the Nostalgia bottling, this is another that just has too much oakiness for me to enjoy
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Infinity - 52%
The rich, intense character of Infinity inspires profound thought. Complex and mysterious, it appears to be in a state of constant evolution.
"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."
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Tawny gold in colour, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Brandy snap biscuits, patchouli oil, oak spice and a touch of saltiness
Palate: Chocolate enrobed black cherries, vanilla cream, Seville orange marmalade, Medjool dates and black pepper. A few drops of water bring out a little more caramel and wood notes
Finish: Softly drying. Lingering dried fruit and nutty oak with a peppery prickle
Overall: Infinity is a blend of Oloroso, Palo Cortado, Fino, and Manzanilla sherry casks, so you would be forgiven if you’re expecting a sherry bomb. The sherry influence is certainly there, but the mix of casks brings a more complex, nuanced effect on the whisky. There is so much in this one to enjoy, the way it evolves and changes on the palate really adds to the experience.
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Volar - 52%
Volar, meaning ‘to fly’ in Spanish, is inspired by the Cantabrian Range of mountains in northern Spain. Eagles soar the thermals above the range’s vivid green woodland and gushing rivers, such striking symbols of strength and power, yet elegant and seemingly weightless.
Embodying both its inspiration and its dual mountain wine and sherry cask influences
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Burnished gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Hazelnut toffee, aromatic wood, dried fruit and wood spice
Palate: Hedgerow berry preserve, toasted nuts, poached pears, caramel sauce and black pepper. A few drops of water bring out a little more caramel and wood notes
Finish: As the dark berry and caramel notes subside, it gradually more astringent and spicy. The aromatic woodiness from the nose returns and lingers, together with ginger and black pepper
Overall: A really enjoyable whisky, full of dark berry fruitiness. Woodiness is there but in this case it’s more aromatic and doesn’t have a detrimental effect on the experience.
Summary: This was a real mixed bag for me, with some really excellent whiskies and some which started well but got lost in a sea of woodiness. It’s perhaps not surprising given this series is all about experimentation that not everything hits the mark, but when it does it’s certainly worth it.
The standout drams for me were Infinity and Volar, two very different whiskies but both are highly commendable. If I were to choose one winner, it would have to be the Infinity, not only because of the depth and complexity but also because of the unusual way in which the notes dance around on the palate, each taking turns to be centre stage. A very enjoyable whisky.
If you would like more information on this whisky, or the Lakes distillery, follow the link to the company website
