ONE YEAR ON AND MATURING WELL

70,000 visitors and 80,000 litres of spirit produced during The Lakes Distillery’s first year 

England’s largest whisky distillery raises a glass as the country’s newest single malt whisky reaches a major milestone in its maturation and is already surpassing the distiller’s high expectations.

The Lakes Distillery started production of its Lakes Single Malt in December 2014, the same month it officially opened its doors to visitors. The spirit, which will officially become whisky after three years maturing in oak casks, will be ready for drinking from spring 2018. Early feedback from the distillery’s team, which includes some of the UK’s most foremost whisky experts such as Dr Alan Rutherford and Chris Anderson, is The Lakes Single Malt is on track to be one of the finest.  ‘After only one year maturing, already it is smooth and sweet and very drinkable’ says Distillery Manager John Drake. ‘It is quite outstanding.’

Founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery, Paul Currie, who founded and ran the award-winning Isle of Arran Distillers before opening England’s largest distillery, said: “This has been a phenomenal year for the business – the reaction from the drinks industry, the public and the local businesses in the North West has been fantastic.

“We feel honoured to have been awarded a string of accolades from different industry bodies in our first year. Our spirits have picked up awards at the IWSC and International Spirits Challenge (ISC), while the Bistro at The Distillery has been listed in Hardens and the Michelin Good Food Guide 2016 and picked up Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards several months in a row.”

In just 12 months, The Lakes Distillery has also become one of Cumbria’s leading tourist attractions welcoming more than 70,000 visitors through its doors. Meanwhile the acclaimed Bistro at The Lakes Distillery has built up a tremendous reputation being popular with tourists and locals, thanks to head chef Andrew Beaton, with renowned chef Terry Laybourne overseeing the bistro. The Lakes Distillery has also been named as a ‘Top 50 Cumbrian Icon’ in only its first year.

Paul continued: “We are situated in one of the most stunning places in the world which we think gives us a real edge and that, combined with the unique spirits we are producing, makes us a strong contender in this industry. Our aim is to ensure The Lakes Malt is recognised as one of the finest malt whiskies in the world, making us a challenger to Scotland.”

Already the creators of artisan spirits The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka, The Lakes Distillery offers a blended British Isles whisky called The ONE which is currently available in a limited edition sherry cask finished bottle, marking the distillery’s first birthday.

For more information on The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.lakesdistillery.com/ or for further details on The Bistro at The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.bistroatthedistillery.com/.

Picture caption 1: The Lakes Distillery team in the warehouse with managing director and founder Paul Currie with Nigel Mills Chairman of The Lakes Distillery (L-R) in the centre.

For more information on The Lakes Distillery, please visit www.lakesdistillery.com

For further details on The Bistro at The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.bistroatthedistillery.com/ 

• The Lakes Distillery, England’s newest craft distillery, opened to the public in December 2014. The Lakes Single Malt began production on 16th December 2014 and will be available late 2018, and its blended whisky from the British Isles, called The ONE, the Lakes Gin and the Lakes Vodka are available to buy now.
• Six miles from Keswick along the A66 or a similar distance from Cockermouth The Lakes Distillery is next to Bassenthwaite Lake, in an area of unimaginable beauty encircled by Cumbrian fells
• The experienced team behind the Lakes Distillery includes managing director Paul Currie who co-founded the Arran Distillery, Master Distiller Chris Anderson with over 30 years’ experience and Alan Rutherford a former Production Director of Diageo who renovated the historic buildings of an old Victorian Model Farm next to the famous river Derwent and are producing a new world-class blended whisky, single malt, gin and vodka.  The Lakes Distiller has John Drake, from Cumbria, as their Distillery Manager.  Tour and Retail Manager Brian Hill has worked in the Scotch whisky tourism industry for many year
• The water from the famous River Derwent, with its source high up in the fells, a team steeped in experience of producing spirits, and perfect conditions for distilling create a very special range of spirits
• National retailers Harvey Nichols and Majestic now stock The ONE and The Lakes Gin in all stores.  Fortnum & Mason also have The Lakes Gin on its shelves
• The Bistro at The Distillery is overseen by Michelin star chef Terry Laybourne and won OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award for three months running in Cumbria and Keswick.  The Bistro at the distillery employs local staff and offers indoor and outdoor dining options.  Early evening menu offers 2 courses for £15.95 and 3 courses for £18.95.