The Lakes Distillery – History and Awards
What is the Lakes Distillery?
The Lakes Distillery is a Cumbrian whisky distillery near Bassenthwaite Lake, on the north-west edge of the Lake District. Known particularly for its sherry-led single malt whiskies, it also produces a range of popular gins and vodkas and houses its own excellent bistro and shop. With the waters of the Lake District flowing nearby, this whisky distillery has built itself up a world-wide reputation since it was established in 2011.
History of the Lakes Distillery
Still a new player in the whisky field, the Lakes Distillery was established in 2011 by Paul Currie. Having worked with Scotch whisky for many years, Currie was nonetheless drawn to England and in particular to the Lake District for its pure waters and spectacular scenery.
Finding a perfect location
Starting his hunt for the perfect location, Currie had certain requirements to fulfil. He needed land, suitable buildings that could be converted, and a good water supply. It took over a year to find somewhere, but he eventually came across a run-down former dairy farm close to the popular Lake District town of Keswick. There were plenty of buildings ripe for conversion, including an all-important barn with tall ceilings that could cope with the size of the stills.
Truly Cumbrian renovation
However, it wasn’t a case of just moving in. The farm was 160 years old and had been left empty for the last 20 years. Some serious renovation was needed. On top of that, the required funds had to be raised – no easy task. But with the support of big names in whisky, such as Dr Alan Rutherford (a former head of global whisky production at Diageo) and Cumbrian-born master stillman Chris Anderson, plus the likes of Michelin star chef Terry Laybourne, the necessary money was eventually secured. In 2014, work could finally start in earnest.
But Currie wasn’t content to just tear the down the beautiful buildings and rebuild them as quickly as possible. He was in the Lake District and he wanted to remain true to that. So the buildings remained standing and the renovation was carried out with the use of materials from Cumbria itself. Even the local green slate tiles already on the roofs were carefully removed, cleaned, and replaced. The result was a beautifully refreshed building that completely retained the character of the local area.
The first launch
Even before the buildings were ready, the team at the Lakes Distillery began to make a name for themselves. In the autumn of 2013, they launched The One, the first ever British Isles blend of whiskies from across the UK. It was an immediate success, so they already had a great reputation by the time the distillery opened in late 2014.
Distilling the whisky
While waiting for their first whisky to mature, the team cracked on creating a super-premium gin and a triple-distilled vodka. The gin in particular was a obvious choice. British juniper – the key ingredient in gin – is from Cumbria, and half of the 14 botanicals used in the The Lakes Gin are also from the county.
Distillation of the first whiskey, The Lakes Malt Genesis, had begun even before the doors were opened, in August 2014. Lightly peated, it was similar to highland whiskies and launched in 2018, following the slow process that is required for good whisky distilling. The first bottle of The Lakes Malt sold for a record-breaking £7,900 at auction.
Lakes Distillery Awards
The Lakes Distillery has been showered with awards ever since it produced its first blended whisky. From customer experience to gold ratings for its produce, their impressive range of accolades covers all aspects of the business.
Multiple awards have been won on an almost-annual basis at the Global Distillery Masters since 2017; Visit England have recognised them for their tours; and they have even won worldwide awards at the World Liqueur Awards, World Whiskies Awards and International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Most recently, The Whiskymaker’s Editions Infinity received a gold award at the 2023 International Spirits Challenge following an in-depth blind assessment from an experienced panel of judges. The One whisky also received gold at the 2023 Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition, Asia’s largest whisky and spirit exhibition. Not only that, but the prestigious competition awarded them title of the world’s “Best Distillery of the Year”.
Lakes Distillery Whiskies
Lakes Distillery has an interesting selection of whiskies, many of which use experimental methods that are restricted in the production of Scotch whisky (which requires whisky to be distilled in oak barrels). That means that subtle influences of flavour create unique blends that are distinctive of this particular distillery.
On the 7th of September 2019, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve single malt whisky was unveiled. Part of a series that defines the distillery’s house style, the whiskies from this collection remain a favourite to this day.
In contrast to the house style, a collection of art-inspired whiskies known as The Whiskymaker’s Editions offer exciting and surprising notes. From the landscape of Andalusia in the Soleado to the Himalayan mountains of the Iris, this collection plays with flavours from across the world.
The Whiskymaker’s Editions are our current favourite offering from Lakes Distillery and you can find each quirky bottle in our online whisky store.
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Delicious food and drink from the best Cumbrian producers
Here’s our pick of just some of the best Cumbrian producers of food and drink from across the county.
The Lake District Honey Company – Lowther Honey
Jim Lowther started keeping bees and producing honey in 2015. He now has more than 600 hives across the Lowther Estate, with thousands of bees creating four types of delicious honey, depending on the time of year, including his signature River Lowther Blended Honey.
The bees on the Lowther Estate are busy creatures and they also produce Lowther Castle Blossom Honey – which includes nectar from wild cherry, dandelions, sycamore and hawthorn – from pollen gathered by the bees in April and May. Brampton Valley Wildflower Honey is harvested throughout the summer and it has a mild flavour, with nectar from lime, clover, willowherb and wild raspberry. Shap Fell Heather Honey is an altogether more robust product, with a smoky flavour from the moor heathers around Shap.
Dalemain Marmalade
The majestic Dalemain country house in Penrith is the family home of Jane Hasell-McCosh, marmalade connoisseur and founder of The Marmalade Awards, which attracts entries from across the globe.
Jane’s love for this bitter orange conserve has led to her creating a line of exquisite marmalades such as Kitchen Garden with rhubarb from Dalemain; The Bishop’s Marmalade, a sweeter take on the traditional preserve, containing quince and lemon; and Apple & Brandy, which makes use of the bumper apple crop on the estate. Then there are family favourites such as George’s Marmalade, which is her son’s favourite, and of course, Jane’s Marmalade, a thick-cut orange and grapefruit preserve made to a recipe from her childhood.
Lakes Whisky
Whisky from The Lakes Distillery takes water from the Lake District National Park and mixes it with barley in a slow mashing, fermentation and distillation process, followed by maturation in oak sherry casks. This culminates in whiskies that display the nuances of their individual casks; the result is a sheer delight for whisky lovers. Favourites include The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve Single Malt No.5, The Lakes Signature Blended Whisky and The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Editions Bal Masque.
Cumberland Saucy Gin
Our own Cumbrian masterpiece, Cumberland Saucy Gin, is part craft gin, part homage to a celebrated traditional sauce, local to these parts, usually served alongside cold meats.
Cumberland Sauce is a popular mixture of fruit and spices, including orange, redcurrants, black peppercorns and mustard. We’ve taken the highlights of this and combined them with juniper berries and botanicals to create our bestselling citrus spicy gin. It lends itself particularly well to the festive season, but with its fresh tasted and warming tones, is great at any time of the year.
Jane’s Marmalade Gin
An inspired fusion of botanicals, Seville oranges, grapefruit and lemon, Jane’s Marmalade Gin is a partnership between Jane Hasell-McCosh of the beautiful Dalemain country house and ourselves. Based on her signature marmalade, the flavour is fruity and full-bodied, with citrus notes shining through. The result is a traditional gin that is eminently drinkable, Cumbrian heritage apparent in every drop.
Mr Vikkis
Adam Marks, the award-winning chef behind Mr Vikkis, is passionate about Indian pickles, chutneys and chillies. He’s based in the Lake District and has conjured up amazing artisan recipes, handcrafting his products from the best fresh ingredients, herbs and freshly milled spices. There are now more than 30 products in the range – including his ever-popular Banana Habanero, which took four years to perfect – with heat levels to suit all tastes. Mr Vikkis has fans across the country and has won more than 110 awards internationally for this self-confessed chilli-head.
Lakeland Mues
Breakfast will never be the same once you discover Lakeland Mues artisan toasted muesli! Each batch is lovingly crafted by hand in Cumbria and is chock-full of the finest nuts, cereals and seeds, with the perfect amount of honey to bring it all together. Choose from the Artman Classic, Berry Blast, The Chocolatier and Total Nutter, as well as seasonal favourites such as Winter Wonder. There’s even a gluten-free vegan recipe so everybody is catered for and more importantly, well fed and happy.
Traybakes
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Cakes that look and taste homemade are the hallmark of Traybakes. The award-winning company is based in Penrith and sources the best nuts, fruit, chocolate chips and more to create its handmade cakes that are baked to traditional recipes. We stock a great selection of individual bars, sharing slices and, if you’re hungry, full trays! Flavours include Salted Caramel Brownie, Cinder Road, Honeycomb Crunch and Paradise Flapjack. Yum!
Tirril Ales and Gin
Tirril Brewery in Long Marton, near Appleby-in-Westmoreland, crafts a wide selection of fine ales, stout and lagers for an appreciative clientele locally and beyond the Lake District. Tirril lagers are filtered, not fined, so are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, while all their beers are gluten-free. Favourites include Windermere IPA and Borrowdale Bitter.
Tirril has taken its beliefs in quality and authenticity and applied them to gin, working in conjunction with local distiller Solway Spirits. Flavoured with fruits foraged from Lakeland trees and hedgerows, and gathered from the kitchen garden adjacent to the brewery, their gins include Elderflower and Borrowdale Honey, Wild Blackberry, Rhubarb, and Raspberry.
Langtons No.1 Gin
The water used in Langtons No.1 Gin started off under Skiddaw, the sixth highest mountain in England, before being filtered through 450-million-year-old slate on its way to the surface. This is then married with local botanicals, including seasoned ancient oak bark, resulting in a triple award-winning spirit that is both smooth and fresh on the palate.
Cumbrian Food Producers
Browse our online shop for a whole host of fabulous Cumbrian produce, or pop into our shop in Pooley Bridge, where we can help you pick out a delicious treat or two.
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