Introduction
English whisky has been finding its place alongside the traditional powerhouses of Scotland and Japan, and I’ve been following The Lakes Distillery with interest for a while. Their continuous focus on sherry-led maturation intrigued me, especially given the relatively young age of their stocks. When I got the chance to try their Signature release, I was curious to see how their house style holds up in this expression – especially with no age statement and a claimed focus on balance and depth.
Nose
Straight from the glass, the nose is inviting and surprisingly layered. I picked up dried fruits first – raisins and apricots – followed by a subtle nutty backbone, like roasted hazelnuts. There’s a noticeable sherry influence, but it isn’t overpowering. It carries a clean edge with soft baking spices: a little cinnamon, a touch of clove. After letting it breathe for a few minutes, a gentle cocoa note emerged alongside a faint vanilla sweetness. It’s not intensely punchy, but it shows careful construction.
Palate
The texture is smooth, even slightly oily, which adds to its weight on the tongue. That dried fruit character from the nose continues here, leaning into fig and orange peel territory. There’s a malty richness, perhaps a touch of dark chocolate midway through, and then a slightly earthy note that grounds the experience. The spice returns – I’d say more ginger than cinnamon now – and it warms the middle palate nicely. It’s not overly sweet, nor too dry, and that balance makes it quite approachable. It feels well put together, with each note having its place.
Finish
The finish leans medium, slightly drying, with the sherry cask influence lingering most notably. There’s a gentle tannic grip, like black tea, followed by soft echoes of bitter orange and clove. It doesn’t fade quickly, but it doesn’t stretch endlessly either. The closing impression is tidy and clean, with a hint of wood spice rounding things off.
Price and Value
This bottle comes at a mid-range price that puts it alongside younger single malts from Scotland and craft distilleries from around the globe. Considering the quality of the maturation and the complexity they manage to extract at this relatively young stage, I think it represents fair value. It’s not a budget dram, but it doesn’t feel like it’s priced on hype either. For those wanting something genuinely different from the familiar styles, it’s a solid choice.
Background
The Lakes Distillery, based in the north of England near the Lake District, has been building its reputation steadily since opening in 2014. Their house style leans heavily into sherry-cask maturation, guided by ex-Macallan whisky maker Dhavall Gandhi, who’s brought a methodical and artistic influence to their blending process. The Signature release draws from a mix of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, with some bourbon cask elements in the blend, focusing on balance and layered complexity rather than bold cask strength. More details are available on the official Lakes Distillery website.
Final Notes
Would I buy this bottle again? Yes – especially for guests who haven't yet tried English whisky. It’s a confident, refined dram that doesn’t shout but keeps you interested from first sip to last. For newcomers to whisky, this would be a friendly yet sophisticated starting point. It’s not difficult to enjoy, but it has enough complexity for experienced drinkers too.
If you're wondering what kind of occasion fits this whisky, I'd say a quiet evening with good conversation suits it best – it's more contemplative than celebratory. Compared to other English whiskies I’ve tried, this one feels more complete and mature, even without an age statement. The Signature release gives a good sense of the distillery’s direction, and I’ll be keeping an eye on future bottlings.