Introduction
I picked up this bottle of The Lakes Signature largely out of curiosity. I’ve tried several whiskies from the Lakes Distillery before, especially those influenced by sherry casks, and I was interested to see where this “Signature” bottling sits in their core range. It’s a non-age statement expression, blended from both malt and grain whiskies, with a focus on casks seasoned with Oloroso and PX sherry. My expectations were for a dram with some depth and warmth, hopefully offering more than just sweet sherry notes.
Nose
Right away, the nose presented itself as quite rounded. Dried fruits—raisin and fig mostly—stood out upfront. There’s a polished wood character that I often associate with Oloroso casks, plus a light waft of chocolate and baking spice. It’s not the sort of aroma that hits you hard; it unfolded gently but steadily, becoming more layered with a bit of time in the glass. I also picked up a mild nuttiness—hazelnut or maybe walnut—and the faintest touch of fresh orange peel.
Palate
On the palate, it delivered a fairly smooth texture, not overly oily but not thin either. The sherry character came through clearly again—red berries, toffee, and soft spice. I noticed a subtle presence of grain whisky in the blend, which gave the dram a slightly lighter edge through the mid-palate. There was also a restrained tannic grip—oak-driven, but not overbearing. It didn’t overwhelm with richness, but it found a comfortable balance between the dried fruit sweetness and the underlying spice and wood.
Finish
The finish was medium in length with a steady fade of warm spice—clove and nutmeg mainly—and a touch of bitter chocolate near the end. I appreciated that it didn’t die off too quickly or become overly sharp. The wood lingered, offering a dry, slightly earthy note, and there was a mild pepperiness that carried through just long enough to keep things interesting. It left a clean impression, with a balanced dryness rather than lingering sweetness.
Price and Value
Considering its position as a core range release, the Lakes Signature sits at a sensible price point for a blended malt with real character. I didn’t feel shortchanged on flavour or craft. It isn’t trying to compete with heavily aged malts or complex cask finishes, and that works in its favour. For what it offers in the glass—especially to fans of sherried styles—it feels reasonably priced.
Background
The Lakes Signature comes from The Lakes Distillery, located in Cumbria in the north of England. They’ve gained a solid reputation for blending artistry, thanks largely to whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi who previously worked at Macallan. This particular bottling blends malts with a proportion of grain whisky, aiming for balance and drinkability. The flavour profile leans on sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks—Oloroso and PX in particular—giving it those classic dried fruit and spice notes, without diving fully into sherry bomb territory.
Final Notes
Would I buy this again? Yes, I think so. It’s the sort of whisky that works well as an easy sipper at the end of the day—reliable, not flashy, but enjoyable. If you're fairly new to whisky and curious about blends that offer a sherried profile without the intensity of something like Glendronach, this is a welcoming place to start. I wouldn’t reach for it in moments where I want something deeply peated or heavily matured, but when I want something steady and rounded, it more than holds its own. In terms of comparison to other English whisky, The Lakes Signature shows a refinement that makes it stand out—it’s clearly crafted with consistency and patience in mind, not just novelty.