The Lakes Distillery sits in a converted Victorian model farm at Bassenthwaite, and under whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi it has built its reputation almost entirely around sherry-cask maturation in the Elements of Islay-meets-Macallan tradition. The Whiskymaker's Reserve is the distillery's flagship core release — a multi-vintage marriage of pedro ximenez, oloroso and red wine casks, bottled at a generous 52%.
Gandhi's stated aim has always been to make English whisky that drinks like a sherry-finished Speysider with a personality of its own, and this expression captures that thesis cleanly. The nose is unmistakably sherry-led: black cherry, dark chocolate, raisin and a polished oak note edged with something almost floral — rose petal, perhaps a hint of dried hibiscus.
The palate is velvety and dense, leaning into black forest gateau territory with fig, walnut and a lift of orange oil before clove and dark spice arrive on the back end. There's no rough edge to file down here; the integration is the point. Every cask feels like it's been chosen for its conversation with the others.
The finish is long, dark and chocolatey, dried fruit fading into a final whisper of espresso. A few drops of water tease out more of the red wine cask's red-fruit lift.
This is grown-up English whisky — confident, considered, made for slow sipping after a long Lake District walk.
