Just a few days ago, The Lakes distillery presented the latest release in the Whiskymaker’s Edition series: Reflections. It is a collaboration with *** Michelin chef Simon Rogan. It seems to be an online exclusive.
Today we’re looking at the previous (wide-scale) release in this series, called Mosaic. The series showcases one-off releases, often diverting from the distillery’s sherry-led house style. For Mosaic the whisky takes its inspiration from the Silk Road, although I couldn’t find information on how this relates to the cask types used for instance.
The Lakes distillery was founded in 2014 in Cumbria. Be sure to compare to Whiskymaker’s Reserve N°1 and N°2 which I reviewed some time ago.
The Lakes Mosaic (46,6%, OB ‘Whiskymaker’s Editions’ 2022, 2500 btl.)
Nose: a very fruity style of sherry takes the lead. A mix of baked apples and bananas, cinnamon syrup and candied cherry. Behind this we find rich caramel notes, toffee and vanilla pastry. Then also burnt leafy notes and a hint of (newish) oriental wood in the background.
Mouth: starts on toffee and caramel, with dried fruits (figs, raisins) in the background. Then the (first-fill) wood becomes obvious, almost giving it a sense of bourbon whiskey or sweet rum. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and brown sugar. Later also minty notes. It becomes drier and spicier as it moves on. Finally there’s a slightly fragrant / floral hint of virgin oak as well.
Finish: quite long and sweet, with caramelized pecans and plenty of woody notes. As it fades the spices come forward.
The Lakes distillery seems to make characterful whisky and this is no different. Indeed there’s a slightly oriental side to it, but you’ll have to accept a large amount of woody notes too. An interestingly cosmopolitan whisky in any case. Available from The Whisky Exchange or TyndrumWhisky for instance.