A distillery have introduced a new addition to their internationally award-winning series of single malt whiskies.

The Lakes Distillery, based in Cockermouth, have brought in The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 to their repertoire, with the whisky described as 'an elegant and Moorish evolution, possessing the same sherry-led, wood-forward characteristics as its predecessors'. 

Rather than sealing the oak and waiting for the result from a cask, the distillery have used the art of elevage - a method which requires the proactive involvement of moving whisky around into different barrels, as well as locations, to bring out a layering of unique flavours. 

Times and Star: SLAINTE: The Lakes' latest dram. SLAINTE: The Lakes' latest dram.

The Lakes’ whiskymaker, Dhavall Gandhi, said: "With The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5, we wanted to create a whisky with a similar sherry-led profile to previous releases, but with certain characters restrained to achieve a textural refinement.

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"This is a whisky with seductively aromatic notes of dark chocolate and dried fruits, and a smooth finish with intricate layers of wood spice," he said. 

The whisky, which has been matured in top-range bespoke Oloroso, PX, and red wine casks, comprising Spanish and American oak, is part of The Whiskymaker’s Reserve Series, a collection of single malt whiskies that define The Lakes Single Malt Whisky’s signature sherry-led style. 

Times and Star: SIGNATURE: Old Fashioned CocktailSIGNATURE: Old Fashioned Cocktail

To celebrate the release, The Lakes Distillery sought the imagination of some of the best Old Fashioned makers in the world to compliment to the unique possessing flavour. 

Mixologists from Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace, The Goring Cocktail Bar, The Chinoiserie at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, and The Northall Bar at Corinthia London have used The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 to develop their own delectably delicious takes on the eminent whisky cocktail.

The bottle is 52 per cent ABV and is available from the Lakes Distillery website and specialist whisky retailers throughout the UK, priced around £70. 

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