From Cumbria with love

Recently, as part of a tie-up between my employer and The Lakes Distillery, I was very kindly invited to spend the weekend up in Cumbria visiting the aforementioned producers, to indulge in a spot of - ahem - thorough research. Myself and Mrs TomOnWine were to stay in an idyllic riverside hotel on the banks of the River Derwent, from where we would spend time exploring the distillery and its highly-rated restaurant, as well as taking in some of the beautiful Cumbrian scenery. There are very few things that cause Mrs TomOnWine to awaken early on a Saturday morning, but with the prospect of free gin tasting in the offing, we began our journey up to the northernmost tip of England's largest National Park.

Looking east across Bassenthwaite Lake

Arriving in the Lake District, we were taken to our accommodation for the weekend - the luxurious and welcoming Trout Hotel in the small town of Cockermouth (www.trouthotel.co.uk). The hotel, which was awarded 4 stars by The AA and Visit Britain in 2009, sits on the banks of the River Derwent - the same river that provides the water for spirit production at The Lakes Distillery. After checking in, we took the short ten minute car ride to visit the main attraction (www.lakesdistillery.com). Situated at the north-western point of Lake Bassenthwaite, the distillery itself is a bijou enterprise, comprising of a few small constructs renovated from farm buildings dating back to the Victorian times. Aside from the modern bistro and visitor gift shop, of primary interest was the structure which housed the distillery itself, where the whiskies, gins and vodkas are lovingly crafted and matured.

Led by our knowledgeable and amiable tour guide Mike, we were taken inside the heart of the distillery and given a fascinating glimpse into the production methods of top quality spirits. As previously mentioned, the majestic River Derwent is the source of the distillery's water supplies, and it was emphasised by Mike how proud the company is of showcasing one of Cumbria's most important assets in their products, as well as the quality and purity that the river water brings to the final spirit. We were shown the copper stills and other equipment used in the production of The Lakes' spirits, and even allowed to set foot inside their bonded warehouse, where various incarnations of their whiskies sat maturing in an impressive array of oak barrels, including those used in the production of Bourbon and Sherry. Unfortunately I was unable to capture much of this on camera: partially due to secrecy, however mainly to do with my distraction and delight at being surrounded by such glorious and intoxicating sights and smells.

Mike in full flow

Following the distillery tour, we were invited into the tasting room where we sampled three of the Lakes Distillery's current commercially-available offerings: The Lakes Gin, Vodka and Blended Whisky. Below are my brief tasting notes on the trio:

-While the company waits for its Holy Grail and flagship single malt to mature, The One Whisky isn't a bad substitute to fill the void. A reference to the blend of whiskies from across the United Kingdom's four nations, The One Whisky is a clean and linear spirit, with attractive smoky notes. Its peaty character betrays its provenance: over 70% of the blend is made from high quality single malts.
-Probably the distillery's most popular product, The Lakes Gin offers all the character required to satisfy the modern gin drinker's palate. Fresh, fragrant and pure, the gin is dominated by citrus peel, juniper and dried herbs, and requires but a splash of tonic to showcase its full potential.
-With vodka fast becoming a retro choice, The Lakes Vodka reminds us how good the spirit can be if afforded the necessary care and attention. Ghostly in its purity and silky smooth from extended copper contact, the vodka can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or as an excellent base for a Vesper cocktail.

The Lakes Gin, Whisky & Vodka

Tasting Room

Hard at work

After an arduous tasting session, our appetites were fully whetted to enjoy the offerings of The Lakes' restaurant - stylised as 'Bistro at the Distillery'. The menus are contemporary British, with some real stand out gems available (the Farmhouse Cheese and Spinach Soufflé being highly recommendable; so too the rib-eye steak). Equally pleasing is the impressive wine list, which is varied and reasonably priced. Those which caught my eye included England's premier sparkling wine Nyetimber (available by the glass and bottle), and back vintages of a pair of well-regarded Left Bank Clarets - Châteaux Batailley and Léoville-Barton. All of the distillery's own offerings are, of course, available too.

The desserts and cocktails weren't too shabby either

It is always with a tinge of sadness that one returns from a relaxing getaway back to the daily grind, and our trip to Cumbria was no different. Both myself and Mrs TomOnWine experienced a thoroughly enjoyable time in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside: a part of the world that we hadn't previously visited, but one to which we would return in an instant. It was also fantastic to catch a glimpse into the exciting world of spirit production at The Lakes Distillery, and I'm sure that their business will continue to flourish. Certainly from the reaction I gauged from fellow visitors, as well as the general trend of increasing popularity of local artisan produce in the UK, there is no reason why the company shouldn't become an institution in itself. It was certainly refreshing to see a dedicated group of people craft produce that both utilises and is reflective of the natural resources in their environment. Perhaps new British winemakers should take note: instead of fighting against the weather and orthodox consumer tastes, might it not be better to craft products which are more faithful to our natural climate and geology, as The Lakes have done with their spirits? Without a doubt, the good folks at The Lakes Distillery are ascending rapidly up the path to enduring success. If only my patience in waiting for the release of their single malt was as determined...