2 minute read
The Lakes Distillery
The Lakes Distillery
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► The Lakes Distillery is a luxury whiskymaker with an artistic ethos
The Lake District has long been a crucible for creativity, a place in which the imagination can flourish, and it’s no different for Dhavall Gandhi. The Lakes Distillery’s whiskymaker takes his inspiration from the UNESCO World Heritage Site where a state-of-the-art distillery has been built meticulously within a 160-year-old farmstead on the banks of the River Derwent.
Whiskymaking in its highest form is a dance between science and art, control and creativity. It necessitates being sensitive to how the climate affects the conversation between oak and air and spirit, and flowing new ideas around this frame. Dhavall works across what seem to be two very different disciplines, that of the artist, and the man of science. The Lakes practices holistic whiskymaking, with the whiskymaker at the helm throughout the journey through the distillery. His single-minded focus at every stage provides continuity of character; our assurance that every flavour possibility is achieved. Under Dhavall’s guidance, the Lake’s fermentation process is pushed up to 96 hours, twice the industry average, to create the desired complexity and depth of flavour. Distillation is also slow and long; the more contact the alcohol vapour has with the copper still, the more fruity and vibrant the resulting spirit will be. As with his unique spirit creation, Dhavall’s expertise in sherry casks has shaped whiskymaking at the Lakes, where, contrary to most contemporary distilleries’ use of ex-bourbon casks, 80-90% of the spirit is filled into different types of ex-sherry cask. Made from American, Spanish or French oak, in different sizes, the casks are seasoned with Oloroso as well as Pedro Ximenez, Cream and Fino. This sets the Lakes apart. Dhavall knows each cask intimately; how the flavours are evolving and then how they can be blended with others to complement, enhance, deepen, broaden or contrast. They nudge against each other, some excited, some sulky, some diffident, the heavy and the light. It takes time, so the final hand-selected casks are allowed to marry together for up to a year before bottling, significantly longer than any other whisky. This creates depth, roundness and harmony, the final touch which makes it The Lakes whisky.
Opposite ► Dhwall Gandhi, Whiskeymaker
Below ► The Lakes Quatrefoil Collection, a series of four yearly releases inspired by the iconic landscape which surrounds the distillery
The Lakes Distillery
