The Lakes Distillery has spent thirteen years perfecting its craft in England’s Lake District. Now, the ambitious distillery believes it has cracked the code with “Signature” – its first permanent single malt whisky expression.
This launch marks a significant shift for Lakes, which has built its reputation through limited releases and experimental expressions. The distillery’s willingness to break from traditional Scottish methods has earned recognition, including the “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky” award at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards for its Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4.
The Art of Élevage
Lakes Distillery employs a technique borrowed from wine and cognac production called élevage. This approach treats maturation as an active process rather than passive aging.
“By altering the location and climate of maturing casks, moving the whisky between cask types, and combining whisky from different casks, élevage provides endless possibilities to evolve an abundance of new and intriguing flavors,” explains Sarah Burgess, Lakes Distillery’s whisky maker.
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Burgess took over the role in 2023 from Dhavall Gandhi, who established the distillery’s philosophical foundation. The élevage technique remains rare in whisky making, giving Lakes a distinctive edge in flavor development.
Most single malt producers manage cask selection and maturation periods actively. Lakes pushes this concept further by intervening throughout every stage of the whisky’s development. This hands-on approach allows the distillery to create more complex flavor profiles than traditional methods might achieve.
Sherry-Led Maturation Strategy
Signature showcases Lakes’ expertise with sherry cask aging. The whisky matured in European and American oak Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry wine casks sourced from Jerez. A sherry focus runs through Lakes’ entire portfolio. Previous limited releases explored different sherry cask influences, building the knowledge base that informed Signature’s creation.
Burgess describes the whisky’s profile: “Rich polished oak infused with irresistible leather, sumptuous dried fruits, pecan nuts, dark chocolate, and a nuanced touch of orange zest” on the nose. The palate delivers “a harmonious melody of baking spices, sweet sultanas, raisins, and figs” with “stewed orchard fruits, a burst of citrus, and opulent notes of treacle intertwined with the warmth of oak.”
English Whisky’s New World Approach
English whisky regulations offer more flexibility than Scottish whisky rules, enabling greater experimentation. Lakes positions itself as a “new world” whisky producer despite being located meer miles from the Scottish border.
The freedom has allowed Lakes to develop techniques that differentiate it from scotch, but they have also aimed to create something distinct in the growing English single malt category.
The English single malt category faces interesting challenges. Earlier in 2025, efforts to establish “English single malt” as an official designation was rejected. While some viewed this as a setback, Lakes seems to embrace the flexibility that comes with fewer restrictions.
Nyetimber Acquisition and Global Expansion
Nyetimber acquired Lakes Distillery in 2024, bringing together two premium English drinks producers. The acquisition introduces sustainability practices from Nyetimber’s award-winning sparkling wine operations.
“We like to think in generations and not years and in doing so, plan to grow the whole business sustainably for future generations,” Burgess explains. The distillery plans to implement circular production techniques, sustainable water sources, and renewable energy.
Eric Heerema, Nyetimber Group CEO and Owner, sees significant potential: “This is an incredibly exciting category within the world of British luxury, and the unveiling of Signature—and its layers of flavors that speak to the time, dedication and creativity of the distillery’s whisky makers—further solidifies The Lakes Distillery’s rightful place along with the best on the global whisky stage.”
Lakes has gained unexpected traction in emerging markets. The distillery has worked hard to develop a following in the growing Vietnamese whisky market where they have leveraged the importance of local understanding alongside the renown of their ex-Macallan whisky maker.
“Today, The Lakes is beginning to develop a cult following in Vietnam—something that would have seemed unlikely just over a year ago,” notes Dang Tau of the Vietnam Whisky Library. “The question now is: if this is what can be achieved within a year, what could be possible in five—especially with the backing of Nyetimber and a global marketing push?”
The Verdict?
Signature represents more than just a new product launch. It signals Lakes Distillery’s transition from experimental producer to established brand with a defined house style.
The whisky bottled at 47% ABV retails for $110 (£85) for a 70cl bottle. This positions Signature in premium territory, competing with established Scottish single malts.
Whether this pricing strategy succeeds depends on consumer willingness to pay premium prices for English whisky. Lakes’ award-winning track record and innovative approach provide strong foundations, but market acceptance of a permanent expression differs from limited release success. Time will tell whether this permanent expression establishes Lakes as a lasting force in single malt whisky.
