The distillery has released 5,922 bottles at cask strength (60.6% abv) which have been matured in PX and red wine casks, comprising American, Spanish and French oak.
Whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi, said: “Creating a new whisky requires a framework of sorts, but there must be room within it to play, to follow gut feeling and instinct.
“At The Lakes, we respect the conventions of Scotch whisky heritage but are open to a world of other influences, interpreting what we believe is right to make The Lakes Single Malt one of the finest whiskies in the world.
“We don't believe in taking the easy option if there’s another way to add a new dimension of flavour. For The Lakes, that means not only creating flavour in the new-make-spirit but also opening up more flavour possibilities throughout the journey through the entire whisky-making process.”
The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1 is retailed at £65, is non-chill filtered and uses no colouring. The Lakes Distillery said there will also be further bottlings to come.
Nigel Mills, co-founder of The Lakes Distillery added: “The idea of distilling being distinct individual elements is not how we look at the art. We see whiskymaking as part of a continuum, a net of possibilities where everything is interlinked. Change one element and the effect will change everything else.
“That is why, unusually, Dhavall is actively involved at every stage of the process. From the choice of barley to the intricacy of bespoke cask production and selection, and knowing each cask intimately as it matures. It’s holistic whisky-making.”
