English whisky production continues to grow thanks to Cumbria-based firm

England’s newest and largest whisky, gin and vodka distillery, The Lakes Distillery, has received a delivery of three copper stills earlier this week at the site in Cumbria.

The distillery, which has offices in Gosforth, Newcastle, took receipt of its three stills earlier this week which were lifted into place through the roof of the building. The stills will enable the £5m distillery to produce 1million bottles of English single malt per year, in addition to gin and vodka.

The distillery, based on the banks of Bassenthwaite Lake, sources its water directly from the nearby River Derwent and is the only distillery in Cumbria to both produce and distill its spirits on site.

Paul Currie, The Lakes Distillery’s founder and managing director, said: “We will now start commissioning the stills and from September 2014 will begin production of The Lakes Single Malt, our lightly peated liquid gold which we expect to be more akin to highland whiskies.

“We have paid great attention to the plant installed in the distillery to ensure the very highest quality of our spirits. We have also introduced a number of innovations to the process which are at the cutting edge of distilling.”

The Lakes Distillery will set aside the first 100 casks of its single malt whisky produced exclusively for members of its Founders’ Club. Each year for ten years, members will then receive one 70cl bottle and two tasting bottles, making up a collectible set of the distillery’s first ever production.

For more information on The Lakes Distillery, please visit www.lakesdistillery.com