Lakes Distillery, Cumbria

Amazing premium spirits crafted in spectacular surroundings...

Lakes Distillery, Cumbria

The Lakes Distillery shop

Located in the heart of Cumbria, the Lakes Distillery is a unique distillery, situated on what used to be a Victorian model farm.  Set in beautiful natural surroundings, it is home to the finest malt whisky, gins and vodka in the UK, thanks to its artisan copper stills that create exceptional spirits - without mass production.

Each building within the distillery has been sympathetically refurbished thanks to a £7m development. Thankfully, the original character of the buildings has been preserved, so although it has only been open since July 2015, it feels as though it has withstood the test of time.

The main barn houses the mash house and still house, while old cattle sheds have been converted into the warehouse,  shop, bistro and bar. 

Throughout the distillery, visitors will notice the quatrefoil design of a four leaf clover (representing faith, hope, luck & love), which can be found in various places throughout the buildings as a nod to the core values that represent the distillery.

The River Derwent and the spectacular rural setting

The glorious River Derwent - the purest water source at the heart of the Lakes Distillery ...

The water for the distillery is sourced from the River Derwent, a long winding river that is situated only 150 metres from the distillery. The Lakes Distillery draws 30,000 litres of water per day from the River Derwent, which is pretty amazing, when you think about it.

The pot stills at Lakes Distillery

Gifts at the Lakes Distillery shop

The pot stills -  Where the magic takes place...

No distillery tour is complete without viewing the pot stills, which produce the spirits. In keeping with tradition, all of the stills within the distillery have been named in honour of the wives or partners of the distillery founders. The distillery produces 1,000,000 bottles of whisky per year and 1,000,000 bottles of gin and vodka, a huge accomplishment considering that the spirits aren't mass produced.

Home of the finest spirits produced in the UK...

The Lakes Distillery produces three fabulous spirits including The Lakes Vodka, The Lakes Gin and The One, a blend of whiskies from the British Isles. 

The Lakes Vodka
The first ever vodka to be produced in The Lake District, this vodka has been lovingly crafted in a  small handmade copper pot still, which maintains its delicate aromatics and flavours.

The Lakes Gin
The Lakes Gin is a small batch Cumbrian Gin, made with local botanicals & distilled in an artisan still for outstanding flavour.

The One 
The One is a blend of whiskies from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland, comprising a whisky from each country in the British Isles. There isn't currently a single malt whisky from The Lakes Distillery, however, we've been informed that this is on the cards in a few years' time. Good things come to those who wait after all...

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The Lakes Distillery Shop 

After your tour, ensure that you pop into the distillery shop for a spot of retail therapy.  Here you can taste the spirits and purchase the vodka, gin and whisky.  Drinks aficionados will appreciate the wide assortment of glassware and cocktail books, making it the perfect place to buy gifts for those who enjoy a tipple. 

An assortment of spirits and drinks related gifts at the Lakes Distillery shop

The beautiful countryside...

Before your departure ensure you wander down to the fields near the River Derwent. The scenery is stunning and you can enjoy watching the resident alpacas lounging in the grass.

The River Derwent

The Lakes Distillery and a local alpaca

Overall, the tour was both informative and enjoyable and I would happily recommend it to anyone visiting Cumbria. Tours (£12.50 for adults) last 45-60 mins and run daily from 11am- 5pm. To make a booking, visit http://www.lakesdistillery.com/en/tours-bookings.

Lakes Distillery
​Bassenthwaite Lake
Cumbria
CA13 9SJ

A.A. Miln