English Distillery Produces The Very First British Blended Whisky

The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria's first whisky distillery for over 100 years, has created an entirely new concept in blended whiskies for its inaugural product: A British Isles blend.

There is a host of Scotch blends on the market, but 'The One', the very first British blended whisky, brings together a range of exceptional whiskies from around the British Isles. Each has its own distinctive characteristics, melded with great care and passion to create a perfectly balanced whisky of intriguing complexity; slightly smoky, sweet and fruity, nutty, with hints of spice.

The One will be sold in The Lakes Distillery's online shop and in a small number of carefully chosen outlets in the UK. The distillery will place a great emphasis on developing the brand in export markets and is already in discussions with partners in a number of markets in Europe and Asia.

The Lakes Distillery, idyllically housed in a secluded former Victorian model farm in the Lake District, will make the most of Cumbria's perfect whisky producing conditions and will start distilling its own Cumbrian malt whisky and gin in Spring next year. The characterful site will also include a visitor centre offering supervised distillery tours, a bistro, bar and shop.

As well as launching The One, the innovative distillery has created a unique Founders'' Club, providing a one-off chance to obtain whisky from its first 100 casks of Lakes Malt. Each year for ten years from 2015, members will receive a 70cl bottle of the maturing whisky, each with a limited edition label, forming a rare collection of The Lakes Distillery's first ever production.

Founders' Club members will be provided with two miniatures each year allowing them to taste the spirit as it develops into a wonderful single malt whisky. Delivery of the first bottle will be in 2015 and these casks are exclusively for Founders' Club members.

Overseen by Paul Currie, co-founder of the award-winning Arran Distillery and Alan Rutherford, former Production Director at Diageo, The Lakes Distillery's tremendous whisky expertise has led to the successful creation of The One and the future Lakes Malt.

To purchase The One and for further information on The Lakes Distillery and its Founders' Club, please visit www.lakesdistillery.com.

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Notes to Editors:

1: For further information, interviews and images, please contact Nici Hewitson on 07900 934671 / nhewitson@cumbriatourism.org.