THE first in a new collection of single malt whiskies has been unveiled by the Lake Distillery, on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Called The Whiskymaker's Reserve No 1, the full-bodied 60.6% spirit has been matured in "meticulously sourced" sherry and red wine casks, and is being released in 5,922 individually numbered bottles.

Whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi has overseen its creation and said: “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."

The whisky's "nose" is described as "rich and vibrant with vanilla, chocolate and wood spice, layers of dry fruits, ginger and orange on the palate and a long, warming finish".

Nigel Mills, co-founder of The Lakes Distillery, said Dhavall had been 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.”

The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1 costs £65 from www.lakesdistillery.com