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Home of the 'world's best single malt 2022'.

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of our working distillery, following the spirit’s journey to discover how every flavour possibility is achieved.

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How to find us

The Lakes Distillery, Setmurthy, Bassenthwaite CA13 9SJ

From the A66:  Turn off A66 at the north end of Bassenthwaite Lake onto B5291. At Ouse Bridge junction bear left (don't go over the bridge). Distillery is on the right after a few hundred metres.

From the A591:  use the turning directly next to the Castle Inn onto the B5291. Carry on past Armathwaite Hall. Bear right after crossing the Ouse Bridge and the Distillery is on the right after a few hundred metres. 

Google Maps:  Type in 'Lakes Distillery, Setmurthy' and it will take you straight to the door. 

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Opening Hours

Shop & Tours Daily, 10am - 5pm

We are open every day, except Christmas Day & Boxing Day. Private and evening bookings available on request.

Bistro at the Distillery Daily, 10am - 5pm

Private, evening and group bookings available, please contact us.

Head office 9am - 5pm (Monday-Friday)

The Journal

Welcome to the lakes.

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© The Lakes Distillery, 2023

UK Registered Office: The Lakes Distillery Company plc, Low Barkhouse Farm, Setmurthy, Cumbria CA13 9SJ.

US Registered Office: The Lakes Distillery Company USA Inc, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware, 19801.

VAT Number: 122612261

Company Registration Number: 07769363

Welcome to The Lakes Distillery

Are you of legal drinking age in your country?

The official visitor website for Keswick

The lakes distillery.

 Open daily from 10am until 6pm

The Lakes Distillery, established in 2011, nestles on the north shore of Bassenthwaite Lake and their majestic surroundings, near Keswick, inspire an artistic ethos and their range of fine whiskies, gins and vodka.

Visitors enjoy interactive tours of the state-of-the-art distillery, to suit all ages. Following the journey of how the distillery’s spirits are made, each tour ends with a tasting of their award-winning spirits.

Informal dining and drinks are available at the on-site restaurant, Bistro at the Distillery, showcasing locally sourced ingredients and honest, hearty flavours.

The distillery shop is stocked with a wide selection of spirits and giftware. Whether you are looking for a souvenir or a unique gift, the shop has something to suit all tastes.

Visitors are encouraged to take a walk down to the River Derwent, passing by the friendly Alpacaly Ever After herd who graze on the site, or the nearby Bassenthwaite Lake to enjoy the stunning views.

The Lakes Distillery team are passionate about what they do and would be delighted to welcome you through their gates.

Get in touch: 017687 88850 (option 1) / [email protected] For further details see www.lakesdistillery.com   

Additional information: • Children welcome, but must be 6yrs+ to enjoy the tour • Disabled access, parking & toilets available • Dogs are allowed on-site, but not inside buildings (except guide dogs) • Facilities are availble for group bookings & corporate hospitality • Public toilets & baby changing facilities on-site

By Car: Turn off A66 by Bassenthwaite Lake on to B5291. Continue on this road for 1 mile. At Ouse Bridge carry straight on (do not cross bridge). Distillery is of the right after 400m. Parking is free.

Public Transport: The Lakes Distillery is accessible by Stagecoach bus, on the Penrith to Workington route, the X4. 

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Lakes Distillery Tour

Address: The Lakes Distillery, Setmurthy, near Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria, CA13 9SJ

Price: £12.50

Availability: Daily, several tours a day. Book ahead, but there is usually space if you just turn up!

Duration of Tour: Unspecified (leave a good 1.30h)

Read the REVIEW

For Your Money:

You’ll get a behind the scenes glimpse of The Lakes Distillery, learning all about how they make their whisky, gin and vodka. You’ll explore the still room, discover the warehouse and head to the tasting room to sample all three of the spirits on offer at the distillery. You’ll also be taken on a 24-mile journey from the source of the River Derwent to the distillery house, all without leaving your seat!

It’s worth noting that there also an alpaca tour available at the distillery. Make a day of it, why not?

A few thoughts from Gin Foundry:

Lakes Distillery has been growing at a rapid pace since their early days and their tour has come on a lot too, with some well versed guides and nicely considered tours. There’s more to see there (whisky making + Gin), more to taste (good range or Gin + liqueurs), more to enjoy and generally - just more fun to be had. If you are in the region, it’s a must visit destination. The infrastructure is well managed too, with disabled access and somewhere to have a little nibble if you are feeling peckish afterwards. They get a certain amount of unfair criticism online for the food offering as it’s a proper restaurant that people travel to locally, some of whom feel it’s not as good as the “local pub”. However, when you look at it as a combo as a Bistro attached to a distillery where the primary focus is making booze, while this adds great value to the visitor centre - it’s right up there with the better distillery tours to do in the UK. Their only issue, we feel, is that the alpacas desperately try to steal the lime light with their ridiculous coats…!

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Lakes Distillery Tour

Distilleries , England , Gin , Vodka , Whisky

For a distillery that only began in December 2014, and wasn’t officially opened until two years ago, The Lakes Distillery is doing very well indeed. It’s not only that they’re producing excellent spirits, with their first single-malt eagerly awaited, but a Lakes Distillery tour has become one of the most popular distillery tours in the UK.

‘It depends how you measure the numbers,’ distillery founder Paul Currie tells me on a recent visit. ‘Not all distilleries are clear on how they work out their visitor numbers, but we think we are now in the top ten distilleries in the UK. We’ve done 40,000 tours this year, with 120,000 visitors. We’re actively promoting it as a family visitor attraction.’

With its beautiful setting alongside the River Derwent, just where it enters Bassenthwaite Lake, it’s not surprising the distillery has become one of the most popular new attractions in the Lake District. They are only 40 minutes from Windermere, 15 minutes from Keswick and less than an hour from the Scottish border. Apart from London, the Lake District is the most visited part of England and this is the only distillery that is in both a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We walk down to the River Derwent, which supplies the distillery with its water, and I’m delighted to see a herd of alpacas in the field by the path.

‘They don’t belong to us,’ says Paul, ‘they belong to our neighbour, but we work together and visitors can book a session to learn more about them and children can feed them.’

There’s certainly a history of distilling in the Lake District, though not all of it legal, as Paul tells me.

‘Here’s a figure for you, that I found. In 1795 a million gallons of gin were smuggled across the Solway Firth into Scotland. Whitehaven was a big port, connecting the north of England with the Isle of Man and Ireland. The landscape and climate of the Lake District is very similar to Scotland so there’s no reason at all why whisky shouldn’t be made here.’

There’s also a history of distilling in Paul’s family, as he and his father opened the first distillery on the Scottish island of Arran before Paul began looking for a place to open his own distillery in the Lake District. He found it by way of a run-down Victorian dairy farm, as our guide Caroline explains when I join one of the regular Lakes Distillery tours.

‘The bistro was the milking parlour,’ Caroline tells us, ‘and the bull was kept in the boardroom. The restoration had a lot of restrictions because of the National Park regulations. In some cases buildings had to be dismantled stone by stone and numbered, then put back together again.’

‘Note the quatrefoil on the building behind you, and in other places around the distillery. It’s a little like a 4-leaf clover and that’s become our symbol. They stand for faith, hope, luck and love, which is also the title of the book about the distillery that you can buy in the shop. The gates behind you were made by a local metalworker, Alan Dawson, who has also made gates for people such as Disneyland Paris. They incorporate some of the ingredients in our spirits, like wheat and barley, and the botanicals that go into our gins.’

Caroline then takes us into the main building and upstairs to watch a truly excellent video about the River Derwent. She explains that on a scale from 0-100%, where zero is absolutely pure, the water from the River Derwent is rated 0.6%, which is about as pure as natural water can be. We learn about the ingredients that go into the Lakes Distillery’s various spirits, and get to smell and taste some of them, before the next bit of entertainment.

We are introduced to a character named Lanty Slee, a local farmer with sidelines in smuggling and illicit distilling. Some of Lanty’s descendants are still around and came to a Lanty Slee evening that the distillery put on as one of the regular events that it holds. I’m still not sure if Lanty was a hologram or a very convincing bit of filming, it was so cleverly done.

We then visit the cellar at the distillery, though Caroline explains they have two more warehouses in Cockermouth. Like most distilleries, they don’t keep all their stocks of spirits in the same place, in case of fire.

Finally we enter the Tasting Room, for a run through the distillery’s range of spirits, and some tasting advice from Caroline. We start with The One, their unique blended whisky which blends spirits from all parts of the British Isles. Hold it up to the light, Carole says, to assess the colour, then swirl it around the glass to see the legs. Stick your nose in for a good sniff and try to identify the aromas. Finally take an appreciate sip, and enjoy the various flavours that the spirit contains.

We move on to sample their gin and vodka, both of which are served straight from the freezer. Caroline encourages us to first try them neat, and then with a quality tonic like Fever-Tree. Most people enjoyed their three samples and headed straight into the shop to buy a bottle (or two) of their favourites. A few stragglers then got an extra treat, as Caroline poured some of their excellent Explorer Edition Gin which some people had been asking about. It’s a superb gin and you can read my review here .

Unfortunately the distillery’s first single malt won’t be available till the summer of 2018, and then only in a limited edition, as Paul Currie had explained to me earlier.

‘It’s a sherry-heavy whisky,’ he said, ‘but light on the peat, that was the style we wanted. It spends the majority of its time in sherry barrels. Going non-peaty was the biggest decision.’

The Lakes Distillery has also released several flavoured vodka and gin liqueurs, and other expressions of their The One whisky, including one matured in tawny port casks and another in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The distillery is already the biggest whisky distillery in England, and is clearly going places… though hopefully not away from that idyllic location between Bassenthwaite Lake and the pure waters of the River Derwent.

More Information

See the Lakes Distillery website  for details of their standard tour and their tour with extra features and tastings. There’s also a whisky-focused tour, and a chance to learn the skills of the distiller on a day-long Stillman Masterclass.

If you can’t visit The Lakes Distillery you can also buy their spirits at Master of Malt .

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The Lakes Gin Review

Posted by Euan Harris | 27 Jan 2020

The Lakes Gin

Flavor Profile

The Lakes Gin was reformulated in 2019 to feature a more traditional botanical bill . The new recipe was created by their master blender, Dhavall Gandhi. Eschewing the regional, foraged flair of their original gin, The Lakes Classic English Gin features nine botanicals, macerated in wheat spirit, before being distilled on a copper pot.

Tasting notes

Aroma: Beautiful and classic, The Lakes Gin is bright with fresh, ripe juniper. Somewhat peppery and terpey, angelica root adds some depth to the almost single note nose. Juniper lovers and fans of classic gin will rejoice.

If you ever had their original 2014 formulation, it’s almost night and day. This is a completely different product.

Flavor: Classic and bright, The Lakes Gin is strongly juniper forward. However, this is where the complexities of the nine classic botanicals unfolds.

Early pine-forward juniper with some crisp bitter orange. Some crisp hints of celery, angelica ease into a juniper and coriander heart. Coriander adds a hint of spice later. The end is a bit more spice driven with a peppery character elevating the juniper.

Finish: Lemon oil, coriander, peppery spice and resinous juniper. On the warmer side, The Lakes Gin never reads as “hot” or “astringent.”

Cocktails and suggested serves

It shouldn’t be taken the wrong way, but The Lakes Gin is an excellent blank canvas for any cocktail. It is platonic classic gin. It is a perfect gin and tonic whether your preference is a dry Indian Tonic or a floral tonic . Further it works well in any mixed drink from a gin and lemonade to a gin and soda. The juniper will sing in both.

Bartenders will be able to use The Lakes Gin as an alternative to any classic gin in any cocktail. Try it in a Ramos Gin Fizz , Negroni , or Aviation . The juniper comes through and the peppery warmth prevents the gin from ever getting lost.

Highly recommended for any bar program

Overall, The Lakes Gin

Beautifully classic and juniper forward, it’s an excellent gin. The juniper is beautifully supported by some of the most traditional gin botanicals, all in a way that helps explain why those are among the most traditional gin botanicals.

Fans of classic juniper forward gin will find a lot to love about The Lakes Gin.

Recommended in its category

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Private Tour: Whisky, Vodka, Gin and a Cruise

Full Day from 794.00 per group

This is a private tour, only your group shares the vehicle.

You can join this tour:, this tour takes you to:.

• Lake Windermere views of the largest lake in the lake district, surrounded by panoramic mountain scenery.
• Kirkstone Inn the highest inhabited building in the Lake District.
• Kirkstone Pass the Lake District's highest pass that is open to motor traffic and it connects Ambleside in the Rothay Valley to Patterdale in the Ullswater Valley.
• Brothers Water in the Hartsop Valley .
• Patterdale the village where walkers begin their ascent via the Striding Edge path up to Helvellyn, the third highest peak in the Lake District.
• Glenridding close to the old Greenside Lead Mine which was established in the 1650's but now a peaceful craggy Lakeland village hugely popular with walkers.
• Ullswater with spectacular views of the second largest lake in the Lake District.
• Lake Cruise on Ullswater.
• The Lakes Distillery for a tour of the distillery followed by a tasting session .
• Thirlmere the man-made vast reservoir which submerged the settlements of Armboth and Wythburn in 1889.
• Dunmail Raise the low-level mountain pass and legendary burial place of King Dunmail.
• Grasmere one of the smaller lakes of the English Lake District with a small island in the middle, one of Wordsworth's favourite places when he lived at nearby Dove Cottage.
• Rydal Water tranquil and serene with beautiful reflections of Loughrigg fell.

What is included in this tour:

• Full Day Tour
• Lake Cruise on Ullswater
• Lunch stop at The Lakes Distillery Bistro (food order not included in tour price)
• Guided tour of the distillery
• Guided tasting session of The Lakes Distillery's Whisky, Vodka and Gin
• £5 voucher for each person to use towards any 70cl bottle purchase in the shop on the day
• Experienced driver for your safety on the steep, narrow and twisty Lakeland roads and to provide expert commentary throughout the tour
• Small group of up to 6 people for a more flexible and personalised experience
• Use of personal radio communication technology to keep you in-touch with your guide when you are off the minibus (where applicable)

Additional Features:

• Gift Shop at The Lakes Distillery
• Food, drink and comfort facilities available at The Lakes Distillery
• Suitable for solo travellers

This full day, all-inclusive tour will take you to the north western Lake District for spectacular scenery, a boat trip on the second largest lake and a fascinating tour and tasting session at the award willing Lakes Distillery.

Your day starts with a climb, all the way up to the Kirkstone Inn , the highest inhabited building in the Lake District, for a stop to take in the views back down the valley right the way down to Lake Windermere and Ambleside. This once important coaching inn sits almost at the summit of the Lake District's highest pass that is open to motor traffic.

From here the road plunges down into the Kirkstone Pass properly with the valley walls rising up steeply on either side, past the church shaped rock from which the valley gets its name and on to the viewpoint for a photo stop of the ribbon of road as it descends down to Brothers Water. This lake was one of the first places in the Lakes to be acquired by the National Trust.

The thin strip of road winds past the lake, down to the Ullswater valley and on to the charming and popular village of Patterdale. This the starting point for a number of popular hill-walks, most notably the Striding Edge path up to Helvellyn, the third highest mountain in the Lakes. The only other village in this valley is Glenridding and it is here that we get our first glimpse of the National Park's second largest lake, Ullswater.

Here you join a 1 hour cruise on Ullswater to relax and see the stunning fells as the boat cruises the full length of the lake.

You now rejoin your minibus as we leave Ullswater and head north and west towards Bassenthwaite Lake to The Lakes Distillery . This is an award winning distillery that produces Whisky, Vodka and Gin.

Located next to Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District National Park , an 1850'S Victorian model farm has been renovated to be home of the Lakes Distillery and their World Class Spirits .

Model farms were designed to be beautiful as well as functional and the Lakes Distillery buildings are certainly beautiful, ideally suited to their needs. Each one has been carefully and sympathetically adapted, preserving the character and history of the old, stone-built barns and sheds .

The main barn houses the mash house and still house , with their unique stills, carefully designed to produce the spirits. An old cattle shed has been converted into the warehouse, with further cattle sheds being transformed into the shop, bistro and bar . The Distillery think that Joseph Christopherson, who farmed here in the 1850's, would have approved. Perhaps he even had an illicit still at the farm?

A lot of thought has gone into the production process at the Lakes Distillery to ensure a malt whisky of outstanding quality is produced and one of the finest gins and vodka available in the UK . The plant has been carefully designed to the highest specification, and the copper stills have been made to unique designs, on a small artisan scale, meaning the spirits can be lovingly prodcued without the need of mass production.

There are now distilleries producing whisky across the British Isles, and this has led the Lakes Distillery to create an entirely new concept in blended whiskies - a British Isles Blend, The ONE .

The Lakes Vodka , the first ever Vodka to be produced in Cumbria, is produced in the traditional way . Lovingly crafted in the small handmade copper pot still, which maintains its delicate aromatics and flavours.

The Lakes Gin is a Cumbrian Gin, made with with local botanicals & distilled in the Artisan Still.

Made very much on an artisan, small batch scale, it will be lovingly created in the small 1,000 litre still, prefectly designed to produce an outstanding spirit .

There is plenty of time for lunch in the Bistro at the Distillery . Set in a former Victorian cattle parlour, the Bistro's surroundings and inspirations are reassuringly solid, natural and rooted in the Lake District. This is reflected in their food; honest, generous and full of flavour . One of their main goals is to embrace the spirit of the Lake District. They achieve this by using regional ingredients where possible and having a key focus on freshness, flavour and simplicity.

Next, you will be taken on a guided tour of the distillery itself. After the tour you will be given the opportunity to taste a sample of each of the Whisky, Gin and Vodka produced here with expert guidance and a detailed explanation of each of the spirits. You will also be given a £5 voucher each that can be used to purchase any 70cl bottle in the shop on the day.

You now head back towards Keswick and start the return journey to the southern lakes. On the way you will pass Thirlmere, and at the foot of the water, you then head over the mountain pass of Dunmail Raise.

Now the road drops steadily down from the fells and before long, we pass Grasmere village to drive along the shores of Grasmere . William Wordsworth lived here at Dove Cottage and as we continue on, we pass Nab Cottage, the home of his friend and author, Thomas de Quincey. The road winds along the shore until we come to Rydal Water. The water here is often mirror-like still with beautiful reflections of the surrounding fells. We pass Wordsworth's last and favourite home which is situated off the road at Rydal as we return to Ambleside for the first of our drop-off points.

Additional Information

• The English Lake District weather can change quickly, even in the summer months. Please bring a waterproof coat with a hood in case of rain or windy weather.
• As there is some walking involved in the tour, some uphill and on uneven or wet terrain, please wear suitable, comfortable shoes.
• No food or drink is included in the tour price except for the three samples on the tasting.
• This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 5.

More Details about the Places on the Tour

Kirkstone pass.

Kirkstone Pass with an altitude of 1,489 feet is the Lake District's highest pass that is open to motor traffic. The Kirkstone Pass Inn stands close to the summit of the pass. Formerly an important coaching inn, it now caters primarily for tourists and is the third highest public house in England.

Near the top of the pass is Kirkstone Quarry (below), where rock extraction and architectural stone production took place over 500m above sea level. Further production facilities for bespoke items such as work surfaces, head office and trade showroom were located at Skelwith Bridge near Ambleside. The main materials mined were green and blue-black slate. The former, a unique composition of volcanic material layered down some 450 million years ago, is found only in relatively small deposits within the Lake District. Intense compression led to metamorphosis into a dense and highly durable rock with great lateral strength. The latter took on a much more common geological formation, being an accumulation of dense and deeply compressed sedimentary material formed some years after the volcanic period, deep in the rifts of the earth's surface.

This lovely lake is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery to its south, softening to the gentle hills of the north. The lake is the second largest in England at seven and a half miles long, but is less than a mile across. It is also the third deepest English lake at 250 feet deep. It has three distinct bends giving it a dog's leg appearance. Ullswater is clear but deep, and in the deepest part lives a curious fish called the skelly, a sort of freshwater herring.

There are dramatic views from both sides of the lake, by foot or by vehicle. The small village at the foot of Ullswater, Glenridding, is a popular starting point for walkers and climbers going up Helvellyn, England's third highest mountain including Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. Further along the lake is Glencoyne Park. It was here that William and Dorothy Wordsworth were walking on 15 April 1802, when the location gave him the inspiration to write his most famous poem, 'Daffodils'.

The Lakes Distillery

Close to Bassenthwaite Lake, surrounded by majestic Lakeland peaks and fells, nestled in woods and surrounded by rolling fields of vivid green. Housed in a beautifully renovated 1850s Victorian model farm, The Lakes Distillery has a range of facilities for visitors to enjoy.

Following a £9m investment and three years in development, The Lakes Distillery opened in December 2014 in the Lake District National Park with the vision of producing world class spirits that will be global brands recognised and respected around the world.

which was originally two smaller lakes, which were purchased by Manchester City Corporation Waterworks in 1889. The area was dammed with a dam whose greatest height is 104 feet, and the area became one vast reservoir. In the process, the settlements of Armboth and Wythburn were submerged.

Dunmail Raise

This is the flattest of the mountain passes in the Lake District running down towards Grasmere. Dunmail Raise is also the name of a large cairn which stands on the top of the pass, on the central reservation between the two carriageways of the road. Legend has it that Dunmail, the last king of Cumberland, is buried beneath the cairn at Dunmail Raise after having been slain by the English in battle.

The village is on the river Rothay which flows into Grasmere (the body of water), which lies about 0.5 km to the south and is overlooked from the north-west by the rocky hill of Helm Crag, popularly known as The Lion and the Lamb or the Old Lady at the Piano. These names are derived from the shape of rock formations on its summit, depending on the side from which you view it.

The lake at Grasmere being one mile long, half a mile wide and 75 feet deep, would be an attractive and popular tourist area even without its Wordsworth connections. 'The most loveliest spot than man hath found' was Wordsworth's famous quote describing the area of Lakeland that he most loved. The small island in the middle of the lake was his favourite destination while he was staying at nearby Dove Cottage.

Rydal Water

Rydal Water is one of the smallest lakes at three quarters of a mile long, quarter of a mile wide and with a depth of 55 feet, but it is very popular partly because of its Wordsworth connections. Steps lead up from the western end of the lake to 'Wordsworth's Seat', reputedly the poet's favourite viewpoint. Overlooking the lake is Nab Cottage, once home to Thomas Quincey and Hartley Coleridge, the son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Check the availability for Private Tour: Whisky, Vodka, Gin and a Cruise

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Dates that are available for your group size are highlighted below in Orange . To book, simply click on one of these dates and complete the next page with your details.

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Enjoy a whiskey tour at the lakes distillery.

The Lakes Distillery is an award-winning distillery nestled close to the picturesque and serene Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria. Located within the Lake District National Park and built on an old Victorian farm, the distillery draws visitors and their families throughout the year and is one of the top things to do. 

In addition to being an acclaimed distillery, it also offers guests a unique opportunity to look behind the scenes through their tours. You can experience the painstaking efforts that go into perfecting highly acclaimed malts, Gins, and Vodkas. One of the most popular tours is the one hour Distillery Tour Tasting.

About the Lakes Distillery

Founded in 2011 The Lakes Distillery is a renowned whisky distillery that is dedicated to developing excellent malt spirits at its world-class production facility using state-of-the-art technology, carefully perfected techniques, and a whole lot of passion.

It was a great way to spend half a day. Here is what you need to know about doing a tour at the Lakes Distillery.

⇒   We used the Rough Guide Travel book for our stay in The Lakes District England. 

The Distillery Tour and Tasting 

We took the one hour Distillery Tour Tasting which is the most popular at the distillery. In this one hour, visitors will watch a short film capturing footage showing the journey of the Derwent River. Then take a guided tour around the distillery where you will discover the Stillroom and Lakes Distillery warehouse. Before enjoying a guided tasting of up to 3 spirits.

It was interesting to learn how they make the whisky, gin, and vodka and how the impact of oak and cask seasoning flavour the spirits. 

Booking The Distillery Tour and Tasting 

• Price – £15.00 per adult  £5.00  – Teen (13-17)
• Duration – 1 hour
• Voucher – You get a £5 redeemer voucher off any 70cl bottle to use in the shop.
• Walk ins are welcome but it is highly recommend pre-booking especially in the peak season
• Ticket – Present your ticket, online voucher or booking reference on arrival
• Group capacity is up to 8 people

Other Tours offered 

Additionally, you can also opt to book one of the other tours that are on offer or do a more in-depth Whisky tour that is 2hours. All vary in price and duration. Here is a list of the other tours on offer;

The Lakes Whisky Tour – 2 Hrs More in depth tour explains how Whisky is produced and the blending process.

Whisky & Chocolate Pairing Tour – A paired tasting with handmade luxury chocolates. 

Meet the Alpacas – After your tour and meal at the bistro, book a Meet the Alpacas and feed them.

⇒ How about reading our experience at the Irish Whiskey Museum Dublin – Whiskey tasting with a deadly twist  

The Lakes Distillery Bistro

After our tour and whisky tasting, we had a lovely meal at the Lakes distillery Bistro. It was a great way to end our time here. The bistro is bright and cheerful and offers a whole range of culinary experiences for the entire family. We started off with one of their gin and whisky signature drinks before having our meals. 

Whether you stop by for afternoon tea, coffee, and cakes, or even something from the lunch menu ( Children’s Menu available too), your taste buds will be amply pampered by fresh regional ingredients and comforting flavours that represent the Lake District.

You can also choose to order a picnic box to take away and enjoy along Bassenthwaite Lake.

Types of Spirits at The Lakes Distillery

The Lakes Distillery offers 3 types of award-winning premium spirits, Whisky, Gin, and Vodka, with all of them made on site. You can read more about the collection’s blends and how they are being made on the distillery site here.

Lakes Whisky’s

Whisky is the distillery’s main product and they have 3 types of collections that all have their own variety. The Lakes Single Malts, Blended Malt Whisky, and Fine Blended Whisky. One of the whisky’s to try is the Steel Bonnets, a blend from both England and Scotland.

There are 4 types of Gins produced distillery; The Lakes Gin, The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin, Lakes Rhubarb & Rosehip Gin Liqueur, and Lakes Elderflower Gin Liqueur.

While they all tasted nice, my favourite was The Lakes Gin which was very smooth to drink. This exceptional Gin is produced using local juniper from the fells of the Lake District in combination with more than 13 botanicals, native to the region.

Lakes Vodka

There are two types of vodka produced, The Lakes Vodka and Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur.  The Lakes Vodka is smooth, aromatic, and flavourful. Credited as the first ever vodka to be distilled in the Lake District, it is handcrafted using traditional techniques.

Try one of The Lakes Distillery spirits at home

How about trying one of the Lakes box collections from the distillery that is offered online and delivered to your doorstep?

Where is The Lakes Distillery

The Lakes Distillery is located near Bassenthwaite Lake, Lakes District Cumbria England. Although they do have a bus stop, the best way to get there is via car. I f you are looking for directions via car or bus, go to google Maps and type in ‘Lakes Distillery, Setmurthy’ and it will take you straight to the door. 

Address; Cockermouth CA13 9SJ

Driving from central London to Bassenthwaite Lake should take around 5-6hrs. If you are coming from other major cities up North like Manchester or Newcastle it should take about 2 hrs. We came from the local town of Cockermouth and it took us around 10 minutes drive.

Additional Information about the Lakes Distillery

• Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour starting
• If you decided to book at short notice, you can call them directly on 017687 88850 for up to date availability
• Distillery tours are limited to 15 people per tour (COVID restrictions dependent)
• How about booking a boat tour afterward on Ullswater Lake, which is a great addition to the day.

Opening hours of the shop and Distillery

Distillery Tours: 10am – 5pm        Distillery Shop: 10am – 6pm Bistro at the Distillery: 10 am – 9 pm

Can you bring Children along?

You can bring children along to the Distillery but they have to be over 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Instead of Whisky, they will be provided fruit juice tasting and quizzes. Afterward, add on a meet with the Alpacas and feed them, making it a great family day out.

The Lakes Distillery is a family friendly destination in the Lakes District. Another great destination to take the kids to is Tintagel Castle Cornwall, England.

Can you bring your dog along?

Dogs are allowed into the courtyard, garden, and shop, however, they can’t go inside the distillery on any of the tours. The only dogs able to go on the tours are Guide dogs. 

Lakes Distillery Products available online

You can purchase all of The Lakes Distillery spirits or any of the collection additions online at Amazon, which are a great gift idea for both men and women who love Whisky, Gin, or Vodka.

The Lakes District

The Lakes District is a popular holiday destination in Cumbria England, known for its picturesque lakes, lush green forests, and its stunning mountains like Scafell Pike. As well as its multitude of popular hiking routes within the area.

Some of the tourist spots in the vicinity include the famous Great Gable Mountains and the Wasdale and Bassenthwaite Lakes. The Lakes District really is a great spot for a staycation.

Here is a list of other activities you can do in the Lakes District that you can book online in advance.

Stay in Cockermouth

There is a variety of types of accommodation available across the Lakes District from hotels to glamping. I personally think it just depends on what you are looking for and your budget. We used the pretty town of Cockermouth in the Lakes District as our base and stayed at the riverside Trout hotel . 

You can check the availability of the Trout hotel here or other places in Cockermouth Lakes District.

⇒  Looking to discover other parts of England, please feel free to head to my United Kingdom Page

Thank you for reading this article on The Lakes Distillery tour Cockermouth Cumbria. I hope you enjoy the tour as much as we did. For any additional information or booking inquiries, you can visit The Lakes Distillery site.

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Have you done The Lakes Distillery tour before? What was your experience like? 

Disclaimer: Even though I was a guest at the time of The Lakes Distillery   Cockermouth Lakes District. A ll views are my own and based on my own experience.

“This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you if you click on one of the product links, we may earn a commission.”  For further details, you can view our   Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions   or contact me directly. 

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I am Mel B an indigenous Australian with dual citizenship. I am now a full-time travel blogger and content creator at MelBTravel. Writing about Adventure, Mountains, History, UK & Healthy Heart "Not letting a Defibrillator/Pacemaker & Sarcoidosis Limit Me"

Eat. Drink. Live.

The Lakes Distillery Tour

Opened in 2014 in what was a disused Victorian dairy farm, The Lakes Distillery has since become a multi-award-winning tourist attraction with a Michelin-guide Bistro, as well as of course producing some might mighty fine spirits. We went on a tour of the distillery to see how some of our favourite spirits are made.

Dating back to 1850s, the venue is as atmospheric as they come; located moments away from River Derwent and in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage National Park, the old farm has a rugged charm that keeps it feeling decidedly boutique and independent. Alpacas stare at us with an unassuming curiosity as we wander up from the river towards the distillery and run our fingers over the local stone walls, adorned with quatrefoils ­– an architectural air vent feature with four leaves, representing “Faith, Hope, Luck and Love”, which the team have taken as their motto.

Our tour guide, Evelyn, explains that when they acquired the site, it was in disrepair but as they couldn’t expand the heritage site outwards or upwards, they had to remove each and every stone in each building, numbering and photographing them so that they could be replaced correctly in a more secure manner. This attention to details carries through to the newer features within the distillery, including the impressive entrance gate by local artist, Alan Dawson, which depicts water, barley, wheat and botanicals used in the spirit making process, as well as the signature quatrefoil emblems.

We are taken through to a room where we are shown an incredible aerial video following the water source from a spring to Lake Bassenthwaite where the distillery is situated before being introduced to the digital caricature of Lancelot Slee, the infamous Lake District farmer, quarryman, whisky smuggler and moonshine producer who talks us through the region’s (illegal) distilling legacy.

Once suitably informed, Evelyn brings us back to the present day with a brief overview of the distilling procedure. She explains that the barley is malted (grains are steeped in water until they begin to germinate) elsewhere as they couldn’t have maltings on site due to building regulations. As soon as the grain begins to germinate, they kill it off with heat, then proceed to mill it down to 20% husk, 70% grits, 10% flour, (referred to as “gris”) allowing the water to get in and bring the sugar out. Once the sugar starts to show itself, they begin the fermentation process and turn it into alcohol using powdered distiller’s yeast. When the alcohol has been collected and distilled, it can be put into casks for maturation. Evelyn tells us that the new make has to be in casks for three years before it can illegally be called “whisky”, which means that their first single malt from December 2014 has just been released in the summer of 2018.

She then walks us through to the Mash Room, pointing out the malted barley that is delivered in 1 tonne sacks and that goes to the mill downstairs before being fed into the hopper. The first two tanks in the room are filled with hot water (64.5°C). Grain is fed through these mash tuns where big metal blades mash it up. After a couple of hours, they are brought up to 75°C to make sure the water gets into the gris and as much sugar is extracted as possible. A few hours water, this sugary wort is drained out. A final rinse at 85°C picks up some residual sugar, but not enough to be useful, so this goes back into the first hot water tank to be used for next morning’s mash. Evelyn tells us that the distillery mashes 78 days a week and that once drained, all the bits of (non-boozy) barley that are left go to farmers to give to their cows.

The wort is then moved from mash tun to stainless steel wash bath where it is cooled to 18°C and yeast is added. It is then left to ferment. The yeast activates itself and generates heat, bubbling up as it does so over the 90-hour fermentation process. The result is a wash that looks like a flat beer and is eight-percentage alcohol.

We follow the wash to the Still Room where two impressive copper stills (Susan and Rachel) created to The Lakes teams’ specifications sit. All whisky-to-be is twice distilled as is done in Scotland. Huge steam pipes within Susan heat up the wash to 100°C. As alcohol evaporates at around 78.5°C, the vapour rises, hits the sides of the still and roll back again. This happens a few times; when the vapours are light enough, they go through the top line pipe and down through the condenser, which has a cold water pipe that then turns it back into liquid at 24% ABV (“low wines”). Residue left at the bottom of the still is called “pot ale” and is again sent to local farmers for them to spread on their fields.

The low wines eventually pass through Rachel and go through the same process. They then pass through a spirit safe – a large container that allows the distiller to analyse and manage the spirit coming out of the pot still without coming into contact with the spirit itself. The first part of the run of spirits is too strong and the end run is too weak. The stillman only wants to keep the middle run, which will eventually become The Lakes’ single malt. This is only 20% of the 3,500 litres that Rachel holds and is placed into casks at 66% ABV. However, nothing is wasted and the liquid that doesn’t make the cut is sent back to the low wines stage to be processes again.

So, what about the gin and vodka that The Lakes Distillery produces? Evelyn brings us based the hefty Susan and Rachel towards the little Chemmy (named after World Cup skier and Brand Ambassador, Chemmy Allcot). The Chemmy still has been hand-beaten into shape with a steam pipe skirt and is where all the distillery’s vodka and gin gets distilled. Unlike with the whisky stills, 90% of the spirit made in the smaller still can be kept at 80% ABV. For the gin, 5 local botanicals (juniper, bilberry, hawthorn, heather and wheat) are added alongside Scandinavian juniper, liquorice, cassia bark and oris root. The still is brought up to 40°C before being switched off and left for 12-hours. In the morning, it is brought back up to 100°C. Vapours rise, are cooled and the process continues as before. The spirits are then packaged and bottled, giving the distillery something to sell whilst the single malt lies in waiting.

Once we’ve said goodbye to the three, hardworking women, we wander on down to see what happens to the new make whisky. The middle cut comes down into stainless steel receiver tanks that fill up over the week. The liquid is then syphoned off into American oak ex-bourbon and European oak oloroso casks, with around 15-20 casks being filled per week and left to sleep in bonded warehouses in nearby Cockermouth. The warehouses where the casks are stored are kept as cool as possible to limit the volume lost to the Angel Share (the inevitable loss through evaporation during the maturation process) as much as possible. Evelyn explains that around 2% is lost per year, meaning that over 10-15 years, over 25% of each cask’s contents can be lost to the angels.

The flavour of whisky comes from the barrels, with the bourbon cask imparting nuttiness, coconut and vanilla, whilst the sherry casks give a thick, fruity sweetness. Evelyn states that it will be up to their Master Blender how the final single malt whisky will taste but that it will likely be made of a mixture of casks.

With our tour complete, we are directed back to the on-site tasting room where we are given the chance to taste the final products.

Find out what we thought of the range here.

The Lakes Distillery, Setmurthy, near Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria CA13 9SJ

Plan your visit here.

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Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case).