We’ll celebrate our third birthday at the end of this year, but for now we are basking in our well earned achievements and accolades over the past six months!
We started 2017 with a bang, celebrating a double win at The Global Distillery Masters 2017, where we achieved a ‘Master’ medal for Consumer Experience. The judges admired our initiative to ‘show whisky ageing, even when the liquid isn’t yet ready for bottling’. We also achieved a ‘Master’ medal for the ‘Distillery Facilities’ category for the second year running. In the ‘Distillery Experience Challenge 2017’ The Lakes Distillery won ‘Best Smaller-Scale Visitor Experience’ influenced mostly by the ‘more personal approach’ we have to nurture each of our visitors.
In April, our super-premium Lakes Explorer Gin joined our spirits family permanently, after the original 2,200 limited edition bottles flew off our shelves last summer. The Explorer has received 2 IWSC medals throughout the past six months, securing a Silver medal in the ‘Gin and Tonic’ category and a Silver medal in the International Spirits Category 2017. We’ll drink to that!
The Explorer and The ONE also took a trip to the top of the world, when explorer, Alan Chambers took a bottle with him on his travels to the North Pole.
The gateway to Cumbria has been opened by the distillery throughout 2017, with partnerships and launches in airports across the globe. Our family of spirits launched in nine airports down under in Australia and New Zealand, where The ONE sold out within five trading days. For all who may be travelling from the UK this summer, keep your eyes peeled for The Lakes Gin in Manchester Terminal 1 and Newcastle Airport. It is currently the top-selling Premium Gin in the North East! Following our airport success, Brittany Ferries will now set sail with The ONE on board nine routes across their portfolio. But, if you’re not planning on jetting off anywhere this summer, you can still look out for The ONE, The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka in 18 Asda stores across the North West.
Our main site in the heart of The Lake District is now averaging over 120 visitors a day on our distillery tours. We now work with a record breaking number of tour operators, welcoming many guests from overseas, including China and America. This month we’ve reached an impressive milestone via Trip Advisor over 500 five-star reviews.
Keep a look out for The Lakes Distillery team at Imbibe 2017 in July with a preview of our exciting new liqueurs to be released later in the year, including, The Lakes Elderflower Gin Liqueur and The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur in 20cl and 70 cl bottles. Alongside The Lakes Sloe Gin and The Lakes Damson Gin due for release in new 70cl bottles. A busy remainder of the year ahead, leading into 2018 which will see the exciting release of The Lakes Single Malt!
