The Lakes Single Malt Whisky Mosaic

Three of seven in ‘The One’ series completed. I am now moving to The Lakes Distillery’s ‘Makers Series’. My experience with the blended One series was somewhat underwhelming, with the exception of the Moscatel. I have high hopes for the Makers series, which features 100% Lakes Distillery spirit, unlike the blended Scotch whiskies in The One series. The Whisky Maker’s Series are special editions that highlight our whisky maker's creativity in cask selection, maturation, and blending. What the distillery says about this release: “Crafted with distinct flavor profiles from our unique oak casks, the latest Edition, Mosaic, tells a story through art and flavor. Inspired by the Silk Road, the ancient route of East-West trade and cultural exchange, it blends a sense of adventure from both East and West, uniting diverse influences and tastes in a single, refined expression. It offers a journey through time and cultural evolution, aiming to immerse you in a tale of two worlds with a smooth, rustic elegance reflecting its worldly inspirations.” Honestly, I don't really get what that means. Lots of pretentious talk. Let's taste it... Nose: Rich and smooth. Abundant caramel with fresh oak, spicy chili, and a honey sweetness. A subtle sherry cask influence with dried fruit and bitter cocoa notes. I'm greedily enjoying this straightforward, yet richly captivating aroma. Palate: A strong start with upfront chili spice that fades into milky toffee with hints of orange and vanilla. Ample wood supports a light dried fruit and brown sugar richness. On later sips, the chili spice becomes more exotic, with general herbal notes, perhaps cardamom or caraway? It's engaging, and I already want more, which is a good sign. Finish: Medium-long. Just enough dryness to let the creamy wood linger after the fruit and sugar dissipate, with warm spices (toasted cumin?) remaining until the end. OK. Yep, I like this. It has wonderfully interesting flavors against a background of solid classic textures and tastes. There's a simple, rustic quality but also a skillfully crafted, added depth of flavor that must come from excellent cask selection. I can see the distillery's maturation progress from The One Series, and their core spirit has clearly married exceptionally well. I'd enjoy it even more if the chili spice were slightly toned down and the herbal notes were more prominent. Everything else is pretty much spot on. [Pictured with one of England's, and the Lake District's, most famous rocks; the Shap Granite. This is a 397 million-year-old intrusive rock from approximately 55 miles southeast of the Lakes Distillery. This rock isn't truly a granite, however; it's a quartz monzonite, due to the slight deficiency in quartz compared to a true granite – something I'm sure everyone reading this will find fascinating] Whisky tasting #128

Very good, definitely requires a splash of water.