Royal visit toasts Lakes Distillery’s official launch

THE Lakes Distillery, the £7m development overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake, has been officially opened by the Princess Royal.

Princess Anne visited the stillroom where The Lakes Vodka, The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Single Malt is produced on-site before unveiling a plaque in the courtyard.

Following the tour, founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery, Paul Currie, and chairman of the board Nigel Mills presented her with a sherry cask of The Lakes Malt to commemorate her visit.

Mr Currie said: “It was an incredible honour to have The Princess Royal officially open The Lakes Distillery and all of us will remember it for years to come. As the only distillery in Cumbria, we are very proud of our team and our facilities which are already producing award-winning spirits. It was a pleasure to be able to present the fruit of our hard work to such a prestigious guest.

“Her Royal Highness’ visit marks the start of our first summer season open to the public. We expect to attract 100,000 guests of all ages to the distillery each year, who will be able to follow the same tour as Her Royal Highness, and we hope they enjoy their visit just as much.”

The Lakes Distillery opened to the public in December 2014 and produces the only true Cumbrian whisky, gin and vodka.

Visitors are able to tour the distillery to see how the Lakes Malt, the Lakes Gin and the Lakes Vodka are made, as well as being able to visit the warehouse filled with the maturing whisky.

The attraction also includes a 70-cover bistro-restaurant housed on site in the converted Victorian model farm.