The Lakes The Lakes Iris

Tonight’s dram takes me (virtually) to what is vying to become my favorite distillery in England, The Lakes, challenging Cotswolds, which has some very fine drams. I just learned that the Whiskymaker’s series will not be repeated, so gotta get them while they’re available. The Whiskymaker’s Iris opens with crisp red apples, drip-from-your-chin juicy ripe pears, a touch of raspberries, golden raisins, and honeysuckle, followed by spicy cinnamon, vanilla, milk chocolate, toasted oak, and orange peel, then finally luscious toffee, more vanilla, golden syrup, and green apple peels (chomping peels was my favorite part of helping my granny make apple pie). The citrus-oily full-mouthfeel and thin-but-clingy legs deliver a superbly-balanced finish that cries for another sip.

Drink slow, drink long, drink a variety, drink often.