English whisky has, in the space of a decade, moved from curiosity to credible contender. The Lakes Distillery, situated on the edge of the Lake District National Park, has been one of the principal forces behind that shift — and their Whiskymaker's Reserve series represents the distillery's flagship single malt line. With No.7, we're now deep enough into the series to judge whether The Lakes can sustain quality and identity across successive releases. At 52% ABV and carrying no age statement, this is a whisky that asks to be judged on character rather than numbers.
The Whiskymaker's Reserve series has always been defined by the blending philosophy of the distillery's whiskymaker, who draws from a combination of cask types to build each expression. No.7 continues that approach — a vatting of different cask influences designed to create something greater than the sum of its parts. It's a strategy more commonly associated with Scotch houses like Compass Box, but The Lakes have made it distinctly their own. The NAS designation here isn't a dodge; it's a deliberate choice to prioritise flavour profile over age.
At £84.25, this sits in competitive territory. You're paying a premium over many entry-level Scotch single malts, but you're also getting a cask-strength English whisky from a distillery with genuine ambition. Whether that premium is justified depends entirely on what's in the glass.
Tasting Notes
I'll reserve detailed tasting notes for a future update once I've had the opportunity to sit with this expression across several sessions. What I will say is that at 52% ABV, this carries enough strength to reward patience. A few drops of water open it considerably, and I'd encourage anyone picking up a bottle to spend time with it rather than rushing to judgement. The Whiskymaker's Reserve series has consistently delivered richness and depth, and No.7 is no exception to that standard.
The Verdict
The Lakes The Whiskymaker's Reserve No.7 is a confident, well-constructed single malt that demonstrates how far English whisky has come. It doesn't try to imitate Scotch or compete on age — instead, it leans into careful cask selection and the whiskymaker's craft to deliver something with genuine personality. At 52% ABV, it has the backbone to stand up to serious scrutiny, and the non-chill-filtered, natural colour presentation shows a distillery that respects the liquid.
Is it perfect? No. At this price point, you're competing with some exceptional Scotch and Irish expressions, and there will always be drinkers who want a number on the label. But if you're open-minded about provenance and interested in where English whisky is heading, No.7 makes a strong case. I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10 — a genuinely good whisky that reflects real skill in its making, with the potential to convert sceptics who still dismiss anything south of the border.
Best Served
Pour this neat and let it breathe for five minutes. Then add a small splash of cool, still water — no more than a teaspoon — to let it open at its own pace. At 52% ABV, the water isn't optional for most palates; it's part of the experience. A proper Glencairn glass is the right vessel here. This is a whisky for a quiet evening with no distractions, not for mixing. Give it the attention it was made to deserve.
