Lakes Distillery WhiskyMaker's Editions - Colheita

If you've been following my blog over the last 12 months or so you'll have seen my complete turn-around in respect for the @LakesDistillery The release of their three WhiskyMaker's Reserves showing what they can really do without resorting to blending with imported Scotch.

Now along comes the start of a new series - WhiskyMaker's Editions - what are they all about?

The WMRs have followed the path of high ABV heavily sherried PX and a little Red Wine, each release has a little tweaks to the recipe WMR #2 added a little ex-bourbon (adding vanilla notes and for me was better than the #1), WMR #3 introduced some Oloroso and Cream Sherry into the mix.

This is the first release under a new banner WhiskyMaker's Editions, the 's' suggest there will be more. This particular whisky is named rather than numbered and introduces itself as WME Colheita - an interesting name which I hadn't come across before so had to do some digging.

Colheita (Col-yate-a) means “harvest”, referring to the exclusive use of grapes from a single crop to create a vintage Tawny Port. As soon as I heard the words Tawny Port I had to rush out and buy one!

Distillery notes: 

In this Edition, the whiskymaker’s cask and maturation expertise brings Colheita Port into the frame, in combination with a small proportion of bourbon barrels. The nose is vibrant and fruity with hints of plums, spiced pickled cherries and candied orange; the palate is complex with notes of prunes, stewed plums and warming cinnamon with a lasting finish.

My thoughts:

Appearance: Light gold with a definite red tinge. Swirls cling to the glass leaving a hairline crack before eventually beading up and falling as slow thin legs.

Nose: Port wine notes - strawberries, blackberries, plums and even figs jump out of the glass. There's a hint of citrus and a fresh vanilla custard note.

Palate: Sweet but instantly drying, lots of vanilla, the ABV makes itself known with a gingery spice bite. The berries and citrus from the nose are here - again strawberries, blackberries but with some black cherries, lemon peel and a hint of juice. The dryness is complete - it's like a bottle of old red wine - the moisture is sucked out of your mouth leaving lingering berry fruit notes fizzing on the tongue. Nice!

Finish: Lingering berries and vanilla, a little ginger spice and that complete dryness.

Thoughts: When I saw this I knew I need a bottle - I'm a huge Tawny Port finished whisky fan! I was a little disappointed when I saw the ABV, like I was with WMR #3 - which wasn't as good as it's stronger brothers. But with the Colheita there's nothing to compare it with - it's a similar age to the Glen Scotia Campbeltown Festival 2020 release but it's not peated and isn't as old but it shares similar berry notes. To be honest the 52% doesn't disappoint - it's a lovely dram if a little too drying. I can't see this bottle lasting long.

So what's next for WMEs single malts? Can I suggest the Orange wine casks you used for the recent blend release?

Geeky stuff:

Whiskymaker's Editions Releases
Release	Bottled	ABV	Bottles
Colheita Port	Sep '20	52%	5,400