Lakes Distillery WhiskyMaker's Editions - Miramar

The third release of the @LakesDistillery Whiskymaker's Editions series was a @MasterOfMalt limited edition.

It goes by the name of Miramar, but has very little other information, let see what it's like...

I've previous reviewed the Colheita , the first of Lakes Distillery's Whiskymaker's Editions

"Exceptional diversions from our sherry-led house style, The Whiskymaker’s Editions are special-edition single malt whiskies which showcase whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi’s sense of adventure in cask selection, maturation, and blending. Each unique bottling is an expression of creative freedom, the product of a playground where instinct, experience and inspiration roam free, coming together to realise one intrinsic objective; the creation of outstanding flavours."

Interestingly, like the previous release Le Goûter, the bottle, box and website make no mention of this release's maturation but the Master Of Malt website tempts us with "featuring whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks as well as Port pipes".

I like a good Port matured or finished whisky so had to buy this one. I've previously enjoyed the The One Port Cask Finished from the Lakes but this is turning the ABV up a few notches. The first WME release Colheita was Port finished and it told us so on the bottle and box so what's the difference here - why hide it's maturation?

Distillery notes: 

Pushing the boundaries of whisky creation, we have come together with Master of Malt to reveal our newest edition: Miramar. Versatile and expansive, and with only 600 individually numbered bottles made, Miramar sees our whiskymaker creating new flavour possibilities through the art of élevage and blending. Portuguese for 'sea-view', time advances, shadows lengthen, and the conversation meanders as the day drifts into dusk. Big skies and panoramic ocean views progressively, irreversibly, transform before the very eyes. Sundown, moon up. Old friends surrendering themselves to evolution, letting destiny take care of itself. With a delicately complex sweetness and layers of intricately woven flavour, Miramar is designed to be enjoyed alongside great conversation with good friends in a beautiful environment.

Bursting with stone fruit character contrasted with comforting vanilla and hints of gentle spice, dried Morello cherries cavort with Santa Rosa plums. Fresh apricot perfumed elegance fills the warm sea air, with cinnamon, honey and toasted malt featherlight on the ocean breeze. Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour and 54% ABV, The Whiskymaker's Editions - Miramar was available exclusively from Master of Malt.

Is this all marketing bullshit - going back to the days of Steel Bonnets - story over liquid? Is this aimed at collectors rather than whisky drinkers? Let's try it and find out...

My thoughts:

Appearance: Dark gold with a hint of red(?) in the glass, swirls leave a hairline crack which slowly beads up and eventually falls as slow thick legs.

 

Nose: berries, orchard fruit, sweet citrus and a hint of smoke. Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pears, orange segments. The ABV is noticeable on the nose. A little charred oak and some vanilla. It's not as 'porty' as the Colheita, there's a bit more bourbon influence on this one.

Palate: thick syrupy arrival, huge berry notes and a kick of ginger spice. Mouth coating viscosity offers brown sugar, cherries, tropical fruit and spice - rum like even? Pineapple and banana covered in honey. There is some vanilla and sweet citrus but always with a big kick of ginger spice. Much more port influence than on the nose - the smoke from the nose isn't here but there is a little salinity. It's reminiscent of the Colheita - berries, vanilla and citrus with that spicy kick. There's some oak tannins giving a dryness after the liquid disappears but it's not as pronounced as the Colheita.

Finish: lingering red berries and ginger spice.

Thoughts:  a little rough around the edges, a tad young perhaps? I'm thinking the port finish was maybe too long or the cask too active - but it is, to borrow a phrase, dangerously drinkable! This is more of a winter warmer than a summer sipper. You may want to sit it on a shelf like a trophy but I think this deserves to be opened and enjoyed - but keep some for the winter!

BTW I'm still waiting for a WME cask strength Orange wine casks release...

Geeky stuff:

Whiskymaker's Editions Releases
Release	Bottled	ABV	Bottles
Miramar	Jul '21	54%	600
Le Goûter	Jun '21	49.5%	306
Colheita Port	Sep '20	52%	5,400