Description

A 20 year old Rosebank whisky. Bottled at cask strength by Diageo as part of their Rare Malts series – a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. This Rosebank was distilled on 15th May 1979, it was then cask aged for 20 years, before being bottled on 15th October 1999. This is bottle number 451.

The distillery was founded on its present site in1840 by James Rankine, and within forty years the Rankine’s were shipping their whisky around the world. Famed for producing a delicious, triple-distilled whisky, Rosebank gained a reputation for producing one of Scotland’s finest Lowland whiskies, known as ‘King of the Lowlands’.

Rosebank Distillery closed its doors in 1993 and the lay empty for three decades. Hopes of its revival faded with every passing year, in 2008 copper thieves broke in and destroyed the stills. In October 2017, Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd purchased the site from Scottish Canals and the trademarks from Diageo with the intention of reopening the site.

After extensive restoration, production restarted at Rosebank in 2023.

To enjoy this cask-strength Rosebank at its best, measure one part whisky to two parts still water at room temperature. Any slight cloudiness is normal in an unfiltered cask-strength malt.

Colour: green-gold.

Nose:
Very floral, slightly dusty, slightly mineral, vanilla and some smoke.

Taste:
Delicate and crisp on the palette with a wonderful balance of big, soft meadow-flower flavours yellow fruit notes, liquorice, lemon, very nice notes of old dry wood, wood dust, ground leather.

Finish:
Long and spicy with oak, sage, celery, orange and faint mint – warm – long and spicy – with fruity brilliance.