Now this is a fantastic Rosebank with all the rich floral and meadow bouquet notes you’d expect and a thick honey coating texture. A real treat indeed.
This is a single cask Rosebank 1990 Vintage that spent 18 years maturing in a refill butt (cask no. 4655) before being bottled in 2008 by Douglas Laing as part of the Old Malt Cask range.
Like all Old Malt Cask releases this was bottled at 50% abv – or as Douglas Laing describes it, The Golden Strength.
This was distilled in February 1990 and bottled in September 2008.
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich bouquet. Lychee. Concorde pear skins. Jasmine. Mahogany flooring. Icing sugar. Subtle crushed mint.
Palate: Prominent floral notes continue. Lavender oil. Sweet apples. Almond croissant. Pine nuts. Leafy. Malt loaf.
Finish: Dry ginger. Bitter lemons. Cardamon. Fading liquorice.
Rosebank Distillery – Closed/Open
Iconic. Legendary. Distinct. Many things can be said about this famed Lowland distillery that has recently risen from the ashes.
Founded in 1840 (although distilling at the site dates back to 1798), Rosebank has always been an integral character in the history of the Lowland whisky region, and the wider story of whisky production in Scotland. The distillery was built on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal that connects Glasgow to Edinburgh. In fact, the distillery actually takes its name from the roses which grew alongside the canal.
After it was founded, Rosebank had a very consistent history up until the early 1990s and only witnessed a brief wartime hiatus in production (like many other distilleries). Rosebank’s spirit was highly prized by blenders and often perceived as the greatest of all the Lowland distilleries.
However, with the advancement of transportation (cars and roads), the Forth and Clyde canal largely fell into disuse, turning what was once a production and logistical strength of the distillery into a perceived locational weakness.
Tragically, the distillery was mothballed in 1993 due to an estimated £2m upgrade being required coupled with the fact that United Distillers (now Diageo), allegedly feeling that Glenkinchie distillery would be a better Lowland representative in their Classic Malts Selection, due to Glenkinchie’s perceived tourism potential and proximity to Edinburgh.
BUT…in 2017 Ian Macleod Distillers (of Glengoyne and Tamdhu fame) acquired both the Rosebank brand (from Diageo) and purchased the site of the distillery (from British Waterways) and announced the reopening of Rosebank distillery.
On the 19th July 2026, the first cask of new Rosebank spirit will officially become whisky.
Now this is a fantastic Rosebank with all the rich floral and meadow bouquet notes you’d expect and a thick honey coating texture. A real treat indeed.
This is a single cask Rosebank 1990 Vintage that spent 18 years maturing in a refill butt (cask no. 4655) before being bottled in 2008 by Douglas Laing as part of the Old Malt Cask range.
Like all Old Malt Cask releases this was bottled at 50% abv – or as Douglas Laing describes it, The Golden Strength.
This was distilled in February 1990 and bottled in September 2008.
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich bouquet. Lychee. Concorde pear skins. Jasmine. Mahogany flooring. Icing sugar. Subtle crushed mint.
Palate: Prominent floral notes continue. Lavender oil. Sweet apples. Almond croissant. Pine nuts. Leafy. Malt loaf.
Finish: Dry ginger. Bitter lemons. Cardamon. Fading liquorice.
Rosebank Distillery – Closed/Open
Iconic. Legendary. Distinct. Many things can be said about this famed Lowland distillery that has recently risen from the ashes.
Founded in 1840 (although distilling at the site dates back to 1798), Rosebank has always been an integral character in the history of the Lowland whisky region, and the wider story of whisky production in Scotland. The distillery was built on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal that connects Glasgow to Edinburgh. In fact, the distillery actually takes its name from the roses which grew alongside the canal.
After it was founded, Rosebank had a very consistent history up until the early 1990s and only witnessed a brief wartime hiatus in production (like many other distilleries). Rosebank’s spirit was highly prized by blenders and often perceived as the greatest of all the Lowland distilleries.
However, with the advancement of transportation (cars and roads), the Forth and Clyde canal largely fell into disuse, turning what was once a production and logistical strength of the distillery into a perceived locational weakness.
Tragically, the distillery was mothballed in 1993 due to an estimated £2m upgrade being required coupled with the fact that United Distillers (now Diageo), allegedly feeling that Glenkinchie distillery would be a better Lowland representative in their Classic Malts Selection, due to Glenkinchie’s perceived tourism potential and proximity to Edinburgh.
BUT…in 2017 Ian Macleod Distillers (of Glengoyne and Tamdhu fame) acquired both the Rosebank brand (from Diageo) and purchased the site of the distillery (from British Waterways) and announced the reopening of Rosebank distillery.
On the 19th July 2026, the first cask of new Rosebank spirit will officially become whisky.
