Scotland, Lowlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history,
making, production and tasting notes
Rosebank
Description of the whisky
The distillery
Rosebank Distillery
Falkirk
Stirlingshire FK1 5BW
Owner: United Distillers & Vintners (Diageo)
Creation date 1840
photos
The
Rosebank distillery is settled on the banks of the Forth-Clyde
canal near Falkirk and is mothballed since 1993.
It is a former malting called Camolon which was purchased by DCL
(Distillers Company Ltd) in 1914.
Considered as the best of all
Lowlands malts by some specialists, Rosebank is still available
in cask strength version in the collection "Rare Malts".
Independent bottlers have put several versions on the market.
List of the bottles
Description of the distillery
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
20 years |
Alcohol |
62,3° |
Particularity |
Cask Strength |
Bottler |
Official |
  |
|
A very fresh nose, with hints of mint and pepper, dryed grass. Slightly pungent. In the palate, first a kind of bitterness, and then it developes on citrus fruit notes. The mouth becomes dry after a while, and then goes on its development on more malyt notes, and an rather oily texture. Very amazing mouth... The persentage of alcohol is far from being unnoticed... The finish is lingering and spicy, and comes back to woody notes after a while, and a kind of tingling probably due to the high percentage of alcohol appears. A very nice complexity.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
25 years |
Alcohol |
61.4° |
Bottler |
Official |
Particularity |
Triple distilled |
|
|
The nose is clearly marked
by the freshness of cut grass with a touch of wood and a very discrete hint of smoke. Fruity hints too, marshmallow
and some flower smells. Quite a complex and tempting nose. The first mouth impression is really great. Coffee notes,
chocolate and very fine wood, amazingly contrasting with the freshness of the nose. No aggressiveness, the alcohol
can be very discrete even if its percentage is quite high. After a while, some bitter notes (unripe walnut) appear
and the cut grass impression which was clearly present at the nose has disappeared. The finish is very pleasant
and prolongs perfectly the mouth. Chocolate notes seem to dominate this finish which remains very complex. Some
hay notes come and enrich this finish after a while. And at the very last moment, the cut grass flavours from the
first nose come back....
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
10 years |
Alcohol |
43° |
Particularity |
Triple distillation |
Bottler |
The Ultimate Single Malt |
|
|
The
whiskies from the Lowlands are not as famous as the ones from the
Highlands or the Isles.
If on top of that the independent bottler who markets them does not make the right choice... no wonder there are so few remaining distilleries in that area.
I have drunk some very good whiskies from Rosebank who definitely convinced me, but this one could discourage the bests...Do not buy that bottle. But this does not mean anything regarding the qualities of the distillery. There are lots of very good Rosebank's on the market.
The nose is rather sweet with some hay hints. The palate is sweet too, and a slightly dominant honeyish background precedes a short but not unpleasant finish. The typical cut grass flavours are missing, and the quotation is higher than the first time.
If on top of that the independent bottler who markets them does not make the right choice... no wonder there are so few remaining distilleries in that area.
I have drunk some very good whiskies from Rosebank who definitely convinced me, but this one could discourage the bests...Do not buy that bottle. But this does not mean anything regarding the qualities of the distillery. There are lots of very good Rosebank's on the market.
The nose is rather sweet with some hay hints. The palate is sweet too, and a slightly dominant honeyish background precedes a short but not unpleasant finish. The typical cut grass flavours are missing, and the quotation is higher than the first time.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
10 years |
Alcohol |
43° |
Cask |
Sherry Fino |
Bottler |
Ian McLeod |
|
|
The nose recalls
an impression of lightness and reveals fragrances of green pears and slightly perfumed fruits.
The impression on the palate is light, dry, malted with some flower tones.
The finish is sweet and refreshing.
The impression on the palate is light, dry, malted with some flower tones.
The finish is sweet and refreshing.
The
happiness with this wonderful whisky begins with the first nosing. The
nose detects some of the characteristics of Lowland whiskies (lightness,
cut grass, etc...) but with some more character. The palate is
very pleasant, and reveals lots of fragrances. A exceptionally
complex whisky for a Lowlands. The finish is rather long, letting
us enjoy this excellent alcohol for minutes. Another illustration
of the quality of thisz series.
Strange mysteries of whisky tastings. The second tasting revealed a whisky even stronger than during the first one. I found some slight smoke hints, nearly recalling a Springbank. A very complex taste and a remarkable finish. A very great bottle.
The nose is remarkably gentle and sweet whit clear hints of ripe fruits, pear for instance. In the palate, a very pleasant complexity, sweetness without great contrasts but with much nuances, and some slightly bitter woody touches. Really delicate and refined. A rather long and sweet finish. This whisky must be tasted consciously, because you could miss its magical side...
A nicely but discrete perfumed nose with beautiful fragrances of ripe fruit (pear) and acid drop. The pleasant mouth is rather dry and slightly acid, with some bitterness and spices. A nice fruity and sweet finish.
Strange mysteries of whisky tastings. The second tasting revealed a whisky even stronger than during the first one. I found some slight smoke hints, nearly recalling a Springbank. A very complex taste and a remarkable finish. A very great bottle.
The nose is remarkably gentle and sweet whit clear hints of ripe fruits, pear for instance. In the palate, a very pleasant complexity, sweetness without great contrasts but with much nuances, and some slightly bitter woody touches. Really delicate and refined. A rather long and sweet finish. This whisky must be tasted consciously, because you could miss its magical side...
A nicely but discrete perfumed nose with beautiful fragrances of ripe fruit (pear) and acid drop. The pleasant mouth is rather dry and slightly acid, with some bitterness and spices. A nice fruity and sweet finish.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
11 years |
Alcohol |
43° |
Cask |
Sherry |
Bottler |
Ian McLeod |
|
|
Nose
Floral and fruity. Bluebells. Pears poached in vanilla syrup. Exotic wood. Toasted
bread.
Palate
Flowery. Chocolate toffee. Coconut. Burnt cream. Sandalwood.
Finish
Quite delicate, crisp and dry, vanishing on a bitter note. Walnut peel.
Comment
An attractive medium-bodied Rosebank. The sherry finish has added complexity
to delicacy. Some exotic notes which makes it really appetising.
(Martine Nouet)
The
nose reveals some discrete fruit and vanilla hints. In the palate,
sweet exotic fragrances share the attention with a hazy cut hay
smell. A rather long finish recalling a nut taste makes this bottle
a very great one. One more reason to regret the fact this distillery
seems to be closed forever....
The rather discrete nose is marked by sweet fruits (pear) and a nice flower smell. In the mouth, un strange mix of sweet spices, pepper with a slight touch of wood on the background and a blend of citrus fruit and chocolate (where both are perfectly fused, losing their respective aromas to create a new taste, quite difficult to define, at the time warm and slightly acid)/ A nice finish, however a bit short, first on fruits, and ending on a nice and discrete woody hint.
The fruity nose is slightly spiced with a hint of smoke on the background. The palate is pleasnatly markd by both frutis (ripe apple) and spices (pepper) with light bitter nutty hints.A great sweetness seems to be dominant. The same sweetness dominates the finish as well, giving this whisky some syrupy character, far from the traditional freshness of Lowlands whiskies. It's a shame, as the first nosing was really promising.
.
The rather discrete nose is marked by sweet fruits (pear) and a nice flower smell. In the mouth, un strange mix of sweet spices, pepper with a slight touch of wood on the background and a blend of citrus fruit and chocolate (where both are perfectly fused, losing their respective aromas to create a new taste, quite difficult to define, at the time warm and slightly acid)/ A nice finish, however a bit short, first on fruits, and ending on a nice and discrete woody hint.
The fruity nose is slightly spiced with a hint of smoke on the background. The palate is pleasnatly markd by both frutis (ripe apple) and spices (pepper) with light bitter nutty hints.A great sweetness seems to be dominant. The same sweetness dominates the finish as well, giving this whisky some syrupy character, far from the traditional freshness of Lowlands whiskies. It's a shame, as the first nosing was really promising.
.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
11 years |
Alcohol |
43° |
Particularity |
non chill filtered |
Bottler |
Douglas Laing |
|
|
A
honeyed/floral nose becomes more accentuated with the addition
of water. Its light, smooth body, even without water, gives rise
to an attractive clean, yet fruity palate. The soft dry finish
would make for an excellent aperitif
This
Rosebank version by Provenance is really surprising. All the freshness
of a Lowland and all the power of a Highland. A hint of smoke.
And still this nice fuzzy feeling due to un chill filtration. A
great sweetness mixed with some acidity, in short a rather complex
whole characterizes the palate. A long and complex finish too,
from honey to citrus, passing through some fruity fragrances. Another
excellent bottle.
The nose is marked by discrete hints of smoke and sweet floral notes. A smell of dried grass appears after a while, after some minutes of aeration of the whisky. In the palate, a delicious mix of honey and (very sweet) lemon. A very nice finish, where honey reappears.
A third tasting just confirmed the second one.
The nose is marked by discrete hints of smoke and sweet floral notes. A smell of dried grass appears after a while, after some minutes of aeration of the whisky. In the palate, a delicious mix of honey and (very sweet) lemon. A very nice finish, where honey reappears.
A third tasting just confirmed the second one.
Rosebank
11 years
|
|
Age |
11 years |
Alcohol |
58,1° |
Particularity |
cask strength |
Bottler |
Signatory |
|
|
Colour
deep yellow with orange glints
The nose is powerful, marked by nice floral notes (lilac) and a
vegetal character (fresh grass). After aeration, it developes on
pear and on some delicate notes of vanilla.
The palate is rich and voluptuous, and develops on malted barley
on a slightly acid background. It is elegant and fruity (medlar,
quince) on a light woody background.
The finis is lingering and recalls the fruits, the vanilla and fresh
grass. Subtle chocolate hints.
A
rather fresh nose, even if it is clearly dominated by the alcohol,
slightly pungent, reveals nice notes of ripe fruit and cut grass.
The palate is powerful and delicate at the time. Powerful due
to the high percentage of alcohol and because of the general
impression left by this exceptional malt and delicate because
of the ripe fruit hints and the refinement of the floral touches.
A nice complexity. The finish is lingering, ant the taste of
ripe fruits remains for a while then develops on more bitter
notre.
Rosebank 14 years
|
|
Age |
14 years |
Alcohol |
46° |
Bottler |
The Vintage Malt Whisky Company |
|
|
A fresh
and rather fruity and discrete nose, like most of the Lowlands whiskies. A mix of cut grass and ripe pears.
In the mouth, a nice complexity, revealing alternately more bitter notes, cocoa-like, nutty (not woody),
and some slightly acid hints, between orange and tangerine. Some tinglings despite the reasonable percentage
of alcohol. A nice finish, sweet but with character, quite long, where the bitterness detected in the mouth
remains on the background behind some fruity touches.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
14 years |
Alcohol |
58,8° |
Particularity |
Cask strength |
Bottler |
Gordon & MacPhail |
|
|
The first nose is slightly
tingling and medicinal (ether), but this rather unpleasant impressions disappear quickly to make room to nice fruity
(apple) hints mixed with cut grass on a smoky background. In the palate, a nice both acid and fruity freshness,
but the obvious burning presence of alcohol is somewhat hindering. Nice complexity however. The finish is rather
short, with first nice fruity memories, before ending on a burning sensation due to the alcohol, which remains
for a while.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
15 years |
Alcohol |
46° |
Bottler |
Berry Bros & Rudd |
|
|
Quite a fresh nose, smelling
like a green apple lost in a haystack. Some smoke too. The mouth is first marked by citrus acidity, but developes
quickly on fruity notes, while keeping a general alcohol impression. A kind of bitterness (nut) comes along too.
The finish is relatively short, both warm and fresh, I mean alcohol remains very present, together with fresh citrus
notes.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
25 years |
Alcohol |
43° |
Bottler |
The Nectar/Bresser & Timmer |
|
|
An amazing nose. Freshness
and character; It evokes the smell of orange juice. Cut grass and a whiff of smoke with very nice citrus notes
make this nose quite entrancing, as it is very pleasant and extroardinary unusual. In the palate, the effect is
simply great. Some orange juice too, nicely peated and chocolate notes. NIce balanced and rather complex with a
large taste palette, from orange to chocolate. The finish is pleasant, with first some leather hints, and the citrus
freshness again. Really an amazing whisky for its originality, and an excellent one for its quality.
Rosebank
|
|
Age |
15 years |
Alcohol |
46° |
Bottler |
Single Malts of Scotland |
|
|
A beautifull and very fresh
fruity nose with hints of pear and citrus fruit (tangerine). Very pleasant with hints of wax. First impression
is freshness and acidity, but after a while the nose gets smoother and develops nively on floral hints. Some honey
too. Impressive.
An amazingly complex mouth, starting on citrus notes developing on green apple before going on on ripe apple hints, Some alcohol presence at the end and a discrete nutty bitterness. Impressing
The finish prolongs exactly the mouth, but the bitter notes are nicely merged with the citrus. Lingering and fresh. An excellent whisky.
A nice and fresh smell of hay, farm, some citrus notes and hints of smoke or wax on the background. The nose is complex, and hints of malt and yeast complete the first impressions. The mouth is rather fresh too, dominated by citrus, a kind of acidity thus, and pleasant notes of fruit and malt together with a very discrete bitterness increasing the pleasant character of this whisky. The finish is pleasant, fresh too and the bitter notes are slightly more present than they were at the nose or in the mouth. But the citrus notes keep dominating.
An amazingly complex mouth, starting on citrus notes developing on green apple before going on on ripe apple hints, Some alcohol presence at the end and a discrete nutty bitterness. Impressing
The finish prolongs exactly the mouth, but the bitter notes are nicely merged with the citrus. Lingering and fresh. An excellent whisky.
A nice and fresh smell of hay, farm, some citrus notes and hints of smoke or wax on the background. The nose is complex, and hints of malt and yeast complete the first impressions. The mouth is rather fresh too, dominated by citrus, a kind of acidity thus, and pleasant notes of fruit and malt together with a very discrete bitterness increasing the pleasant character of this whisky. The finish is pleasant, fresh too and the bitter notes are slightly more present than they were at the nose or in the mouth. But the citrus notes keep dominating.
Lowlands
There are only three active distilleries left in the Lowlands. This area was during the 18th and 19th century the main producer of whisky. This area has seen the birth of the industrail production of whisky.
Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Lowlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow
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