Rosebank 10 Years Old 1992 The Cooper’s Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd bottled this Rosebank single malt, a 10 year old release, from 1992 and bottled at 43%. Rosebank stood at Falkirk, on the Lowland canal side from 1840 until it was closed in 1993 and long mourned. Ian Macleod reopened the distillery in 2023, though stock like this is from the original era.

Drawn off after a third distillation and condensed slowly in worm tubs, the make took the Rosebank style. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding only a light honeyed sweetness. Still young, the malt is grassy and zesty with a delicate lift. Patient maturation turns the grassy new make towards marzipan and soft tropical fruit. Blenders prized the malt for its elegant, floral character and unusual weight. Closed in 1993, the site fell derelict and its copper stills were stolen in 2008. Ian Macleod rescued the distillery, the trademark and the last casks, reopening it in 2023.

At 43% it is smooth and floral. Marzipan and soft tropical fruit meet honeyed oak sweetness underneath. Beneath it run lemon, grass and a waxy weight. The close is gentle, florals over soft oak. This is a collectable relic of a cult Lowland name.