Rosebank 11 Years Old 1991 Cask #4595 (van Wees)

From van Wees comes this Rosebank matured to 11 year old, from 1991, drawn from cask 4595 and bottled at 43%. The Lowland Rosebank, built in 1840 on the banks of the canal in the central Lowlands, was silenced in 1993. It grew into the most cherished of Lowland names.

The spirit was run three times through copper pot stills, then cooled in worm tubs, for a light, ester rich spirit with unusual body. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. Still young, the malt is grassy and zesty with a delicate lift. Triple distillation strips heavy congeners, concentrating light esters such as ethyl hexanoate, giving pear and apple notes. The pairing of triple distillation and worm tubs was unique to Rosebank among Scotch distilleries. 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.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow. Honeysuckle and lemon zest meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Soft citrus and orchard fruit sit behind the sweetness. Lemon, honey and oak draw out the close. This is a rare survivor of the 1993 closure.