Rosebank 21 Years Old 1978 The Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

This is a Rosebank single malt, chosen and bottled by Douglas Laing matured to 21 year old, from 1978 and bottled at 50%. The outturn was 336 bottles. The Lowland Rosebank, built in 1840 on the canal at Camelon, near Falkirk, was brought to a halt in 1993. Ian Macleod bought the site, the trademark and the last casks from Diageo in 2017.

The spirit was triple distilled and worm tub cooled, the Rosebank way, for the elegant, floral style that crowned it King of the Lowlands. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. Around two decades the malt gains a waxy weight over its floral core. Decades in oak build a waxy weight over the elegant Lowland distillate. 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.

At a natural 50% it is full and expressive. Vanilla and a light cream from the barrel, with lime, pear and a herbal note. The texture is soft and rounded, the florals lifted by honey. Marzipan and citrus see out a long finish. This is one of the great ghost whiskies of the Lowlands.