Rosebank The Roses Series VII Rosebank 21 yo Enchantment

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 50.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Enchantment concludes the seven-part The Roses series, through which Elixir Distillers explores different facets of Rosebank. This edition brings together whiskies distilled in 1990 and 1991. The 21-year-old bottling combines 75% whisky from American oak Barrels with 25% whisky from Madeira Hogsheads. It is therefore a selection of whiskies from several casks, rather than a single-cask bottling.

The series began in 2016 with True Love and ended in 2023 with Enchantment. Its edition names refer to different rose varieties. The Rosebank casks used were among the distillery's last stocks in independent ownership.

This non-smoky single malt is bottled at 50.3%, without chill filtration or added colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The whisky initially offers aromas of honeydew melon and meadow flowers, accompanied by cinnamon and soft brown sugar. With time, vanilla sponge cake batter and strawberry juice emerge. Further aromas recall crème brûlée, oven-browned apple pastries and chamomile tea. An airy egg-white cake and the scent of vanilla candles add to the bouquet. Hints of freshly scented dryer sheets and a flower garden after light rain complete the aromatic picture.
• Palate: On the palate, it recalls rich vanilla sponge cake with delicate notes of anise and tarragon. The texture becomes increasingly sumptuous as strawberry jelly and cinnamon join in. Ginger spice accompanies a hint of fresh mint. Sunflower seeds, sliced pears and small cakes with vanilla buttercream also appear. White chocolate with biscuit pieces meets gentle wood spice and a subtle, musty warehouse note.
• Finish: The finish is sweet and creamy, with some wood spice and a slightly salty nuance. Floral and herbal notes carry the long finish. Toasted vanilla pods and liquorice root linger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Rosebank is located in Falkirk in the Scottish Lowlands. The distillery combined triple distillation with traditional worm tub condensers, which cool the alcohol vapour inside coiled pipes. This combination shapes its fruity, floral style: while triple distillation encourages a light character, the reduced copper contact in the condensers allows for a weightier spirit.

Following its closure in 1993, Rosebank remained out of production for three decades. Ian Macleod Distillers acquired the distillery in 2017 and had it rebuilt on its original site. The new stills were made using the old plans, and worm tub condensers also returned. Rosebank resumed distillation in 2023. Enchantment comes from the period before the closure.

Elixir Distillers is responsible for this independent bottling. The company is backed by brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh. In 2002, Sukhinder began having whisky from selected casks bottled under the name The Single Malts of Scotland. The bottling business, previously known as Speciality Drinks, was renamed Elixir Distillers in 2017. For The Roses, whiskies from casks with different influences are married to reveal the range of character within a single distillery.

Facts: