Roseisle 12 yo The Origami Kite - Diageo Special Releases 2023

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 56.5% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

With The Origami Kite, Roseisle introduced its own single malt to the public for the first time. This limited release belongs to the SPIRITED XCHANGE collection of the Diageo Special Releases 2023, whose concept explores exchanges between international craft traditions and cultures. The edition’s name and kite imagery connect this idea with the art of paper folding.

The whisky matured for twelve years in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and refill casks that had previously been used to mature whisky. The bourbon casks contribute to its pronounced vanilla character. Sweet, stewed fruit and a creamy texture are balanced by warm spice. It was bottled at its natural cask strength of 56.5%, without chill filtration or added colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle comes in a tube.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is gentle, combining light vanilla sweetness with a hint of molasses, cereal and hazelnuts. Vanilla sponge cake and buttercream add to the aroma, while ripe peach and white chocolate remain subtly in the background.
• Palate: The whisky is soft and creamy on the palate. Sweet vanilla cream opens the flavour before warm spice joins it. The vanilla intensifies on the mid-palate and dark fruit notes emerge, with sweetness maintained throughout. Toffee, caramel and butter biscuits complement pineapple and apricots.
• Finish: The long finish remains richly sweet and lightly spicy, with vanilla, light fruit notes and a hint of white pepper. A few drops of water enhance the sweetness.

Distillery/Bottler:

Roseisle is located in Moray, near Elgin in Speyside, and belongs to Diageo. The distillery began trial production in 2009 and officially opened in October 2010. Its equipment was designed to produce different spirit styles: six of its seven pairs of stills can switch between copper and stainless-steel condensers.

For a lighter, grassy style, Roseisle combines long fermentation times of over 90 hours with slow distillation and copper condensers. Stainless-steel condensers, by contrast, allow a heavier spirit to be produced because there is less copper contact during condensation. Shorter mashing and fermentation processes can produce a nutty, malty style. These options are part of the distillery’s general production approach. A biomass plant supplies some of its energy, while recovered waste heat is also used in the neighbouring maltings.

Facts: