Review #335 - Rosebank 21 Year 1992
Rosebank spent a number of years as a closed and demolished distillery - though it's now reopened and producing spirit once more, some of those older bottlings have achieved something near legendary status. Because of the period of closure, the limited amount of available whisky from the distillery, and the quality of the spirit, these bottlings now command a huge premium on auction sites and the rest of the secondary market.
This bottle was part of Diageo's annual special releases back in 2014; it was distilled in 1992, and came with a 21 year age statement. We get a great natural cask strength of 55.3% ABV; maturation took place in 'refill American oak,' so we can assume some old ex-bourbon barrels or hogsheads, which clues us into some of the flavors we can expect. This is also triple distilled spirit, like a lot of Lowland single malt whiskies traditionally were.
Rosebank 21 Year 1992
Scotland/Lowland - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 850 (2024)
Age Statement: 21 Years
Strength: 55.3% ABV
Cask Makeup: Refill American oak
Details: 1992 vintage, bottled 2014; 4,530 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 20% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Soft and floral, and despite the 21 years of aging, there's still some a bright character to the spirit. Sweeter scents come from tropical yellow fruits and honey, and there's a soft perfume note; hints of old oak develop with time, along with heather.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick; it's rich, with lots of wildflower honey and baking notes like brown sugar. There's some peppery oak on arrival, along with hints of polished oak and cracked peppercorns. Again, with time, more perfume develops.
Finish: Medium, maybe medium-long, and it's still soft and supple. Floral notes, heather, and honey are the strongest flavors lingering, though we found little hints of vanilla and white pepper in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Very pleasant, elegant spirit - it's a softer, more refined experience, even with the cask strength presentation. It does carry some of that light, floral character that's synonymous with classic Lowland whiskies, and the hints of fruit and sweet baking notes were a treat. This is one to be savored, and it benefited from some time in the glass to open up.
Recent auction results put this around $850 for a bottle, at least in the auctions that we can access - that's quite a hefty price, obviously, but that's what happens with good, well-aged whisky from demolished distilleries. Not a great 'value' pick, of course, but it's cheaper than some peers like Brora and Port Ellen.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 3.19
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews from closed distilleries:
