Rosebank 17 Year Old 1991 Gordon & Macphail Reserve

This is another bottling by Gordon & Macphail, but under their RESERVE label, bottled at cask strength, in this case a whopping 54,4% ABV from this as-of-1993-mothballed distillery. Reopening is a pipe dram as the buildings were sold in 2006 and the remaining distillery equipment was stolen in 2009. Rosebank is lost forever, so taste it while you can!

This is a typical Rosebank from the very first whiff. Breakfast cereals and citrus. But then immediately I get loads of flowers. Dandelions, violets and buttercups. All within the acceptable, mind you. Honey and vanilla. Becomes creamier as we go. With water it becomes slightly more vegetal.

Very creamy on the palate, well seasoned and fiery. The ABV has a lot to do with that, I am sure. The flowers remains, but the citrus is louder. Cinnamon and ginger. Touch of oak. Woodspice. Nice. It can take water, but does not need it.

The finish is pretty long and fades on a spicy sweetness.

A nice Rosebank, no doubt about it, but not a grand one.

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