After a first Roseisle 12 Year Old in 2023, Diageo decided to go for the same recipe once again. Origami Kite II is another Roseisle 12 Year Old. Even the cask types haven’t changed. Not that we’re complaining… I found it to be very friendly and classically elegant last year.
Roseisle 12 yo ‘Origami Kite II’ (55,6%, OB Special Releases 2024, unpeated, first-fill bourbon + refill casks)
Nose: clean and inviting. Nectarines, apples, melons, along with herbal freshness and plenty of minty notes. Vanilla, icing sugar and a little coconut, moving towards white chocolate. Hints of fresh bourbonny oak as well.
Mouth: sweet pears and apples, honeyed notes and plenty of vanilla cake. Nice creaminess. Then some banana and mango. Punchy oak spice (ginger, pepper) but always without a hindering astringency. Subtle green notes, with peanut skins and increasing herbal notes underneath. Perhaps a little greener than the first version.
Finish: medium, with sweet fruits, always some fresh oak, aniseed and a nutty touch.
Convincing whisky with a pleasant texture again. That said, still a little middle-of-the-road. All in all I don’t think it is better than the first release, but I definitely like this mix of classic Speyside notes and more modern elements. Available from retailers like The Whisky Exchange or Royal Mile Whiskies.