Rosebank 21 Years ‘Jealousy’

The third Rosebank in the Roses series from Speciality Drinks.

Like ‘True Love’ and ‘Innocence’ it was bottled from some of the last-known casks to be held in private hands and based on the bottling code (L15) this was probably bottled back in 2015 but not released until this year. Hence the age statement.

In total the series will be made up of seven bottlings, released once a year around Valentine’s Day, until 2023.

Rosebank 21 yo ‘Jealousy’ (52,5%, Speciality Drinks ‘The Roses’ 2015, 695 btl.)

Nose: rather delicate, in the typical floral and green-citric Lowlands style. Fresh grassy notes, lemon juice and lemon peel, mint and green apple. Fruit blossoms. A clear chalky / wet gravel note and faint waxy notes as well.

Mouth: a bit wider now, with sweet chalk and nice fruity notes, starting with grapefruits but also showing whiffs of pineapple and tangerine – a kind of Irish tropical note. Lemon sherbet. Same minty and floral side. A light woody warmth and hints of nutmeg.

Finish: not too long, but fresh and citrusy with growing leafy notes and green tea.

A classic Rosebank profile, no wham-bam whisky but a gentle and relatively layered composition. Sold out from The Whisky Exchange but a couple of bottles should make it across the pond.

Score: 91/100