October 13, 2014

Two 21 years old Rosebank

Amazing weather in Alsace at time of writing, as often. Early October can be very sunny indeed, which is good for the wines. Some friends sometimes tell me that we’re lucky to have some late sun since we’ve got vineyards and I always answer that it’s precisely because we’ve got a lot of sun in autumn that we’ve got vineyards ;-). Which may bring us to these two summery babies…

Rosebank 21 yo 1990/2011 (50%, Douglas Laing, Old Malt Cask for Reifferscheid, refill barrel, cask #DL 6492)

Colour: straw. Nose: as zesty and mineral as Rosebank could be. There’s an austerity, but this flinty side is beautiful. Lemons and gunflints, limestone, then more mint and, indeed, riesling. Maybe touches of aspirin tablets, gravel, and just a little milk or dairy cream... A faint yeastiness. With water: I already experienced this phenomenon in the past with Rosebank, it gets chalky and inky, and even a little butyric. Maybe not the best swimmer ever. Mouth (neat): very, very zesty! Lemon drops and marmalade, limoncello, a grassy touch, a bit of white pepper and just one walnut. Uncomplicated but very Rosebank in its zesty narrowness. With water: once again water doesn’t do it much good. Slightly stale lemon juice. Finish: long, very zesty (without water). Comments: this baby doesn’t seem to like water too much, but otherwise, it’s a very fine Rosebank. SGP:551 - 85 points.

Rosebank 21 yo 1992/2014 (55.3%, OB, Special Release, refill American oak, 4530 bottles)

I had liked 2011’s 21 year old quite a lot (WF 88) but it wasn’t a lemon bomb. Colour: pale gold. Nose: a little more closed at first nosing, but that may come from the higher strength. I find it delicately fragrant, with meadow flowers, then rather oranges instead of lemons. A wee touch of earth and sawdust too, lemon curd, and then a very funny and certainly unexpected note of capsicum. With water: more humus, damp earth, mushrooms… No chalk this time. Also chamomile, aniseed and lemon balm. Nice development. Mouth (neat): thicker and richer again. Vanilla, barley sugar, ginger liqueur, then lemon juice and a little bitter grass. Raw malted barley. With water: excellent. Lemon and grapefruit syrup with some barley sugar and a touch of spearmint, then plums. Finish: long, clean, zesty, Rosebank. Comments: excellent. It’s maybe not a hugely complex spirit but if you enjoy citrus in your whisky, you’ll love it. SGP:651 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Rosebank I've tasted so far