Yesterday a big but almost weightless box arrived in the mail. I couldn’t remember ordering any bottles, but I have been known to overlook things. Those usually make for nice surprises…

These were a couple of samples from the Whisky Exchange of one recently released Rosebank, and a yet to be released Port Askaig ‘Harbour’. I couldn’t really wait, but I also had a couple of samples in from Master of Malt recently, so I decided to do a bit of both…

Reviews to the other drams will pop-up soon, but here goes the Rosebank.

Nose:
Straw and dried flowers, although its not pot-pourri-ish. A little sharp, but that has to do with the gentle flavours. There is a certain bourbon cask influence, or something that tastes like it at least. Not overly big on vanilla and coconut, but both are present. Buttercups too?

Taste:
Very smooth and gentle. Quite some vanilla, more than I expected, but I’m not afraid of vanilla. There’s also a light kind of cereal flavour here.

Finish:
The finish is quite long and smooth. Vanilla, flowers, straw.

This is a damn fine Rosebank. Over the last couple of years I had gotten less and less charmed by not-cask-strength Rosebanks so I was a bit afraid this would be too watered down as well. Luckily, it handles it very well. One of the smoothest ones I’ve recently tasted but it made me understand my love for Rosebank again! Goody, and I believe already gone from the Whisky Exchange. Well, they don’t show up in the search results…

Rosebank 19, 46%, 1991, Single Malts of Scotland, about €85 at the Whisky Exchange.

Nose: 9
Taste: 8
Finish: 8
Overal experience: 9
Price/quality: +2

Total: 36 points