Rosebank 8 Year Old Distillers Agency 1980s including 5cl miniature

Rosebank 8 Year Old Distillers Agency 1980s

Rosebank is a much-sought after Lowland single malt. The distillery was initially shortlisted by United Distillers as their Lowland entry to the Classic Malts series when it was slated for launch in 1988, but was eventually substituted for Glenkinchie on the belief that it provided better opportunities for tourism. Rosebank was then shut down in 1993. Seemingly closed for good, many were surprised in 2017 when Ian Macleod Distillers announced that they had acquired the distillery and brand with a view to resurrecting it. After a long at times difficult restoration project, the first casks were filled at on 18th July 2023.

Prior to the formation of United Distillers in 1988, the distilleries within the DCL portfolio were often licensed out to its blending companies, in this instance it was The Distillers Agency. When United Distillers succeeded DCL, one of their first orders of business was to reclaim control of the distribution of their single malts.

In 1982 this 8 year old was packaged as part of DCL's Ascot Malt Cellar, which was a somewhat half-hearted attempt to compete with the big single malt players like Macallan and Glenfiddich at the time (two of the Malt Cellar range were still blends though). The series did however provide the basis for the Classic Malts a few years later, but Rosebank was of course not included, heralding the demise of its single malt brand. The 12 year old age-statement was then briefly repackaged as part of the Flora & Fauna brand in 1991.