Each year on the 14th of February, Elixir Distillers release a new Rosebank expression in their 7-part series The Roses. The 2021 edition (fifth release) was nicknamed Fascination.
It is a 21 year-old single malt, a combination of 1990 and 1991 triple-distilled spirit matured in ex-Madeira casks and American oak barrels. The age and vintage are actually close to one of the official Special Releases.
Rosebank 21 yo ‘Fascination’ (49,5%, Elixir Distillers ‘The Roses – Edition V’, 633 btl.)
Nose: a lot of rubbed lemon skin, mixed with subtle grassy notes and white peaches. Floral notes too. Then some buttered brioche, cereals and leaven, as well as chalky touches. Chamomile tea. Leather and mint.
Mouth: all the more citrusy, now slightly candied with added hints of stewed apples, green banana and whiffs of bergamot. Ginger lemonade. Grassy notes, pine needles, chalk again, as well as some creamy white chocolate sweetness. Mid-palate it becomes drier and slightly oakier, with some white pepper.
Finish: quite long and still quite vertical. Some waxy notes, ginger and fragrant lemons. Always lemons indeed.
Excellent naked, floral Lowlands character with an unnoticeable Madeira influence. Sold out from The Whisky Exchange (although they still have samples available).