Rosebank — Lowland, Scotland · Spirit type: Malt · Founded: 1840 · Closed: 1993 · Status: Dismantled
Key facts
| Region | Lowland |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Spirit type | Malt |
| Status | Dismantled |
| Founded | 1840 |
| Closed | 1993 |
Rosebank — History & notes
Rosebank grew up beside the Forth and Clyde Canal at Camelon near Falkirk, licensed in 1840 under James Rankine, and kept the Lowland habit of triple distillation long after most of its neighbours dropped it. For decades it was the elegant counterweight to the region's heavier grain whisky, sold mainly as a Flora & Fauna 12-year-old rather than a collector's item.
Production stopped in 1993 and the buildings were left to rot; over the following years the copper stills were stripped from the site, which is why nothing of the original distilling kit survives. Ian Macleod Distillers bought the property in 2017, rebuilt behind the retained Victorian façade, restarted distillation in 2023 and opened the visitor centre soon after — so the stock from before 1993 is finite and the new spirit is a separate story.
Flavour profile
Triple distillation made it light and floral: cut grass, lemon peel and a chalky dryness, with older casks turning to honeyed orchard fruit.
Bottlings & collector track record
- The Flora & Fauna 12-year-old is the everyday reference point and still the easiest way to taste pre-1993 Rosebank.
- Rare Malts and Signatory casks cover the 1970s and 1980s vintages that collectors chase for the full triple-distilled character.
- Releases from the new ownership are labelled Rosebank but distilled after 2023 — the historic and modern spirit share only the address.
Play the game
Collect the ghosts — play The Whisky Game
Lost distilleries like this one live on as collectible cards in The Whisky Game. Track down every silent still, learn their stories and build your dram-ready collection.
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