Rosebank 17 Year Old 1991 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice

Gordon & Macphail have some 50 releases of Rosebank so far, but the last time they bottled a cask of this closed Lowlander is a few years ago already. This release appeared over 10 years ago in their famous Connoisseurs Choice series and is a Rosebank that matured on refill American oak and sherry casks.

Delicate nose on citrus fruit, quinine, apples and pears with a hint of sawdust in a furniture shop. Lavender in the Provence during a rain shower. Vanilla and margarine. Fanta Lemon. Very light and subdued, but fresh. Textbook Rosebank.

Ouch! This body is off… much too light, watery and offering hardly any flavor. What a pity. And apart from some citrus and white fruit, this one becomes somewhat bitter quickly. Ginger, pepper, tannins… the overpower the delicate notes of the fruit and vanilla. It falls apart, I’m afraid. I even daresay this one is now below 40%. It has turned into sugared water. Darn.

The finish is neither short nor long, softly spiced on ginger and liquorice, but dies a death that is too bitter to enjoy.

The nose was fine, but once past the lips, this one is clearly out of shape. Pity.

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