Rosebank 21 Years Old Jealousy 52.5% NV

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

There seems to be quite a few comparisons between Daftmill and Rosebank emerging these days (mostly from Serge on these very pages it should be noted). So, seeing as I only have one sample of Rosebank, let’s quickly record some notes for this and see how proximate to Daftmill we are...

Colour: pale white wine.

Nose: there is indeed a slightly ‘Daftmillian’ aspect emerging here. Lots of freshly cut grasses, breads, lemon peel, butter, chives, cereals, hints of plain yoghurt, yeasty sourdough starter, delicate cough medicine notes and plain porrdige. All very good and rather pure and straight. With water: develops more towards plain cereals, plasticine, chalk and a kind of funny light cheesy note. Boiled sweets, hints of linseed oil and trail mix. Gets a little more herbal with time, touches of mint and marjoram.

Mouth: sunflower oil, more lemon in the shape of lemon balm and lemon sweeties. Parsley, chalk, plain breakfast cereals, nutmeg and hints of pine needle. With water: better with water now I think. Bigger, fatter, oilier and more ‘full’ with these notes of white pepper, cider apple, dry mead, green banana and more freshly baked breads.

Finish: good length, all on apples, cornflakes, mint julep, light ointments and a touch of soot.

Comments: I must admit I’ve never been a massive fan of Rosebank. This is undeniably very good whisky, but I’m not sure I’d chose this over a Glenlochy or St Magdalene for the same money. Anyway, it’s undeniably similar in style to these new Daftmills.els

Gal Granov (91)

Nose: Imagine yourself lying in a spring meadow, sniffing the flower blossom and fresh grass. This is it in a nutshell : very gentle, floral, perfumed, icing sugar, fresh cut grass, and old school boiled fruit, white chocolate filled with strawberries and whipped cream. Like sniffing an April field in blossom.

Palate: much bigger than the light and floral nose, the alcohol bite is there, then we’re off to sweeter realms: white chocolate, apple peel, pear drops, wood tannins, and spices mainly nutmeg and wood bark, barley sugar and fresh baked brioche,honey.

Finish: floral and fruity, with more pear drops, a wee hint of unripe banana, coconut and a leafy touch .

Conclusion: This is a lovely whisky, so gentle and so complex. The nose is extra delicate, just like a spring meadow. The palate is a bit more robust, but also is classy and complex with the fruit and chocolate, so well integrated.

BOW (91)

Ruben @Whiskynotes.Be

Nose: rather delicate, in the typical floral and green-citric Lowlands style. Fresh grassy notes, lemon juice and lemon peel, mint and green apple. Fruit blossoms. A clear chalky / wet gravel note and faint waxy notes as well.

Mouth: a bit wider now, with sweet chalk and nice fruity notes, starting with grapefruits but also showing whiffs of pineapple and tangerine – a kind of Irish tropical note. Lemon sherbet. Same minty and floral side. A light woody warmth and hints of nutmeg.

Finish: not too long, but fresh and citrusy with growing leafy notes and green tea.

A classic Rosebank profile, no wham-bam whisky but a gentle and relatively layered composition.