Rosebank
distillery takes a step closer to going
into production with the delivery of
three stills which have been made to the
exact dimensions of the originals.
Rosebank distillery has taken a huge
step towards going into production with
the installation of three new bespoke
stills which have been made to the exact
dimensions of the originals.
The installation of the three stills is
a landmark moment for the Lowland whisky
brand’s revival. As fans of the Rosebank
whisky will know, Rosebank’s much-loved
signature style was created through a
unique combination of triple
distillation and worm-tub condensing.
The former creates a lighter style of
spirit, while the latter gives the
liquid a rich thickness. With this in
mind Ian Macleod Distillers, the company
behind the Rosebank distillery revival
secured the original still blueprints
from Abercrombie Coppersmiths when
purchasing the distillery to enable them
to replicate the distillation process
used three decades ago.
The blueprints were then passed to
renowned still-makers, Forsyths, who
have gone to great lengths to emulate
the originals. The stills have been
meticulously crafted to the exact
dimensions of those used on-site three
decades ago, ensuring every step is
taken to emulate that celebrated Lowland
spirit of years gone by.
Richard Forsyth Sr., managing director
of Forsyths, commented that the
processes used to make the stills are
remarkably similar to what they were
decades ago. "To this day, we still use
our forefathers' hand hammering
techniques to shape copper into
carefully crafted pot stills. Of course,
we've tried to mechanize it as much as
possible, but the finishes we produce
are still very much hands-on, and it's a
very physical job."
Newly appointed Distillery Manager,
Malcolm Rennie, who was on hand to greet
the stills, commented: "Triple
distillation is a very important part in
the somewhat nonsensical jigsaw puzzle
that is the Rosebank spirit. It
generally enhances the lighter, smoother
and fruitier components of a spirit, and
so is a vital first step in the ‘new’
Rosebank journey."
Obtaining the original blueprints was
imperative as the Rosebank stills are
"quite different from your average
still", according to Malcolm Rennie. He
added: "The wash still in particular
appears to have its traditional swan
neck lopped off and capped and the lyne
arm attached to the side of the neck,
while the Spirit still is on the shorter
dumpier side. All these variations in
shape and size are what ultimately
contribute further complexity to the
Rosebank spirit."
Externally, the Rosebank distillery has
made great progress in recent months and
is set to be completed by late summer
2022. Its distinctive 108ft chimney is
now complemented by a contemporary
sloping, stepped roof.
This mix of original and modern
architecture is an apt metaphor for how
the distillery is being brought back to
life while still respecting its
distillation style and local legacy.
Rennie finished: "Unlike traditional
distilleries, Rosebank has a beautiful
glass façade, so I’m delighted that
passers-by will be able to drink in the
beauty of these stills from
street-level."
It will be a few years yet before whisky
enthusiasts will be able to taste whisky
produced at the new Rosebank distillery
but meanwhile you can still find
a small selection of rare and
increasingly scarce Rosebank
single malt whisky bottlings produced at
the old Rosebank distillery available
from specialist online whisky
retailers such as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop,
Hard To Find Whisky and
Master of Malt
|