Rosebank 14 yo 1966 / 1980 Cadenhead 46% vs Rosebank 26 yo 1967 / 1994 Scotch Single Malt Circle (Japan) #4398 51.7%
Rosebank 14 yo 1966 / 1980 Cadenhead 46%
I believe this is the oldest Cadenhead Rosebank. Yes, the nose is profound. Rosebank has seem some evolution through the decades to get to the lemony aspects prevalent in the 80s/90s makes, but we are far from that here. This was an entirely different time. This one is no fresh whisky, here its thick coagulated honey mixed with heavy olive oil. Dense yellow apricots, almost overripe. And rustic herbal teas with names like Nature’s Best Original Medicine. On the palate it takes a distinct but softly phenolic turn, developing churned earth and soiled mineral aspects. Wet coal and BBQ pits in the morning dew. Soot and lubricated garden shears. Mesmerising old sort of Rosebank with these soft phenols, where dirty and herbaceous aspects exchange pleasantries with oily buttery depth. 92 pts
Rosebank 26 yo 1967 / 1994 Scotch Single Malt Circle (Japan) #4398 51.7%
Another stunner. Old Rosebank is up there with old Springbank. Here its ripe but tart stone fruit and dried limes in cedar boxes. Thick honey lasciviously dripped over dried tobacco and bunches of aromatic twigs. Oleoresins like pine resin, benzoin and astringent mastic abound, yet are kept evenly paced by a horde of light phenolics like medical barks, angelica, camphor, wintergreen and tangy turpenes. Astounding depth! Chewing tablets, cold stones, flints, lit hurricane lamps, clean peat, it goes on and on. Kaleidoscopic. 94 pts
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