Rosebank The Roses Edition Five - Fascination 21 Year Old, Madeira & American Oak Cask, Edition No. 5, Elixir Distillers, 49.5%

busstop compass30 Sept

The fruit has a clear path here: lemon, tangerine and white peaches on the nose give way to broader orchard fruits on the palate, then fragrant lemons return in the finish. That makes the fruit easy to follow without reducing the whisky to a simple citrus theme. Floral and herbal notes sit alongside the palate’s deep sweetness, while almonds and mild spices add contrast. The touch of leather and tobacco is a useful qualification: anyone looking mainly for bright fruit may find the palate less straightforward. The long, delicate finish, with evolving fruits, spices and ginger, should appeal to someone who likes fruit to remain present as other notes develop. For my taste, that balance is the main attraction.