Roseisle 12 Year Old (Special Release 2024)

Only the second whisky ever released from Roseisle distillery! Dubbed ‘Origami Kite II’, it follows the inaugural expression in being bottled for Diageo’s annual Special Releases, and being matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon and refill casks. The distillery was actually founded in 2009, and showed what a modern, energy efficient distillery built by the big boys could look like. An onsite biomass plant provides 72% of the energy, the carbon footprint is 15% that of a traditional distillery of the same size, and waste heat helps run nearby maltings.

Both a workhorse (for blends), and a chameleon, it’s able to produce various styles by being able to e.g. switch between copper and stainless steel condensers (as well as altering fermentation times) for lighter or heavier spirits. Integrated and inviting, we’re told this release is a “marriage of three spirit streams”.