There is an old boxing adage that heavyweights never come back. Happily, this does not apply to distilling heavyweights, as three of the most highly regarded silent distilleries in Scotland are once again making their presence felt.
The distilleries in question are Brora, Port Ellen, and Rosebank: the aficionados’ top three on any wish list for revival. Of these, Brora and Port Ellen were culled as part of owner United Distillers’ 1980s rationalisation programme, while Rosebank — located beside the Forth and Clyde Canal at Camelon, on the outskirts of Falkirk — lasted in the same ownership until falling silent in 1993.
The late Michael Jackson described Rosebank as “the finest example of a Lowland malt” and considered its demise “a grievous loss”. But spirit is once again flowing through its three distinctive stills thanks to a highly ambitious revival programme carried out by new owner Ian Macleod Distillers, whose portfolio includes Glengoyne and Tamdhu whisky distilleries and the Smokehead and Edinburgh Gin brands.
After closing Rosebank, Diageo retained the trademark, and whisky making on the site was prohibited until at least 2018, by which time Ian Macleod’s managing director Leonard Russell and his team were in negotiations
