Rosebank Lowland Single Malt Whisky recently named a new distillery manager as it prepares for a late summer completion of its operations.
Malcolm Rennie will join the Rosebank team with 35 years of distilling expertise, from all across Scotland … from Ayrshire to Islay.
Prior to Rosebank, Rennie helped bring a whisky brand to life, opening Ayrshire’s new Lochlea Distillery. He was there for every step in the process, from a field of barley on Lochlea Farm, all the way through to having a mature three-year-old whisky.
Rennie is also no stranger to reviving a whisky brand as he helped reopen the Annandale Distillery after 90 years shuttered. Throughout his career, Rennie found experience with a diverse range of brands and styles of whisky – from Islay’s peat-led Ardbeg, to Speyside’s rich and fruity Glen Moray.
A prepared statement from Rosebank proclaims that as distillery manager, Rennie will use his experience overseeing the entire production process – from the first trickle of new make spirit through the stills, to cask selection and maturation. He will work with Ian Macleod Distillers’ Group Distillation Manager Robbie Hughes and Malt Master John Glass.
“Rosebank is an iconic distillery, so it is an absolute honor to be given the opportunity to help bring it back to life,” Rennie said of his new role in a prepared statement. “The whisky is incredibly well-regarded in the industry because of its unique, and somewhat contradictory production process. The triple distillation gives you a light and fruity spirit, but then we run it through a worm-tub condenser which adds real body, texture and weight to the new-make.”
Beyond just the whisky, Rennie said, Rosebank represents the life and memories of the local Falkirk community. “It’s a town with an intrinsic connection to the distillery – many of whom are reminded of the smells and sounds of whisky at the mere sight of the iconic chimney.”
Despite construction delays as a result of the pandemic, the distillery build is on pace with production due to begin by the end of summer.
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The distillery’s new sloping, stepped roof has nestled around Rosebank’s 108-foot chimney, rejuvenating an icon of the Falkirk skyline and connecting Rosebank’s past with its future.
In terms of the production process, the mash tun has now been installed, as have the process tanks and mill and grist case. In the coming weeks, the three stills will also be delivered to the distillery, in a landmark moment for the brand’s revival.
The new stills were crafted by coppersmiths Forsyths to the exact dimensions of those used on-site three decades ago.
Rennie said, “Our ambition is to recreate that unctuous, floral spirit that everyone remembers and loves. With limited stocks remaining from the ‘90s, there’s no doubt it will be a challenge, but we won’t stop until we get that perfect Rosebank balance correct.”
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