There should be no doubt about what whisky to gift a true enthusiast this Christmas.
It has to be Rosebank.
After decades in its silent era, Rosebank has re-emerged to claim the industry’s highest praise. According to leading whisky experts, it represents “the pinnacle of quality and artistry.”
The Falkirk distillery’s 31 Year Old Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has just been awarded Best in Show Whisk(e)y at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) — the single highest honor in global spirits judging.
The winning expression, Rosebank 31 Year Old (48.1% ABV), was distilled before the distillery’s closure in 1993 and left undisturbed in refill casks for more than three decades. Its profile is layered with vanilla, rose petals, candied almonds, chamomile, berry, baked banana, oak, sweet peach, and subtle herbal notes. It forms part of the Rosebank Legacy Trilogy, which also includes a 30-Year-Old and 32 Year 32-Year-Old — the final whiskies drawn from the distillery’s pre-1993 casks.
Rosebank Distillery Manager Neil Bulloch reflects:
“The 31-Year-Old represents the very best of the spirit laid down before the distillery fell silent. Our responsibility now is to carry that character forward as Rosebank enters a new chapter.”
Leonard Russell, Chairman and owner of Ian Macleod Distillers, adds:
“Restoring Rosebank was a commitment to one of Scotland’s most admired whisky styles. To see a whisky from its silent era named the world’s best is deeply meaningful. It honors those who crafted the original spirit and those who helped bring the distillery back to life.”
Before taking the global title, Rosebank secured top honors across the Scotch categories, including:
• Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky 20 Years and Over
• Best Single Malt Scotch
• Best Overall Scotch
A limited number of Rosebank 31 Year Old bottles are now available to collectors and aficionados. Each comes in an elegant presentation box. It is offered at the distillery shop in Falkirk, through rosebank.com (£1,800), and at select luxury retailers including Berry Brothers & Rudd, Hedonism, The Whisky Exchange, and Whisky World. It is also listed across notable UK venues such as The Berkeley Hotel, The Coburg Bar at The Connaught, Dakota Glasgow, Cameron House, Gleneagles, and The Fife Arms.
In the United States, it is available at Total Wine & More and specialist retailers.
Rosebank has also introduced a limited-edition Gift Box, pairing old and new Rosebank in a rare set:
• 20cl Rosebank 32 Year Old
• 20cl Rosebank New Make Spirit
Priced at £450, it is available at the distillery and on rosebank.com.
Located just 23 miles from Edinburgh, Rosebank is renowned for its triple distillation, worm tub condensers, and unpeated purity. The distillery is open year-round, offering tours and tastings that can be booked at rosebank.com/visit.
Founded in 1840 by local wine merchant James Rankine on the Forth and Clyde Canal, Rosebank earned its reputation as “The King of the Lowlands.” After being mothballed in 1993 and standing silent for 30 years, it was revived in 2023 and has since achieved VisitScotland Five-Star Attraction status.
Most recently, it has been named Scotland’s Whisky Tourism Destination of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Whisky Awards, an accolade recognizing the single most outstanding visitor experience in Scotland’s whisky landscape. Past winners include Johnnie Walker Princes Street and the Scotch Whisky Experience — placing Rosebank among the country’s most influential destinations.
Since reopening in 2024, the distillery has welcomed more than 31,000 visitors from over 38 countries, with strong support from international travel partners who now feature Rosebank prominently in their Scottish itineraries.
The Rosebank shop houses the world’s largest collection of rare, historic Rosebank whiskies distilled at the original site, alongside select merchandise and locally crafted goods.
