Rosebank Named World’s Best Whisky
2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Rosebank 31 Year Old Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been awarded ‘Best in Show -Whisk(e)y’ at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), officially recognising it as the world’s best whisky. The Best in Show title is the highest honour in global spirits judging. This accolade marks a landmark moment in the revival of Rosebank, long considered the “King of the Lowlands” and one of Scotland’s most admired distilleries.
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 over three decades. These exceptional casks capture the distillery’s unmistakable Lowland character: bright citrus, soft vanilla, rose petals and candied almond, and entirely natural in colour.
The 31YO forms part of the Rosebank Legacy Trilogy, also including a 30 Year Old and 32 Year Old, the final releases drawn from the distillery’s remaining pre-1993 casks.
Neil Bulloch, Rosebank Distillery Manager, said: “This award is a tremendous moment for everyone connected to Rosebank. 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 family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “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 honours those who crafted the original spirit and those who helped bring the distillery back to life.”
Rosebank secured top honours across the Scotch categories before being named Best in Show Whisk(e)y 2025, including:
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky 20 Years and Over
Best Single Malt Scotch
Best Overall Scotch
Best in Show Whisk(e)y 2025
The SFWSC judges described the Best in Show winners as “the pinnacle of quality and artistry.”
There remain some of these rare and precious bottles for whisky aficionados to acquire. Each bottle is encased in a luxurious presentation box. Rosebank 31YO is available at the Distillery Shop in Falkirk, from www.rosebank.com priced at £1800.00 and through top retailers, including Berry Brothers & Rudd, Hedonism, The Whisky Exchange and Whisky World. It is also listed by notable venues in the UK, including The Berkley Hotel, The Coburg Bar at The Connaught, Melody Bar, Dakota Glasgow, Cameron House, Pot Still, Bon Accord, Caledonian Hotel Edinburgh, Gleneagles and Fife Arms.
In the USA, Rosebank 31 YO is available in Total Wine & More stores and top specialist retailers around the world.
For the festive season, Rosebank has released a limited-edition Gift Box, offering a rare pairing of old and new Rosebank:
20cl Rosebank 32 Year Old, from the remaining pre-closure casks
20cl Rosebank New Make Spirit, produced at the revived distillery
The Gift Box offers a unique opportunity to experience Rosebank’s past alongside its future and is available from the distillery shop and www.rosebank.com, RRP £450.
Visiting Rosebank
Rosebank Distillery has a shop which features the world’s most extensive collection of aged Rosebank whiskies anywhere in the world. The Distillery is open all year round offering a choice of tours and tastings at a range of price points. These can be booked online at https://www.rosebank.com/visit .
Tasting Notes for Rosebank 31 Year Old:
Appearance: Pale gold; natural colour
Nose: Citrus bursts, soft vanilla, candied almonds
Palate: Camomile, berry, baked banana
Finish: Sweet peach, oak, subtle herbal notes
This release is the second in the Rosebank Legacy Trilogy and exemplifies the distillery’s elegant, floral Lowland style.
