Distillery Thursday: How Rosebank Distillery's Fate Was Sealed by Water

The King of the Lowlands, or rosebank Distillery, has an interesting story to tell. Where does that nickname come from? And where did it go tragically wrong leading to the closure of its doors? It all has to do with water. In this edition of Distillery Thursday, we take you to the throne of the king in the Scottish lowlands and tell you all about the distillery.

The history of Rosebank Distillery is tightly woven with the Forth and Clyde, the river on which the distillery lies. Where the river once ensured the Lowlands distillery started making whisky, the very same water led to its doors being closed. We travel all the way back to 1817, to a period when distilling was happening extensively within Scotland.

Whisky was being distilled at various locations by the Stark family. This includes a distillery by the name Rosebank. Although this wasn’t the iconic Rosebank distillery which whisky enthusiasts adore, it was the first mention of the name and the beginning of the tale of the iconic whisky maker.

In 1827, the Stark family started a distillery named Camelon. The location was in the village of the same name, west of Falkirk in Scotland, right on the waters of the Forth and Clyde river. It was a strategically chosen spot, as the river connects Glasgow with Edinburgh and is a route along which many goods are transported.

Whisky was distilled at the Camelon Distillery for thirteen years. Until James Rankine, the founder of Rosebank Distillery, decided in 1840 to convert the malt houses across the river into a new distillery. The name Camelon was kept for a few more years, until Rankine's son demolished the other buildings of the distillery.

On the site of the old Camelon distillery, the malt houses of the new distillery were set up and the name was changed to Rosebank Distillery. Rosebank’s malt is made on one side of the river and then brought over the Forth and Clyde to the distillery via a bridge.

Rosebank’s reputation grew incredibly fast, due to high quality whisky coming out of its casks. Soon, the distillery earned the moniker ‘King of the Lowlands’. One of the keys to its success is the river that not only functions as a perfect route for transporting the spirit, but also brings high-quality water from local sources nearby.

That water was used by Rosebank during the creation of this divine drink. It led to signature whiskies with a light and fruity style that was in high demand. Rosebank Distillery was in full bloom, just like the roses on the banks of the river. The Lowlands whisky maker was thus producing round the clock for innumerable years to keep up with the colossal demand.

At the beginning of 1914, Rosebank became part of Scottish Malt Distillers with the aim of further strengthening the distillery’s position. Under this banner (and later that of Distillers Company Limited), the stills continued to produce spirit at the same pace for several more months, albeit not under the guidance of the Rankine family.

The horrors of the First World War, however, puts a damper on this. The demand for whisky plummets and the industry is dealt a massive blow. At Rosebank Distillery, the stills come to a halt too. Thankfully, this isn't forever. After a brief period, they started distilling spirit on the riverbanks again.

In 1968, a major renovation occurs, expanding the distillery even further. Even in the face of economic downturn in the whisky industry, Rosebank continues its growth.

While Rosebank was faring well, the same couldn’t be said about the parent company, Distillers Company Limited. The business was taken over and transformed to United Distillers, a company that is now known as Diageo.

The whisky industry, however, was changing. The owners of Rosebank finally recognized this and decided to reserve whisky in the warehouse for a single malt whisky. The first expression appeared in 1982. This eight-year-old whisky was the precursor to the Six Classic Malts that represent the whisky regions.

When the decision was made in 1988 to launch the Six Classic Malts, it was expected that Rosebank Distillery would be a part of it. To the shock of many, The King of the Lowlands was bypassed and instead, a Glenkinchie whisky was chosen for the set that already included a Cragganmore, Talisker, Lagavulin, Oban and Dalwhinnie.

This was the next blow to Rosebank, but not the death blow. The global whisky sales continued to decrease in the following years. Furthermore, there were issues in and around the distillery. The river was heavily polluted by that point, limiting access to the distillery.

The wastewater treatment plant needs to be modified. The cost of this situation: 2 million pounds. It seems the treasury of the king of the Lowlands is not as full as one might think, since the owner decides to shut down the distillery in 1993, rather than carry out the needed repairs and modifications. The throne is empty, and the king of the Lowlands is no more.

It’s about ten years later that the location is sold to British Waterways. In the meantime, only mice had been visiting the premises, but six years after the sale, something catastrophic happens to the ghost distillery that once held great pride.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays of 2008, a break-in occurred at the premises. Thieves targeted the copper distilling pots and Rosebank's mash tun, making off with them. It proves to be the death blow for Rosebank.

In the following years, the distillery gradually transforms into a ruin, and the story of the king slowly morphs into a legend.

Until suddenly in 2017, plans are unveiled by Ian MacLeod Distillers. The company has purchased the Rosebank name from Diageo, the current name for United Distillers, along with the location of the old distillery from British Waterways. The Rosebank Distillery is being rebuilt and brought back to life.

Before this revival is complete, and the roses bloom as they used to on the banks of the Forth and Clyde, it will take several more years. The iconic chimney that once rose above the horizon from afar is being restored, together with the old warehouses and the malting building.

In addition, a new distilling room is being established, where three pots identical to the original ones will be set up. For this, Ian MacLeod Distillers has used the blueprints of the original pots.

The new distillery is due to open in 2024. The first spirit produced will be designated Cask No. 001, and aged in a refill bourbon cask The goal is to create a rich, fruity and floral expression to transport whisky lovers back to the era of the old Rosebank Distillery. The former King of the Lowlands is back; all that remains is to reclaim the throne with exceptional whiskies.

The Rosebank Distillery has been open for less than 15 months when problems arise again, although there is little the whiskey maker can do about it. Although there is a large center for enthusiasts and tours are given, visitors simply stay away. The result is a loss-making distillery that had planned a grand comeback.

Ultimately, the decision is made in 2025 to lay off a large portion of the employees behind the tours and the shop in order to save the distillery. The employees feel betrayed, even though the distillery is doing everything it can to ensure a fair settlement.

Photos: Rosebank Distillery