Roseisle distillery

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Six of its seven pairs of stills can switch between stainless steel or standard (copper) shell and tube condensers. If a light grassy spirit is required, long fermentation (in excess of 90 hours) is used, along with slow distillation with air rests, and condensing in the copper condensers. Conversely, if a heavy style is needed then the stainless steel condensers will be used. The lack of extended copper ‘conversation’ will add the requisite weight to the spirit. A nutty (malty) style could also be produced by shortening mashing and fermentation regimes. The grassy style which is currently produced is different noticeably to that from other Diageo sites such as Glen Ord or Royal Lochnagar.  

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  • Region
    Speyside
  • Production type
    Single malt
  • Distillery Status
    Working

Roseisle History

Roseisle was mired in controversy even before the first sod was cut to start construction. The largest distiller building a large distillery signalled some doom-mongers to predict that parent firm Diageo would use Roseisle’s opening as an excuse to close down some of its smaller sites. It soon became the equivalent of a whisky Death Star.

In reality its size, at 10m litres per annum, was smaller than Glenfiddich, and its construction was merely the first stage in a £1bn investment by Diageo in increasing capacity across its estate. Rather than closing anything down, Roseisle ushered in a new era of distillery building.

A biomass plant means it generates much of its own energy, while a heat recovery system allows waste heat from the distillery to help run the maltings at nearby Burghead and across the road at Roseisle. 

Timeline

  • 2007 Diageo announces plans to build a new super-distillery in Morayshire
  • 2009 Construction complete, Roseisle begins test production
  • 2010 Diageo officially unveils Roseisle in October
  • 2013 The eco-friendly Roseisle aids Diageo in cutting its total carbon emissions by 26%

Roseisle Facts

  • Condenser Type i
    Shell and tube
  • Fermentation Time i
    Minimum 75hrs
  • Filling Strength i
    63.5%
  • Grist Weight (t) i
    26
  • Heat Source i
    Steam
  • Malt Specification i
    Non peated
  • Malt Supplier i
    Mainly in house
  • Mash Tun Type i
    2 Lauter
  • New-make Phenol Level i
    Non peaty
  • New-make Strength i
    70%
  • Spirit Still Charge (l) i
    10,000
  • Spirit Still Shape i
    Plain
  • Stills i
    14
  • Wash Still Charge (l) i
    16,000
  • Wash Still Shape i
    Plain
  • Washback Type i
    Steel
  • Washbacks i
    14
  • Water Source i
    Borehole
  • Wort Clarity i
    Clear
  • Yeast Type i
    Creamed

Owner

Current owner

Contact

Address
Roseisle Distillery
Roseisle
Moray
IV30 5YP
United Kingdom
Phone
+44 1343 832100
Visitor Opening Hours
Not open to the public

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See also

  • Auchroisk Auchroisk Auchroisk Distillery & brand

    Auchroisk

    One of Diageo’s ‘nutty-spicy’ sites.

  • Benrinnes Benrinnes Benrinnes Distillery & brand

    Benrinnes

    A highly individual Speyside whisky.

  • Blair Athol Blair Athol Blair Athol Distillery & brand

    Blair Athol

    The home of Bell's blended whisky.

  • Caol Ila Caol Ila Caol Ila Distillery & brand

    Caol Ila

    Islay distillery belonging to Diageo.

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