Rosebank Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 5 hours ago
Rosebank is a Lowland single malt distillery beside the Forth and Clyde canal, long called the King of the Lowlands. This guide covers its history, owner and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Rosebank at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location / region | Lowland, Scotland |
Owner / producer | Ian Macleod Distillers |
History | Historic distillery dates to 1840; production restarted in the 2020s. |
Style | Single malt Scotch whisky |
Bottles documented | Rosebank 30 Year Old, Rosebank 31 Year Old |
Before visiting | Check current public access, tour availability and opening hours directly with the producer. |
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Where is Rosebank Distillery?
Rosebank is in Camelon, Falkirk, on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Rosebank history
Records show a distillery in Falkirk as early as 1798, run by the Stark brothers. The Rosebank distillery was founded on its present site in 1840 by James Rankine, a local wine merchant. It was known for a triple distilled whisky.
Rosebank Distillery Ltd was formed in 1894, and in 1914 it joined the companies that formed Scottish Malt Distillers, which became part of The Distillers Company in 1925. The distillery was mothballed in 1993. In 2002 the buildings were sold to British Waterways by Diageo, and the original stills were stolen by metal thieves over Christmas and New Year 2008 to 2009.
In October 2017 Ian Macleod Distillers acquired the Rosebank trademark from Diageo and the site from Scottish Canals. Production restarted in 2023 and the distillery opened to visitors in 2024. It was awarded five star status by VisitScotland and named Best Regeneration Project at the 2024 Herald Property Awards.
Who owns Rosebank?
Rosebank is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers.
Production
Stills: three pot stills, two wash and one spirit.
Water source: Carron Valley Reservoir.
Capacity: about 559,000 litres a year.
Official website
More on Rosebank's history
Distilling in the area goes back to 1798, when the Stark brothers ran an operation at Laurieston, Falkirk, according to The Single Cask. The official Rosebank site says the distillery's history on its present site began in 1840, when James Rankine, a local wine merchant, acquired the maltings of the Camelon Distillery on the opposite bank of the canal from the main distillery. Within forty years the Rankines were shipping their whisky to Australia.
The distillery stayed in family hands until the First World War, when it became part of the Distillers Company, whose blends took almost all of its output. Some triple distilled whisky still reached local drinkers and independent bottlers, and the nickname King of the Lowlands grew from that.
The closure and the lost years
Rosebank closed in 1993. The Single Cask says the reason was financial: meeting the European effluent treatment standards of the day would have cost around 2 million pounds. The official site adds that a single malt was released too late to save it, and that there was too much blended whisky in the market.
The Single Cask says Diageo sold the buildings and contents to British Waterways in 2002, that the maltings were demolished for housing and that part of a bonded warehouse became a pub. The official site says copper thieves broke in and destroyed the stills in 2008.
The revival under Ian Macleod Distillers
In October 2017 Ian Macleod Distillers bought the site from Scottish Canals and the Rosebank trademarks from Diageo. The official site says new make spirit began on 5 June 2023, almost 30 years to the day after the closure. A visitor centre followed in 2024. The chimney, the lockkeeper's cottage and the red brick buildings were retained and restored, work The Single Cask says RIAS architecture judges recognised.
The official site describes Rosebank whisky as non peated, triple distilled Lowland single malt, and says the new distillery set out to replicate the methods of the founding whisky makers.
Rosebank today: releases and prices
On 20 October 2026 the official shop listed Legacy Releases of 30, 31 and 32 year old Rosebank at 1,600, 1,800 and 2,100 pounds, plus a 20cl bottle of new make spirit at 30 pounds. These are shop prices on that date and can change. The official site also highlights a Best in Show title for the 31 Year Old, which it calls the highest honour in global spirits judging. We have not checked which competition that refers to.
Pre-1993 Rosebank has long been a fixture with independent bottlers such as Gordon and MacPhail and Signatory, and those bottles now sell at a premium. Whisky from the 2023 restart is too young for meaningful independent release.
Visiting Rosebank
The official site says the doors are open all year round and tours can be booked online. The distillery stands on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal at Camelon, Falkirk. Check current tour options and times on the official site.
Rosebank FAQ
Where is Rosebank distillery?
In Camelon, Falkirk.
Who owns Rosebank?
Ian Macleod Distillers.
When did Rosebank reopen?
Production restarted in 2023 and it opened to visitors in 2024.
Why is it called the King of the Lowlands?
It built a reputation as one of Scotland's finest Lowland whiskies.
When did it close?
It was mothballed in 1993.
Photo credit
Cover photo: Rosebank Distillery (2006), via Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons licence.
Sources
Further sources checked
Rosebank official site, home and Our Story pages: rosebank.com and rosebank.com/our-story
The Single Cask distillery guide for Rosebank, published 17 October 2026: thesinglecask.co.uk/blogs/distilleries/rosebank
Gaps: still sizes, capacity and fermentation details for the new distillery are not verified beyond the earlier figures in this guide. A separate older news style Rosebank draft exists on the site and is not this profile.
What makes Rosebank distinctive?
Historic-stock bottlings predate reopened distillery production and are limited
Rosebank bottle and expression comparison
The 30 to 32-year-old bottles are from spirit distilled before the 1993 closure, not from the distillery's 2024 reopening.
Rare, limited and historic whisky releases
Documented special releases and older editions can sell out. They are included for education rather than as live stock claims.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation and context |
|---|---|---|---|
Rosebank 30 Year Old Legacy Release One | 30 years | Check bottle | 1990 distillate, historic stocks |
Rosebank 31 Year Old Legacy Release Two | 31 years | Check bottle | Second legacy edition from older casks |
Rosebank 32 Year Old Legacy Release Three | 32 years | Check bottle | Third and final legacy edition |
Rosebank Vintage 1990 Release One | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Historic vintage bottling |
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Rosebank
Where is Rosebank distillery?
In Camelon, Falkirk.
Who owns Rosebank?
Ian Macleod Distillers.
When did Rosebank reopen?
Production restarted in 2023 and it opened to visitors in 2024.
Why is it called the King of the Lowlands?
It built a reputation as one of Scotland's finest Lowland whiskies.
When did it close?
It was mothballed in 1993.
Sources and editorial checks
Original research, references and historical qualifications have been retained in this article. Visitor details and expression availability are date-sensitive.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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