Imperial 1995 GM

Balanced and srinkable - not bad

Having never tasted an Imperial before, I was not sure about what to expect. However, I actually like it very much. Initially i found this dram very mild: Hints of vanilla and flowers.As i swirled it around the tongue it became more complex, but never overwhelming. My girlfriend, who by the way hates whisky, actually spoke the words: "This is quote good". To me, this is a summer dram. I like t, and I can recommend it, if you are relatively new to drinking whisky.

My first Imperial. Why did they stop making this?

cookie dough, hay, vanilla, yellow fruits, citrus, pepper, oak, tobacco, malty, sadly a bit thin, not bad

N 21 P 22 F 21 B 21

Impressive Imperial.

Interesting old single malt. In my memory I had the terms earthiness and cemetery flowers in connection with this distillery. The terms may not fit so well, but the malt is unusual and very complex. It has its sweetness and a certain heaviness. He gives me an extra point for its low availability ... Yes, very complex, cemetery flowers are also included, you could also say botanical garden.

On Whiskybase there are only three Imperial recorded releases in 1993 and fifteen in 1994, all independent bottles. On the other side there are seventeen and twenty three expressions submitted for years 1996 and 1997 respectfully. Im not sure what happened in 1995 but it seems it was Imperial’s first and last flourish before the curtains were drawn - like the last great bloom from a mature blossom tree living it’s final season. For the year 1995 there are no less than 183 expressions acknowledged on WB, again all independent bottlings. Demolished in 2013 [to make way for Dalmunach], Imperial didn’t actually make any whisky after 1998. This is only my fifth Imperial and i’m delighted. N: This is right up my street with it’s dry fruity-grape maltiness more than akin to a light-yet-leathery toffee Inchgower with notes of plump raisins peppered in fine sawdust. T: Again, a little winey which is no bad thing here. I fear the body may be a little thin and watery, but no, it holds its form well. Thankfully wasn’t bottled at 40% otherwise it may have struggled to come through fully. Develops on a delicious light raisin-maltiness. F: That raisin-malt is joined by some soft fruity [banana] acetone. C: Very nice but immediately overshadowed by the excellent Inchgower that I’m passed, from the same supplier. WB

Lucious. Vanilla and butter cookie brûlée. Palate is gentle but rich. Very good. 90/100. But it’s not a complicated dram. For that reason I’m thinking this is more of an 89. But this does stand above the 23 yo TWE 20th anniversary 45.2%. Quite impressed.

Drinking Date：17/3/2025

Beguiling nose, weak finish. Imperial, known for ripening in cask casks and rather of a light character, shows itself here as a typical summer whisky. There is already a reason why Littlemill found a lot of followers posthumously and this is rather not to be observed at Imperial.