Imperial 1970, b.1987, Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon & MacPhail, 40% abv.

The Imperial distillery is another one of those sad Scotch stories. Built in 1897 and mothballed in 1987. It was mothballed, silenced, and closed several times actually, mostly due to bad timing, and in 2013 was finally demolished to make way for the new Dalmunach distillery.

Nose: young cherries, old navel orange zest, generally unripe fruity fruit; when my nose gets closer a little bit of solvent, a slight bitterness late in the aroma which takes the front seat after a few sips.

Palate: very oily, initial palate is like thick water, mid palate has some light fruit, young cherries, lemon zestn back palate has a smokey, charcoal like flavor. After some time it becomes more dry, very heavy, fruit more or less disappears, more bitter-smoke, like putting water on the dying coals after a long bbq, and a spice develops.

Finish: medium, slightly dry, light spice is brief, a feeling similar to overcooked rice in a steel pot. With time, this smokiness is prolonged but the bitterness is kept under control.

This is a very interesting whisky. The texture is extremely heavy, like sipping on a lighter version of unsweetened maple syrup, and after some time all those fruity elements seemed to have disappeared so quickly, leaving a more burnt rice, water extinguished coal flavor profile.

Grade: C+

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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