Imperial, by Cask & Thistle bottlers
28 yr (1975-2003); 46% ABV
Non-chill filtered
Color: pale straw
Nose: Straw, flowery-like violets, honeysuckle, malty.
Palette: smooth chocolate, rich, gloriously creamy
Finish: Dry and chocolatey, with light smoke at the end. Lemon peel, rich and long lasting.
Outcome: this was an extraordinary dram. Like the Auchroisk, Dailuane and Ardmore, a Speyside distillery known primarily to blenders (Teacher's, Ballantine's) but with age shows an enormous amount of sophistication. It's maltiness is one of the reasons its great to use in blend, as it provides bottom notes (check out Lady Luck by Compass Box using 14yr Imperial). At 28, it lives in the city as a real adult: great legs, great heart and richly mellow.