If you like a slightly tropical fruitiness with some waxy touches, then Imperial rarely disappoints. Now 1991 is not a vintage we’ve seen often, but I’m curious to find out how it compares to the better known 1995 for instance. This comes from the recent batch of Single Malts of Scotland bottlings.
Imperial 29 yo 1991 (45,7%, Single Malts of Scotland 2020, ex-bourbon barrel #280, 194 btl.)
Nose: full-on fruits with a warm, waxy layer on top. Lime, banana, mango, green apples and lemon zest. Hints of vanilla, shortbread and honey. Some marzipan in the back. There’s also a nice hint of flax, as well as light mint.
Mouth: a great combination of fruity candy (pineapple sweets, marshmallow, but some red berry candy as well). Heather honey. Mid-palate it comes closer to an old grain whisky in a way, showing a little coconut cream, vanilla cake with icing and some warm oak, but always kept in check by a fresher lemony side. Even some light tobacco and gingerbread in the background?
Finish: long, drying, on fruit tea, milk chocolate but also tart citrus notes.
Quite excellent again. Fruits with interesting Highlands notes. This one is fairly warm and round – works a treat. Sold out from The Whisky Exchange, online at least, but maybe you can score a bottle from one of their partners around Europe.