Imperial 19 Years Old 1996 Licensed Bottling (G&M)

Imperial spent most of its life supplying blends and rarely appeared as a single malt; since its 1998 closure and 2013 demolition, what survives is almost entirely independent bottlings. Gordon & MacPhail drew this 19 years old release from 1996 spirit for its Licensed Bottling range. It was released for Europe.

Imperial's spirit was light and fruity, the Speyside character built for blending, which is part of why single malt releases stayed uncommon. This bottling matured in ex-Bourbon American oak. Across 19 years, the toasted staves released vanillin, which reads as vanilla, and oak lactones, which carry coconut, while the cask char filtered heavier sulphur notes from the spirit.

Bottled at 43%, the ex-Bourbon wood supplies furfural for toasted almond, eugenol for clove and warm spice, and maltol for a soft toffee sweetness. Recorded bottle notes run to cocoa, citrus, dried fruit, a fragrant lift, fresh orchard fruit and honey. The long maturation draws tannins from the oak, drying the finish into clean wood.