Imperial 21 Years Old ElD Single Malts of Scotland Marriage (Elixir)

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. Elixir Distillers drew this 21 years old release from 1995 spirit for its The Single Malts of Scotland - Marriage of Casks range. It was released for Germany.

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 21 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 its natural cask strength of 47.5%, without dilution, 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 a fragrant lift, fresh orchard fruit, citrus, honey, vanilla and a light estery lift. The long maturation draws tannins from the oak, drying the finish into clean wood.