1995 Signatory Vintage Imperial 30 Year Old Symington's Choice Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Imperial makes its fourth appearance on our shelves with a Signatory bottling of a 1995 distillation - a vintage said to represent some of Imperial's finer output. This is also the oldest example we've offered to date. Established in 1897, by the 1970s (when single malts were just starting to become popular), Imperial was dedicated to filling blends. Ironically, when the single malt market took off in the early 1990s, Imperial was closed! After changing owners several times, the facility was finally demolished in 2013. Remaining stocks must be getting seriously low, which accounts for why these seldom pop up. It's another small release from Signatory, with just 189 bottles offered from a single hogshead at 56.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Collectable.

Other reviews... I enjoyed this one in a large vertical of bourbon matured Imperials from this period, and the longer maturation period of 30 years in the cask really has added some magic. It's indeed darker in colour, and even richer in flavour profile. - whiskybase.com

...Upon pouring, it's rich and robust, a highly concentrated pear juice with a moderate sweetness. This is followed by a strong burst of woody and spicy notes. Before it's properly aged, the woody and spicy notes appear too quickly and last a long time, resulting in a weaker overall flavor profile. After a longer aging process, the woody and spicy notes in the mid-to-late stages have diminished considerably, revealing more layers and increasing complexity. The initial taste is concentrated fruit juice, honey, vanilla, and brown sugar, accompanied by a continuous interplay of saltiness and sweetness. The saltiness gradually becomes dominant, and the warm, comforting spices also intertwine with the saltiness, while the woody notes soften considerably. - whiskybase.com