Imperial 1979 / 1991 Gordon & Macphail 40% vs Imperial 1991 / 2008 Gordon & Macphail 43%
Imperial 1979 / 1991 Gordon & Macphail 40%
Honestly a lovely fresh nose with white pepper, cut green fruit, browned grass, rubbed limes, clean clear oil and a touch of salinity. Not heavily malty, no sign of feints, no off notes, ready to go. Light and simple, fresh and uplifting. An underappreciated distillery. 84 pts
Imperial 1991 / 2008 Gordon & Macphail 43%
So 5 more years maturation than the 1979. Also it’s curious that the Imperial 1991 is a Speyside malt, whilst the 1979 names itself a Highland malt. So 1991. Immediately more wood here, with butterscotch and smoking caramel. Some light leathery touches, also a dull spicy sprinkle of cloves and cardamom. At heart it’s retained this light fresh cut fruit character that’s light refreshing and pleasing, much in line with the 1979. Again no off notes. Aperitif as they say, though I would add this sort of whisky does better with less wood. 84 pts
Whiskyrific RSS
- Springbank 21 yo 1996 / 2018 ‘peated type’ Whisky Agency 50.9% vs Springbank 23 yo 1994 / 2017 Nectar of the Daily Drams 50.6%
- Speyside Region Single Malt 40 yo 1975 Sansibar 50.6% vs Speyside Region Single Malt 43 yo 1973 / 2017 Liquid Treasures #9 46.5%
- Balvenie 15 yo 1974 / 1990 Signatory #18103-18130 57.1% vs Balvenie SMWS 40.1 1976 / 1997 60.6%
- White Horse America’s Cup 43% vs Pillaged Malt 10 yo Vatted Malt 57.1% ~ 1st edition bottled 2003
- Teaninich 19 yo That Boutique-y Whisky Company Batch 1 48.6% vs Teaninich 32 yo 1983 Adelphi #6738 47.8%
- Bowmore 24 yo 1991 Carn Mor #616 54.9% vs Bowmore 25 yo 1989 Douglas Laing Old Particular #10581 55.1%
- Irish Single Malt Whiskey 24 yo Batch 1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company 46.8% vs Limerick Slaney Malt Irish 23 yo 1991 / 2005 Adelphi #8585 59%
- Isle of Jura 30 yo 1966 / 1996 Signatory #1868/69 52.6% vs Isle of Jura 30 yo 1966 / 1996 Kingsbury #1867 49.7%
- Rosebank 1991 / 2009 Gordon & Macphail #2119/2120/2121 55.3% vs Rosebank 21 yo 1989 / 2010 Lombard for Three Rivers #866 58.1%
- Ben Nevis 19 yo 1996 Distiller’s Art 48% vs Ben Nevis 20 yo 1995 Gleann Mor #11308 53.4% vs Ben Nevis 22 yo 1992 Cadenhead 53.5%
