Neither of these were super impressive, and both have flaws that mar them — the Imperial squeezes out a bit ahead, as it’s a vatting not a single cask.
Strathmill 1990 25 Signatory Cask Strength / 53.8%
Strathmill is a Speyside Diageo workhorse distillery that doesn’t get out much. This bottle is 107 of 242, cask #100194, distilled on 09/03/1990 and bottled 23/02/2016, and matured in a Hogshead.
- Color: amber
- Nose: buttery chestnuts, grape skins, latex, tanins; varnish
- Taste: creamy, but a bit hot; grape drink fizz
- Finish: long, oaky and hints of habanero pepper
From previous drinking, this absolutely does not handle a bit of water well and drops 10 points not neat.
It’s also very single-mindedly a one-grapey-note whisky.
Rating: 72/100
Imperial 1995 19 Signatory Cask Strength / 52.4%
I’ve been digging some of the 1995 Imperials recently — this one is Signatory Cask Strength 19 years old, distilled 18/09/1995 and bottled 07/09/2015 in Hogsheads, casks 50211 and 50212, bottle 257 of 378.
All natural, no chill-filtration.
- Color: light gold
- Nose: bandaids, vanilla, foamed whole milk, tar, spring lilac
- Taste: really lush mouthfeel, french pastry, butter and ice cream, rubber grommets
- Finish: long, oily with some floral notes
This is pretty much classic ’95 Imperial except with weird “fresh out the dyer” rubbery off-notes!
Rating: 79/100
