Imperial 18 Years Old 1995 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection (46%, Signatory, HHs #50284 & 50285, 711 Bottles, 2014)

• 46% ABV,
• £41.95
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

A bit about the bottler
Signatory Vintage are an independent bottler founded in 1988 by Andrew and Brian Symington. The name ‘Signatory’ was derived from the initial intention to find a person of suitable standing to sign the labels for bottles drawn from a single cask. The first cask bottled was a 1968 Glenlivet which quickly sold through long before any suitable signee could be found.

Signatory currently bottle at three strengths: 43%, 46% Unchillfiltered (UCF) and Cask Strength.

To add proof of authenticity to their cask strength bottlings, Signatory always include the cask numbers, date of distillation, date of bottling and number of bottles produced.

Signatory Vintage’s aim is to offer as wide a range of whiskies as possible, some of which are not even bottled by the proprietary distillery. This allows malt enthusiast to sample the huge variety of subtle differences which occur between casks.

In 2002 Signatory Vintage expanded their business operations by acquiring the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry from Pernod Ricard. For what is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, Signatory manage to produce a huge variety of Edradour bottlings, including a vast selection of Straight From The Cask finishes, as well as a heavily peated Ballechin.

What I say:

Bottled in February 2014 at 18 Years Old, the old Imperial Distillery is now demolished but the owners Chivas Brothers aim to build a new replacement soon.

Colour:

Amber gold

Nose:

Vanilla

Taste:

Fruity vanilla and coconut cream, mild and delicate

Finish:

Short