Imperial - Scotch Malt Whisky - Region: Speyside
WF Distillery Ranking: Cru Bourgeois Supérieur (all current rankings here)

Status: silent since 1998 - Stills: 4 (2 wash, 2 spirit) - Founded: 1897
Address: Carron, Aberlour, Morayshire AB38 7QP - Phone:
Web: - More info:

One of my favourite expressions so far:
Imperial 1981/2004 (64.6%, Scotch Single Malt Circle, cask #1218, 303 bottles)
90 points - Last tasted: May 12, 2006 - Tasting notes: here

General Distillery Profile - keywords (wazzat?)
Vanilla Bitter Caramel Oranges Coffee Pepper Honey Rubber Cardboard Grassy

MM Distillery profile:
The Imperial distillery was constructed in 1897 by Thomas Mackenzie, an entrepreneur who already owned two other malt whisky distilleries; Dailuaine and Talisker. Imperial was transferred just a year later to Dailuaine-Talisker Distilleries Ltd. who - like the name suggests - also administered the other distillery in the Scottish town of Carron: Dailuaine. Imperial distillery was closed again .... More on Malt Madness.

• Imperial 1989/2010 (46%, Berry Bros & Rudd, cask #178) - 110610
• Imperial 17 yo 1995/2013 (55%, Berry Bros & Rudd for Whisky.com.tw, cask #50347) - 260514

• Imperial 18 yo 1962/1980 (46%, Cadenhead's Dumpy, Black Label, 75cl) - 281207 - 080716
• Imperial 1963/1983 (92 US proof, Duthie for Corti for Narsai’s and Corti, Pellegrini Imports, 75cl) - 030815
• Imperial 24 yo 1977 (57.6%, Cadenhead) - 050806
• Imperial-Glenlivet 37 yo 1977/2014 (53.5%, Cadenhead, Single Cask) - 260115
• Imperial 14 yo 1979/1993 (64.9%, Cadenhead's) - 040310
• Imperial-Glenlivet 16 yo 1979/1996 (64.3%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection) - 121020
• Imperial-Glenlivet 18 yo 1979/1997 (61.2%, Cadenhead, Bond Reserve) - 030815

• Imperial 18 yo 1982 (43%, Chieftain’s) - 150504

• Imperial 25 yo 1981/2007 (57.2%, Douglas Laing, Platinum, 270 bottles) - 170413
• Imperial 17 yo 1995/2012 (50%, Douglas Laing, Old Malt cask, refill hogshead, cask ref #8474, 148 bottles) - 080724

• Imperial 8yo (43%, Duncan Taylor, Battlehill, circa 2006) - 281207
• Imperial 17 yo 1990/2007 (53.9%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, cask #353) - 140508
• Imperial 17 yo 1990/2008 (53.1%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, cask #359) - 140508
• Imperial 18 yo 1990/2008 (52.2%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #358, 226 bottles) - 191008
• Imperial 18 yo 1990/2008 (55%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, cask #443) - 290109
• Imperial 19 yo 1990/2009 (53.1%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #445) - 210709
• Imperial 19 yo 1990/2009 (53.7%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #446) - 210709
• Imperial 19 yo 1990/2009 (55.7%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #448) - 210709
• Imperial 19 yo 1990/2009 (53.4%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #449) - 210709
• Imperial 19 yo 1990/2009 (53.9%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #450, 156 bottles) - 040310
• Imperial 12 yo 1994/2006 (46% Whisky Galore) - 120506
• Imperial 13 yo 1994/2007 (46%, Duncan Taylor, NC2, cask #2121) - 290109
• Imperial 16 yo 1995/2012 (46%, Duncan Taylor for Whisky Circle Pinzgau, cask #512677) - 180912
• Imperial 15 yo 1996/2011 (51.3%, Duncan Taylor, Dead End Whisky Club, hogshead, sherry octave finish) - 250816
• Imperial 11 yo 1998/2010 (46%, Duncan Taylor, NC2) - 110610

• Imperial 11 yo 1994/2005 (53%, Exclusive Malts, sherry cask) - 161206

• Imperial 14 yo 1969 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, CC old brown label) - 040310
• Imperial 17 yo 1970 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, old brown label) - 281207
• Imperial 1979 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, Licensed bottling, 1995) - 080724
• Imperial 1990/2001 (40%, G&M) - no notes - 82
• Imperial 1990/2001 Sherry Finish (40%, G&M Private Collection, C#97/33112, 1000 Bts.) - 281207
• Imperial 1990/2003 (approx 60%, G&M Special reserve for Whisky World, Holland) - 060304
• Imperial 33 yo 1990/2024 (52.7%, Gordon & MacPhail, The Recollection Series #3, refill American oak hogshead, cask #9825, 63 bottles) - 080125
• Imperial 1991/2001 Port Wood Finish (40%, G&M Private Collection, cask #99/48 1.2, 2600 bottles) - 271004
• Imperial 1993/2004 (45%, G&M for La Maison du Whisky) - 160904 - 271004
• Imperial 16 yo 1994/2011 (57.4%, Gordon & MacPhail Exclusive for Whisky Shop Dufftown, refill bourbon, cask #7300, 267 bottles) - 260412
• Imperial 1995/2013 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail for La Maison du Whisky, first fill sherry butt, cask #4887) - 101113
• Imperial 18 yo 1995/2014 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, licensed bottling, AD/JFGD) - 090724
• Imperial 1997/2017 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, Distillery Label)- 150419

• Imperial 23 yo 1990/2014 (55.7%, Jack Wiebers, Old Train Line, bourbon, cask #1360161, 354 bottles) - 260514
• Imperial 1995/2013 (52.7%, Jack Wiebers, Old Passenger Liners, 298 bottles) - 170413

• Imperial 12 yo (65%, James MacArthur, early 1990’s) - 140106
• Imperial 27 yo 1976/2004 (56.8%, James MacArthur, decanter, cask #10171) - 281207
• Imperial 27 yo 1976/2004 (57.2%, James MacArthur, normal bottle, cask #10171) - 281207

• Imperial 1990/2006 (60.4%, Mackillop's Choice, cask #11968) - 161206

• Imperial 11 yo 1996/2008 'Lime Pair' (46%, The Nectar, Daily Dram, 303 bottles) - 140508
• Imperial 13 yo 1997/2010 (46%, The Nectar of the Daily Drams, for Germany, bourbon) - 140411

• Imperial 1981/2004 (64.6%, Scotch Single Malt Circle, cask #1218, 303 bottles) - 120506

• Imperial 16 yo (43%, Scottish Wildlife, bottled 1993) - 271004
• Imperial 16 yo 1976/1992 (43%, Signatory, cask #7559-60, 1200 bottles) - 040310
• Imperial 25 yo 1976/2001 (59.2%, Signatory, Silent Stills, cask #7576, 488 bottles) - 281207
• Imperial 25 yo 1982/2008 (53.4%, Signatory, cask #3715, refill sherry butt, 198 bottles) - 140508
• Imperial 25 yo 1982/2008 (55.7%, Signatory, cask #3716, 501 bottles) - 191008
• Imperial 15 yo 1995/2011 (46%, Signatory, Un-chillfiltered Collection, hogshead, cask #50306+50307, 721 bottles) - 180711
• Imperial 15 yo 1995/2011 (46%, Signatory, Un-Chillfiltered, hogshead, casks #50310-50311, 737 bottles) - 031111
• Imperial 18 yo 1995/2014 (51.9%, Signatory Vintage, hogsheads, casks #50143+50144, 573 bottles) - 260514
• Imperial 20 yo 1995/2015 (56.3%, Signatory Vintage, for Acla Selection, Switzerland) - 080716
• Imperial 19 yo 1995/2015 (46%, Signatory Vintage, Un-Chillfiltered Collection, hogshead, cask #50204-205) - 090724
• Imperial 20 yo 1995/2016 (50.8%, Signatory Vintage for The Whisky Exchange, hogshead, cask #50252, 232 bottles) - 250816
• Imperial 20 yo 1995/2016 (50%, Signatory Vintage, Un-Chillfiltered Collection, Cask Strength, Maxi Vins Luxembourg, hogshead, cask #50192, 284 bottles) - 080724

• Imperial 19 yo 1991/2011 (55.3%, Silver Seal) - 260412
• Imperial 27 yo 1995/2023 (50.4%, Silver Seal, LMDW New Vibrations, cask #1022, 160 bottles) - 080724

• Imperial 'Marriage' 28 yo (40.8%, Elixir Distillers 'The Single Malts Of Scotland', a marriage of five bourbon barrels, 600 bottles) - by Angus - 261122 - 221221
• Imperial 30 yo (54.8%, Elixir Distillers 'Director's Special', bourbon barrel, 140 bottles) - by Angus - 261122 - 121020
• Imperial 30 yo 1989/2019 (43.3%, The Single Malts of Scotland, for the USA, bourbon barrel, cask #382, 172 bottles) - 080724
• Imperial 29 yo 1990/2019 (55.3%, The Single Malts of Scotland, barrel, cask #934, 160 bottles) - 080724
• Imperial 30 yo 1990/2020 (44.5%, The Single Malts of Scotland, for Germany, bourbon barrel, cask #1051, 144 bottles) - 080724
• Imperial 29 yo 1991/2020 (45.7%, Elixir Distillers 'The Single Malts Of Scotland', cask #280, bourbon barrel, 194 bottles) - 080724 - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 11 yo 1994/2005 (59.2%, Single Malts of Scotland, sherry butt #1537) - 140106
• Imperial 25 yo 1994/2019 (44.1%, Elixir Distillers, Single Malts Of Scotland ‘UK exclusive’, cask #5867, barrel, 185 bottles) - by Angus - 210320
• Imperial 24 yo 1994/2019 (43.8%, The Single Malts of Scotland, barrel, cask #5869, 178 bottles) - 090724
• Imperial 26 yo 1994/2020 (45.3%, The Whisky Exchange for The Whisky Show, cask #5874, barrel, 198 bottles) - by Angus - 071120 - 121020
• Imperial 22 yo 1995/2018 (43.3%, Elixir Distillers ‘Single Malts Of Scotland’, cask #5410, barrel, 202 bottles) - 080724 - by Angus - 300319
• Imperial 23 yo 1995/2019 (45.2%, The Whisky Exchange ‘The Magic Of The Cask’, refill barrel, 125 bottles) - 090724 - by Angus - 210320
• Imperial 24 yo 1995/2020 (51.5%, Elixir Distillers, The Single Malts of Scotland, bourbon, cask #7854, 127 bottles) - 221221
• Imperial 24 yo 1995/2020 (53.9%, Elixir Distillers 'The Single Malts Of Scotland' for Kensington Wine Market, cask #7850, bourbon, 148 bottles) - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 25 yo 1995/2021 (50.1%, The Whisky Exchange, cask #7845, bourbon barrel, 165 bottles) - 090724 - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 25 yo 1995/2021 (53.6%, Elixir Distillers 'The Single Malts Of Scotland', cask #7851, bourbon barrel, 142 bottles) - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 23 yo 1996/2019 (48.3%, The Single Malts of Scotland, Belgium exclusive, bourbon barrel, cask #18, 129 bottles) - 090724
• Imperial 26 yo 1996/2022 (51.5%, The Whisky Exchange 'The Whisky Show', cask #1053+1189) - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 21 yo 1997/2018 (50.5%, The Single Malts of Scotland, bourbon barrel, cask #2472, 215 bottles) - 150419
• Imperial 21 yo 1997/2019 (49.6%, Elixir Distillers, Whisky Trail, retro label, cask #2471, 169 bottles) - 221221
• Imperial 23 yo 1997/2020 (45.4%, Elixir Distillers 'The Single Malts Of Scotland', cask #2798, bourbon barrel, 151 bottles) - by Angus - 261122 - 221221

• Imperial 17 yo 1995/2012 (53%, Whisky-Doris, 10th Anniversary, hogshead, 132 bottles) - 110713
• Imperial 8 yo 1998/2007 (55.1%, Whisky-Doris, cask #106041) - 281207

• Imperial 21 yo 1990/2011 (52.7%, The Whisky Agency, bourbon hogshead, 233 bottles) - 260412
• Imperial 17 yo 1995/2013 (50.3%, Liquid Sun, refill bourbon hogshead, 291 bottles) - 110713

• Imperial 16 yo 1976/1993 (43%, The Master of Malt, cask #7560) - 050806
• Imperial 29 yo 1976 (46.8%, Dormant Distillery Company, 408 bottles) - 180912
• Imperial 19 yo 1990/2010 (59.9%, The Stillman's, bourbon hogshead, 186 bottles) - 140411
• Imperial 30 yo 1990/2020 (43.5%, Thompson Brothers, refill barrel, 134 bottles) - by Angus - 060620
• Imperial 20 yo 1991/2011 (46%, Part des Anges, bourbon barrel, 270 bottles) - 100112
• Imperial 1995/2011 (53.9%, Whisky-Fässle, bourbon hogshead) - 260412
• Imperial 17 yo 1995/2012 (55.1%, Part des Anges, Closed Distilleries, 276 bottles) - 061112
• Imperial 16 yo 1995/2012 (51.7%, Archives, bourbon, cask #50035, 60 bottles) - 180912
• Imperial 17 yo 1995/2013 'Idunn' (49.5%, Dram of the Lords, bourbon barrel, 131 bottles) - 170413
• Imperial 18 yo 1995/2014 (52.3%, Acla da Fans, Switzerland, bourbon hogshead) - 260115
• Imperial 19 yo 1995/2014 (46%, The Ultimate, hogshead, cask #50159, 312 bottles) - 030815
• Imperial 21 yo 1995/2016 (48.9%, The Maltman, bourbon, cask #20155, 298 bottles) - 080724
• Imperial 23 yo 1995/2018 (44.4%, Carn Mor, Celebration of the Cask for The Whisky Barrel, bourbon barrel, cask #4191, 42 bottles) - 150419
• Imperial 23 yo 1995/2018 (49.5%, The Maltman, for HNWS Taiwan, sherry finish, cask #400, 2016 bottles) - 121020
• Imperial 24 yo 1995/2019 (53.1%, Thompson Bros., bourbon barrel, 166 bottles) - 121020
• Imperial 24 yo 1995/2019 (42%, Valinch & Mallet, cask #20-2402, bourbon barrel, 181 bottles) - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 25 yo 1995/2020 (48.2%, LMDW, Artist #10, hogshead, cask #50270, 197 bottles) - 221221
• Imperial 21 yo 1996/2018 (44.8%, Thompson Bros, refill barrel, 152 bottles) - by Angus - 221218
• Imperial 24 yo 1996/2020 (54.6%, Single Cask Nation, bourbon barrel, cask #3420, 184 bottles) - 221221
• Imperial 25 yo 1996/2021 (53.6%, Watt Whisky, refill barrel) - 221221
• Imperial 13 yo 1997/2010 (52.4%, Reifferscheid, Romantic Rhine Collection, sherry octave, 71 bottles) - 030815
• Imperial 22 yo 1998/2020 (52.1%, Chapter 7, bourbon barrel, cask #104355, 218 bottles) - 221221
• Imperial 22 yo 1998/2020 (48.4%, Club Qing 'The Gambler' for Rudder & Club Qing, cask #103929, 182 bottles) - by Angus - 261122
• Imperial 23 yo 1998/2022 (49.1%, Whisky Concerto x Le Sens, cask #100807, 160 bottles) - 080724