Imperial 1979 40% 1979

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Serge Valentin (88)

Of course, we've tasted it before, but we've never written a tasting note, it seems to me. At 40% vol., has it survived? Colour: gold. Nose: nicely malty, light, on toast and cereals. At 40% vol., it’s really, or rather it was, a breakfast malt. Touches of stout, Guinness, Nescafé, roasted pear… It’s ‘pretty’. Mouth: very good, it has benefited from these years in the glass, developing a slightly smoky side and lots of dried fruits, dates, sultanas, bananas… There’s also a rather superb earthy aspect. A perfect example of a whisky that has benefited from bottle ageing, naturally more pronounced in whiskies bottled at 40%. Finish: magnificent touches of pear liqueur. Comments: I admit to being surprised. These old G&Ms at 40% often offer quite impressive comebacks, as if they’ve taken Viagra (oh no, S., please). Go on, re-taste the old Avonsides, or the Highland Fusiliers, and we’ll talk about it again…