Merry Christmas and what are you drinking ?

Shurely shome mishtake !!
No problem with Imperial it’s Tondonia I’m not so keen on.
No the Imperial 1996 GR was excellent.
A recent experience of the 98 less good though.
Anyway enjoy it.

How long before would you recommend opening? Decant??

I ’flash’ decanted back into the bottle two hours before
and it continued to improve over the evening.
I suppose an hour in a decanter might mean your first taste
may be more evolved than mine.