Imperial

Formerly located in the Moray village of Carron, Imperial was built by Thomas Mackenzie in 1897 and was established to support the production of its neighbour across the Spey river, Dailuaine. Imperial endured a chequered history – a perennial victim of adverse economics and unstable ownership – before owners Pernod Ricard took the decision to demolish it in 2013 and replace it with the state-of-the-art Dalmunach distillery.

The Speyside single malt of this attractive red-bricked distillery rarely saw the light of day. Only once was an official Imperial single malt bottled, a 15-year-old, released by then-owner Allied Distillers. Instead Imperial malts formed part of major blends, or were occasionally released by independent bottlers such a Signatory.

Given their rarity and ever-dwindling stocks, the soft, floral, delicately smoky single malts of Imperial are now attracting the attention of collectors.