Imperial

Imperial was established in 1897 by Thomas Mackenzie near Carron, strategically located near Dailuaine. Designed to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the structure featured a distinctive cast iron crown atop its maltings. However, its history was marked by frequent closures. After shutting in 1899, it reopened in 1919 and was acquired by DCL in 1925, yet remained silent until 1955. Modernization arrived in 1964 with the installation of Saladin maltings and an expansion to four stills, representing a significant technical upgrade before the site eventually succumbed to industry fluctuations during the late twentieth century.

The final chapter for Imperial began in 1985 when it was mothballed, followed by Allied acquiring the site in 1989. While distillation resumed in 1991, the final spirit ran through the stills in 1998. Chivas acquired the assets in 2005, leading to the eventual demolition of the historic site in 2013. A new facility, Dalmunach, was constructed on the grounds but is considered a separate plant rather than a reopening of Imperial. The legacy of this lost distillery survives primarily through independent bottlings and rare official stocks, representing a vanished era of Speyside production.