There were whispers for years that the Imperial Distillery would be revived and produced spirit once again. However, this wasn't to be the case as Chivas Brothers thought the better course of action was to demolish the distillery and build a new one on site (Dalmunach). Official bottlings of Imperial are as rare as they come but there are still independent bottlings available at very reasonable prices.
Founded
1827
Owner
Chivas Brothers
Production Status
Demolished
Capacity
1, 600,000 Litres
Situated at Carron just across the river from Dailuaine distillery, Imperial was built by Thomas Mackenzie in 1897. Constructed with Aberdeen red brick within a framework of iron beams to a Charles Doig design, the distillery was an attractive sight when strolling along the Speyside Way, although the distillery that replaced it, Dalmunach, isn't too sore on the eyes either.
Over the years Imperial never really gained a foothold as a single malt, in fact, there was only one ever official release. It was mostly used as a filler in blends and occasionally bottled by companies such a Signatory.
Nowadays you can still find releases of Imperial but prices are slowly creeping up while the stocks start to decrease. It has a small cult following that seems to be growing and we're sure that with Dalmunach now producing whisky it won't be long before Imperial begins to gain a bit of momentum on the auction market.
If you like Imperial whisky, you may also enjoy
Speyside Whisky: Imperial’s fans will enjoy exploring Speyside’s smooth, fruity profile, rich in honey and orchard fruits.
Glenrothes Whisky: Glenrothes provides similar fruity and nutty notes, ideal for those who love Imperial’s depth.
Single Cask Whisky: Unique single-cask whiskies offer one-of-a-kind flavours, perfect for appreciating Imperial’s distinctiveness.