Built by Thomas MacKenzie in 1897 – the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee – Imperial Distillery was constructed in the heart of Speyside on a grand scale, the maltings capped by a cast iron crown. Mothballed in 1899, it reopened in 1919, fell silent for another 30 years then opened again, supplying spirit for blended whisky, only to close for the last time in 1998. In 2013, the buildings were demolished and Dalmunach Distillery now stands on the site. Single malt whiskies featuring the Imperial Distillery name are the epitome of rare. Their reputation continues to grow and this forgotten masterpiece was matured in a Gordon & MacPhail cask for more than three decades.