Imperial Distillery was founded in 1897 by Thomas Mackenzie in the village of Carron, nestled among the dark woods of central Speyside. Its construction coincided with Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, a fact reflected in the distillery's grand, imperial name. From the very beginning, Imperial was conceived as an ambitious project, befitting the celebratory spirit of the era. Throughout its history, Imperial has led a stop-start existence, being mothballed on multiple occasions over the course of its century-long life. Despite these interruptions, the distillery produced single malt Scotch whisky that has attracted considerable attention from independent bottlers and collectors alike. Imperial's Speyside character is reflected in its richly textured and complex expressions, which have appeared under various independent labels, including notable releases such as the Single Malts of Scotland Director's Special series. Imperial became part of the Pernod Ricard group in 2000. The distillery is now silent, making its remaining stock increasingly sought after by whisky enthusiasts. Bottlings of Imperial single malt are considered rare collector's items, prized for their quality and the distillery's intriguing and turbulent history.