Cardhu Distillery — Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Cardhu Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located near Archiestown, in the parish of Knockando, Speyside, Scotland. It was founded in 1824 and is currently owned by Diageo. Cardhu is one of the historic founding malts of the Johnnie Walker blend and is unusual among major Speyside distilleries for having been established and run for its first decades largely by women.

History

Cardhu was founded in 1824 by John Cumming, a former illicit whisky smuggler, and his wife Helen, on Mannoch Hill above the River Spey near Archiestown, Moray. Helen Cumming ran much of the day-to-day operation, reputedly using a flag hoisted above the farmhouse and flour on her apron to warn neighbouring illegal stills when excise officers were in the area. The distillery's name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Cnoc Dubh or Carn Dubh, meaning "black rock" or "black hill."

In 1872 John and Helen's daughter-in-law, Elizabeth "Ellen" Cumming, took charge of the business, and in 1884 she rebuilt the distillery on a larger scale, selling the old plant and waterwheel to William Grant, who used it to help establish Glenfiddich in nearby Dufftown. In 1893 Elizabeth sold Cardhu to John Walker & Sons, the first distillery the Johnnie Walker firm acquired, while the Cumming family continued to manage it for a time afterwards. Cardhu subsequently passed through The Distillers Company (from 1925), then Guinness and United Distillers, before becoming part of Diageo on that company's formation in 1997. The still house, mash house and tun room were rebuilt in 1960, and the number of stills was increased to six in 1970. Cardhu whisky has remained a key component of Johnnie Walker blends since 1893, alongside its own single malt bottlings.

Quick Facts

• Region: Speyside
• Founded: 1824
• Owner: Diageo
• Status: Active
• Stills: Six pear-shaped stills (three wash, three spirit), operating in pairs for double distillation

Core Range

Cardhu's core range is built around its signature honeyed, orchard-fruit style and typically includes Cardhu 12 Year Old (40% ABV), Cardhu Amber Rock (40% ABV, a no-age-statement expression introduced in 2015 with double maturation in toasted casks), Cardhu Gold Reserve (40% ABV), Cardhu 15 Year Old (40% ABV) and Cardhu 18 Year Old (40% ABV). The distillery also operates a visitor centre near Knockando, Aberlour, offering guided tours, tastings and a retail shop.