Cardhu, one of the oldest distilleries in Speyside, has a fascinating history that traces back to 1811, when John Cumming and his wife Helen took over a farm and began illicit whisky production. Helen is believed to have been in charge of operations, with the farm also serving as an early warning station for moonshiners in the Glenlivet region. According to legend, she would alert fellow distillers by raising a red flag when gaugers (tax collectors) were approaching.
Cardhu was one of the first Speyside distilleries to take out a legitimate licence after the Excise Act of 1823, marking the beginning of its formal whisky-making journey. Over the years, the distillery went through several expansions and ownership changes. After Helen’s daughter-in-law Elizabeth took charge in 1872, she rebuilt the distillery, and the old equipment was sold to William Grant, who went on to found Glenfiddich.
In 1893, Cardhu was sold to John Walker & Sons, with the understanding that the Cumming family would continue running the distillery and have a seat on the board. The distillery expanded further over the years, and by 1960 it had grown to six stills. It became an essential part of the Johnnie Walker blend, though it also gained recognition as a single malt, which began to be bottled and sold in London as early as 1888.
The distillery went through a particularly challenging moment in 2002, when projected sales for its single malt in Spain and France exceeded the available capacity, which also had to fulfill the needs of Johnnie Walker. To manage this, Cardhu single malt was temporarily rebranded as a “vatted malt” (a mix of single malts from different distilleries), which confused consumers. After a brief and controversial period, the policy was dropped, and the term “blended malt” was introduced into Scotch whisky labelling regulations.
Today, Cardhu continues to play a pivotal role in Johnnie Walker’s success. It also boasts an impressive visitor centre, with plans for a £150 million upgrade to tourism facilities across Scotland, including improved facilities at Cardhu. The upgrade will highlight the distillery’s rich history, particularly the legacy of Helen and Elizabeth Cumming, with improvements in access and the creation of an orchard.
