Cardhu

Introduction:

Smooth, Balanced, and Silky: Cardhu Whisky is renowned for its smoothness, balance, and silky texture.

Sweet and Fruity It exhibits a sweet and fruity character with delightful mellow aromas.

Widely Known Single Malt Cardhu Single Malt Whisky has gained international recognition, particularly in Spain and France.

Flagship Whiskies:

Cardhu 12 The flagship expression, known for its smoothness, sweetness, and malty profile with hints of pear drops and honey. It serves as an excellent entry-level single malt.

Cardhu 15 A development from the 12-year-old, it maintains the smooth and silky style of the Speyside region while offering more delicate, complex, and rich aromas.

Cardhu 18 A fruitier expression with a longer maturation period, resulting in a sumptuous whisky that retains its sweet and fruity foundation.

Cardhu Amber Rock:

No Age Statement: Added to Cardhu’s core range in 2015, it is a non-age statement whisky.

Double Maturation: It undergoes double maturation in toasted casks previously seasoned with bourbon. This process enriches the Speysider with additional vanilla and spicy notes, enhancing its aroma.

History:

Origin The distillery, initially spelled Cardow, has a history intertwined with the Cummings family, specifically Helen and Elisabeth Cummings.

License Acquisition In 1824, John and Helen Cummings obtained a distilling license after the reduction of duties through the Excise Act of 1823. They upgraded their stills and received assistance in selling their whisky from their friend George Smith, the founder of Glenlivet.

Expansion and Sale After John’s passing, Helen and later Elisabeth continued operating the distillery. Elisabeth made a significant decision in 1893 by selling Cardow to John Walker & Sons. Her family held shares in Walker’s company, securing their future.

Diageo Acquisition Distillers Company Ltd, now Diageo, acquired Cardhu in 1930, leading to a reconstruction and expansion in 1960 to meet the growing demand for whisky.

Brand and Distillery Name Change In 1965, the distillery’s name was changed from Cardow to Cardhu, and the Cardhu brand was established for selling the whisky as a Single Malt.

Production:

Capacity Cardhu Distillery aims to produce 3.4 million liters annually, operating seven days a week.

Water Sources The distillery utilizes water from wells in the Mannoch Hills and the Lyne Burn.

Mashing Cardhu employs a stainless steel mashtun with a copper lid, capable of handling approximately 8 tons.

Fermentation Ten washbacks at Cardhu are made of three different materials: Scottish lark, Douglas fir, and stainless steel. Fermentation lasts approximately 75 hours.

Distillation The heart of Cardhu’s whisky production consists of three pairs of stills heated by steam. The wash stills have a combined capacity of 36,000 liters, while the pot stills hold 31,500 liters. The distillery has expanded its stills over the years, starting with four in 1899 and now totaling six since the 1960 reconstruction.

Warehouses:

Stone Warehouses: Although Cardhu has large stone warehouses, most of the distillery’s production is stored in Diageo’s central warehouses.

Visitor Center:

Availability The Cardhu visitor center is open year-round, with limited tours during maintenance in October.

Tour Options Visitors can choose from various tours, including the Distillery Tour, Classic Tour, Collection Tour

Visitor information:

Cardhu Distillery
Knockando
Aberlour
Banffshire
AB38 7RY
Tel: +44 (0)1479-874635
Email: cardhu.distillery@diageo.com