Cardhu Distillery
Cardhu Distillery is located in Knockando, Speyside, surrounded by rolling hills and soft water sources that define its smooth, elegant whisky style. It is strongly associated with the Johnnie Walker portfolio as one of the Four Corners distilleries.
Founded by Helen Cumming in 1811 as an illicit distillery and licensed in 1824, Cardhu is the first distillery to be officially pioneered by a woman. Two women, in fact: in 1872, Elizabeth Cummings, daughter-in-law of the founders, took over the running of the distillery and set about refining the flavour and character of the whisky we know today.
About Cardhu Distillery
Founded in 1811 and later officially licensed in 1824, Cardhu is historically significant as one of the first distilleries led by women, shaping its early development and refinement.
Its whisky is known for a soft, honeyed Speyside character, influenced by gentle water sources and a long tradition of careful production. Today it plays a key role in blended whisky production while maintaining a respected single malt identity.
Cardhu Distillery Tours & Experiences
Cardhu Flavour Journey £21
If you love a good story and want to explore flavour in new ways, this is the tour for you. Join us on a journey through Cardhu’s fascinating founding by two generations of resolute women. Discover how their inventive, pioneering nature fuelled a quest to capture the generosity of Speyside in our highly-coveted malt, noted for its sensual pour and rich, smooth character.
Your full-sensory, field-to-glass tour culminates in a tutored whisky tasting of drams and a cocktail in our Tasting Kitchen, where you’ll relax in signature Cumming and Walker family hospitality. This tour is highly immersive and uses a combination of light, media, music, sensory moments and special effects that may not be suitable for all audiences.
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Cardhu Collection Tour £29
If you are a flavour explorer, eager to discern different aromas and tastes, this experience offers a deeper dive into the flavour world of Cardhu. Led by one of our whisky specialists, you’ll discover how we create the celebrated Cardhu character, followed by a tutored nosing and tasting of the Cardhu Range.
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Guess Dhu Tour & Tasting Challenge (from) £25
If you love a challenge and enjoy matching your flavour perceptions against others’, our Guess Dhu Tasting experience awaits. This optional nosing and tasting finish to the Cardhu Flavour Journey invites you to test your senses in a mystery whisky challenge in our Cardhu Collection Room. Correctly identify the whiskies, and you’ll earn a spot in our Guess Dhu Hall of Fame!
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Cardhu Cask Experience £65
This experience allows you to sample 6 whiskies directly from specially selected casks that showcase the diverse single malt whiskies produced in the Speyside region.
The Speyside region has the greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries compared to the other regions in Scotland, and our whisky makers have access to an extensive whisky library which can be attested by the casks that they have selected for this experience.
Your experience begins with an introduction to the history of Cardhu followed by a visit to one of our warehouses where we will draw samples directly from our specially selected casks before returning to our Tasting Kitchen so you can enjoy a true taste of Speyside!
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Cardhu: A Nip Round (from) £18
Join us to discover more about Cardhu’s fascinating founding by two generations of resolute women and gain an insight into how our highly-coveted malt, noted for its sensual pour and rich, smooth character, is produced.
Lasting up to 1 hour, this experience is perfect if you are working with a tight time schedule.
Spiriting Around Speyside £225
Come and join our engaging & attentive team at Cardhu for a Speyside Scotch Whisky experience that will live long in the memory. The Speyside region is home to the greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, and our whisky makers have access to an extensive whisky library - which is what will be showcased as you settle in our private tasting lounge and discover the wide array of celebrated bottlings to have been released from both our iconic and esoteric distilleries.
Duration: 2hrs
Cardhu: Experience The Influence of the Cask £45
Your experience begins with a dram and an introduction to the history of Cardhu followed by a brief walk through the distillery before visiting one of our warehouses where we will draw 3 samples from 2009 to 2011 directly from our specially selected casks before returning to our Tasting Kitchen so you can enjoy a true taste of Cardhu!
Duration: 1.25 hours
Plan Your Visit to Cardhu Distillery
Address:
Knockando, Aberlour, Banffshire AB38 7RY
Tour:
This distillery is included as part of our South Speyside Tour and also our Johnnie Walker Four Corners of Scotland Tour.
Directions:
- by car from Elgin: Take the A941 south to Rothes, continue for 3 miles then travel west on the B9102 for approximately 7 miles.
- by car from Grantown-on-Spey: Take the B9102 north east for approximately 17 miles.
- by car from Aberdeen: Take the A96 north west for approximately 38 miles and then turn left onto the A920 for approximately 13 miles. Once you get to Dufftown follow the signs for Craigellachie, continue through Craigellachie to the A941 and at this junction turn right to follow the signs for Cardhu.
Opening Times:
- Opening hours vary. Please visit Cardhu website for more information.
Facilities:
- Visitor centre and shop
- Tasting rooms and experience spaces
- Parking available
- Accessible visitor areas
