Cardhu (Cardow) Distillery
Place Category: Distilleries
Welcome the official page of Cardhu Single Malt, the silky smooth whisky with layers of luscious rich fruit, sweet honey and nut all balanced by a delicious dry freshness. In the early days after 1811 Helen Cumming and husband John made ends meet on their farm at Cardhu with a little illicit malt whisky making. It seems Helen ran the still, while John ran the farm. Canny were the Cummings, for when the Excise Men came to check for illegal distilling, they would be invited in. But thoughtful Helen also risked raising a flag, to warn others of their presence. Helen continued to oversee an increasingly well known Cardhu until her death in 1874 at the ripe old age of ninety-five. Now, another strong woman came to the fore. Her name was Elizabeth, and she was the wife of Helen’s son, Lewis, who had died in 1872.
Elizabeth, who became known as ‘Queen of the Whisky Trade’, rebuilt the distillery and doubled capacity, making Cardhu one of the leaders in malt whisky making. It was so highly regarded that in 1893 it became the first malt distillery to be purchased by John Walker & Sons, who to this day consider it to be the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker.
Elizabeth, who became known as ‘Queen of the Whisky Trade’, rebuilt the distillery and doubled capacity, making Cardhu one of the leaders in malt whisky making. It was so highly regarded that in 1893 it became the first malt distillery to be purchased by John Walker & Sons, who to this day consider it to be the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
