Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo, calls Cardhu the company’s most popular Scottish Single Malt. In Spain, scotch tape has been the undisputed leader in its class for 30 years. But in most countries it is not easy to buy it, because the batches of Cardu are small – whiskey is actively used in blends. It is the basis of such a famous blend as Johnnie Walker Black Label. Unlike other varieties from Speyside, Cardu gives drinks not apple-citrus tones, but honey.
Historical reference. The license for alcohol was received in 1824 by the official owner of the distillery, John Cumming. But his wife Helen was engaged in the production of the drink, sales and promotion. She also met tax inspectors. Obtaining a license did not affect production in any way: Helen was not going to improve anything or increase the volume of the product. I still used one small cube, focusing not on the amount of distillate, but on its quality.
Helen Cumming died at the age of ninety, her son Lewis led the distillery for 4 years. But one autumn he got wet during a downpour, caught a cold and died. And again, the distillery was run by a woman – the widow of Lewis Elizabeth, who started the reconstruction, bought new large cubes, doubled the volume of whiskey, 80% of which at that time was bought by John Walker & Sons for blends.
In 1893, Elizabeth Cumming sold the distillery and the Cardhu brand to the sons of John Walker. But before signing the documents, she set 2 conditions:
- she remains the manager of the Cardhu distillery;
- In every Johnnie Walker blend, Cardu Whiskey will play a major role.
Thanks to a bargain and the skill of the distillery manager, the Walker family was able to significantly improve the quality of their drinks.
The distillery annually produces 3,5 million liters of alcohol. In 1998, when John Walker & Sons had already become part of the alcohol giant Diageo, a guest center was opened at the distillery. And it is also led by a woman – Margaret Walker.
Interesting Facts
The name of the brand “Kardu” changed its spelling four times: from Cardow to Cardhu and vice versa. The last change was in 1981 and for now Cardhu remains.
In 1888, the famous writer and traveler Alfred Barnard came to the Cardhu distillery. He wrote 8 books about the distilleries he visited while traveling around the world. In one of them, the writer mentions the hospitable hostess Elizabeth Cumming and the distillery transformed thanks to her efforts. Whiskey “Cardu” Barnard characterizes as “thick, oily – ideal for blending.” And this description is not at all like a modern light and soft drink.
In 1889, Elizabeth Cumming bought and installed two large stills in the distillery instead of the only small one that had served since the founding of the company. Experts believe that modernization could radically change the taste of whiskey. But not only that is interesting: the old small cube was bought from Elizabeth by William Grant (the founder of William Grant & Sons Ltd.), who had just completed the construction of his Glenfiddich distillery.
In 2002, a scandal broke out, the cause of which was the Cardu brand. Diageo’s marketers, not having sufficient stocks of single malt Cardhu to meet demand, decided to release a blend (pure malt) under the same name, in the same bottle and with a very similar label. But instead of the expected profit, they reduced the level of sales and two years later they abandoned their idea, closing the project. The substitution of a single malt drink for a blended drink caused outrage in the global alcohol industry. And in 2004, Scotch Whiskey Acossiation (Association of Scotch Manufacturers) made changes to its rules: it was forbidden to use the names of distilleries as the names of blends. This decision helps to prevent a recurrence of the situation.
Types of Whiskey Cardu
Cardhu 12 Years Old (40%). Tea-coloured single malt whiskey with a sharp aroma, the most striking notes of which are almonds, heather, pear and a little wood smoke. The taste is soft, smooth, with honey-nut tints. It was awarded the gold award of the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2009, and in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 received silver. Recommended as a digestif – drink clean.
Cardhu 15 Years Old (40%). Fifteen-year-old gold-colored whiskey smells of violets, almonds and exotic fruits. The taste is balanced, slightly oily, with hints of chocolate, caramelized fruit and vanilla. Long dry aftertaste with hints of chocolate and smoke. The scotch won the Silver Award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2014. Whiskey should be drunk clean, as a digestif.
Cardhu 18 Years Old (40%). Scotch caramel color with golden reflections. Complex harmonious aroma with notes of peach, violet, chocolate and almonds. Slightly oily taste with hints of nuts and chocolate. Warm smoky aftertaste. Eighteen-year-old Cardu is drunk neat, or added, according to the Scottish tradition, a little ice water.
