Cardhu Distillery Throws a Spirited Bicentennial Bash Honoring Its Heroines

Cardhu’s Bicentennial Bash: A Toast to 200 Years of Trailblazing Spirit

Cheers and Cheers Alike: Cardhu Distillery is popping the cork on a double century of audacious spirit this year. To celebrate this monumental milestone, they’re throwing a shindig that tips its hat to the indomitable women of Cardhu, complete with the unveiling of a rare, limited-edition whisky that’s bound to have connoisseurs and collectors alike raising their glasses.

In a tribute that’s as rich and complex as the whisky itself, Cardhu Distillery is marking its 200th anniversary with flair. The highlight? A free bash, “A Celebration of Cardhu’s Pioneering Women,” set to unfurl on International Women’s Day (Friday, 8 March). Attendees will be treated to a guided tasting of the celebratory bottling, wisdom from a panel of whisky wizards, a crafty cocktail masterclass, and tunes to get your toe tapping.

The star of the show is a 12-year-old Cardhu, aged exclusively in ex-wine casks—a first of its kind for the distillery. This special pour pays homage to Helen and Elizabeth Cumming, the revolutionary duo who brewed up a storm by “defying traditions and pushing boundaries” during the shadowy days of illicit distilling.

Look closely at the bottle, and you’ll see Helen Cumming waving a red flag—a cheeky nod to the days of dodging the law, signaling to allies to vanish with their illicit stills.

Roselyn Burnett, the maestro of Cardhu Distillery’s brand home and a speaker at the event, shares: “Cardhu stands tall on the shoulders of pioneering women, a rarity when we first set up shop 200 years ago. Channeling the Cumming family’s spirit of innovation and defiance, we knew our bicentennial celebration had to be bold and beautiful, just like our history.”

Laura Sharp and Roselyn Burnett, guardians of the Cardhu legacy, alongside the 200th-anniversary edition, are gearing up to welcome whisky enthusiasts—from the local to the global traveler—eager to snag their piece of history.

Eve Murphy, a whisky maven and the brain behind the anniversary blend, adds: “Crafting this 200-year celebratory bottle was a labor of love, inspired by the fearless Helen and Elizabeth. Their spirit of exploration lives on at Cardhu, as we once again push the envelope with this exquisite red-wine-cask-aged edition.”