The Cardhu distillery is our first stop.  Cardhu is a rather small distillery, but it is owned by Diageo, the biggest alcohol company in the world.  Historically, it's medium-aged - it was founded in 1824- and has the distinction of the first distillery to be run by a woman.

Aside from making their own single malts (four regulars plus the occasional special issue), Cardhu is a major component in the Johnny Walker blends.  The tour is fun and informative, and we get to sample several of their scotches, which are all very good.  The distillery is completely automated- it takes two people to run the entire plant, with the second serving as a sleepy backup in case anything goes wrong.  We also get to meet some of the highland cattle that live on the property, including their mascot, Scruffy.