Cardhu Distillery is celebrating 200 years of pioneering spirit that began with founders Helen and Elizabeth Cumming. In honour of their remarkable legacy with Cardhu whisky, including notable bottles like the Cardhu Gold Reserve, we have been working closely with the innovators of today who are at the top of their game, leading in their sectors and achieving extraordinary things.

Founder and CEO of Ujamaa Spice, Jawahir Al-Mauly; Fashion Designer Siobhan Mackenzie; and Founder of Dear Green Coffee Roastery, Lisa Lawson. These women have been selected for their exceptional accomplishments and trailblazing efforts within their industries.

Hailing from the Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland, Siobhan is a multi-award-winning designer known for her contemporary kilts and tailoring that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. Crafting personalised pieces for her clients worldwide, she maintains a ‘Made in Scotland’ ethos that celebrates her heritage while championing sustainability.

Siobhan has dressed world-famous faces in her experimental designs, notably Justin Bieber and Jared Leto. Her work has been showcased in renowned museums and exhibitions, and her pioneering spirit and innovation have earned international acclaim.

A small but revolutionary start-up in Scotland, Ujamaa Spice is Jawahir’s love letter to Zanzibar. Aiming to shorten the supply chain, she devised the idea to collaborate with smallholder farmers, offering them fair prices to support their livelihoods. Ujamaa Spice sources high-quality spices directly to provide fresh, high-quality spices to the UK market. 

Despite initial challenges in educating UK consumers about the true quality and potential of spices, Jawahir is making positive progress by changing perceptions and creating a supportive network, working alongside like-minded people to spread her positive impact.

Lisa Lawson founded Dear Green in 2011, driven by her passion for specialty coffee and a vision to bring high-quality, ethically sourced beans to Glasgow. At a time when the city's coffee culture was still emerging, Lisa recognised an opportunity to introduce something new—freshly roasted, single-origin coffee with a focus on sustainability.

Starting with a second-hand roaster and a strong vision, Lisa grew Dear Green into a trusted supplier for independent cafes across the UK. Today, from a roastery in Glasgow’s Gallowgate, a skilled team continues to roast and supply naturally flavourful, specialty grade coffee.

In 2020, Dear Green achieved B-Corp certification, a testament to their unwavering dedication to ethical trading, sustainability, and responsible business practices.

Cardhu Distillery is celebrating 200 years since its founding in 1824 and is taking this as an opportunity to celebrate the pioneering women of Cardhu's past and present. Part of the celebrations is the release of a limited edition inspired by Cardhu's 'foremothers', Helen & Elizabeth Cumming.

The anniversary edition features the iconic silhouette of Helen Cumming waving a red flag, which she used to signal to neighbours to hide their then-illegal distillation facilities from the approaching authorities. The bright red and gold tones charmingly compliment the use of former wine barrels in the maturation of the edition.

Take the opportunity of Cardhu's 200th anniversary to visit the historic distillery in Speyside and secure yourself a bottle of the sought-after edition.