During the whisky boom of the 1880s no fewer than three distilleries were built in the parish of Knockandhu (Tamdhu Knockandhu and Imperial). Tamdhu distillery was established in 1897 by Tamdhu Distillery Co Ltd and is the only distillery in Speyside to malt all its own barley on the premises. The site for Tamdhu was known locally as 'the smugglers' glen', and had been popular with illicit distillers on account of the excellence of its spring water. The name Tamdhu means 'little dark hill' in Gaelic and the malt is a major component of Famous Grouse.
