Gordon and MacPhail — Page 2

Gordon & MacPhail adds two malts to Private Collection

December 15, 2011 by Gary Leave a Comment

Hermitage Wood Finish

Two new rare Single Malt Whiskies are being added to Gordon & MacPhail’s portfolio of over 300 whiskies under the firms Private Collection label.

Sporting re-designed packaging, the two malts have been personally selected by the Urquhart family, Directors of the firm, for their outstanding character and quality.

Two new additions to this collection include Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Hermitage Wood Finish 1997 (45%) from Caol Ila Distillery. Established in 1846 the distillery is hidden in a cove near Port Askaig, on Islay. After finishing in Hermitage casks for 30 months the Caol Ila character is laced with rich, fruity overtones – blackberries and cherries combine with the earthy smokiness of the whisky. Its availability is limited to just 800 bottles.

Cote Rotie Wood Finish

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Côte Rôtie Wood Finish 1991 (45%) from Linkwood Distillery has been finished in Côte Rôtie casks for 30 months and has developed rich, summer fruit aromas with vanilla and roasted malt notes. Linkwood Distillery, established in 1821, is located on the outskirts of Elgin.

1900 bottles have been released for sale.

Gordon & MacPhail’s Joint Managing Director David Urquhart said: “The skill and care displayed in the selection of casks to match that character of individual whiskies is abundantly evident in these two Private Collection malts. These Single Malts provide the whisky enthusiast with the opportunity to discover how the whiskies are complemented by characteristics imparted by casks sourced from some of the world’s finest wineries.”

You can buy Gordon & MacPhail Malt Whiskies from:-

Gordon & MacPhail Launch New Website

September 1, 2011 by Gary Leave a Comment

Gordon & MacPhail, the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, has re-launched its website.

The new site clearly reflects four different areas of Gordon & MacPhail’s business; bottling, distilling, retail and a new trade section which provides details of the company’s UK wholesale and export business.

The New www.gordonandmacphail.com

Key features of the site include an interactive method of exploring the tasting notes of Gordon & MacPhail whiskies, searching distillery profiles and links to social media applications like Facebook and Twitter.

Joint Managing Director, Michael Urquhart explains:
“Since the company was established in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has grown significantly and we now have many different business interests. The new website tells our story more clearly, providing detailed information about the company, our products and services.”

“We anticipate that one of the most popular areas of the site will be the section entitled ‘our whiskies’, which provides users with detailed tasting notes and information regarding 300 expressions of Single Malt Whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail.”

The announcement regarding the new website follows the recent launch of an online whisky course developed by the company, in partnership with Moray College UHI, to help more people across the globe learn more about Scotch Whisky its origins and the production process.

The new portal will be an integral part of the company’s future digital strategy and over the next year Gordon & MacPhail will continue to develop its digital presence which will include a new website for Benromach, the company’s own Single Malt Scotch Whisky produced at Speyside’s smallest working distillery.

You can buy Gordon & MacPhail Malt Whiskies from:-

The Whisky Exchange
Master of Malt
Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists

About Gordon & MacPhail
· Established in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is one of Scotland’s leading independent whisky, wine and premium spirit specialists. The company is owned and directed by members of the 3rd and 4th generation of the Urquhart family.

· The company was founded in 1895 with the opening of a retail shop on South Street Elgin. Operating from the original premises, today the shop is a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike. Stocking a wide selection groceries, wines, spirits and an excellent delicatessen, the retail shop is perhaps best known for its unrivalled selection of whisky – stocking over 1000 variants.

· Gordon & MacPhail is world renowned as a bottler of whiskies from throughout Scotland. The company sends empty casks to distilleries throughout the land and has them filled with ‘new make’ spirit before then are matured at the distillery on in warehouses back in Elgin. The current Gordon & MacPhail portfolio contains over 300 whiskies from throughout Scotland. In 2010 Gordon & MacPhail made history when it launched the world’s oldest bottled Single Malt – Mortlach 70 Years Old – under its “Generations” brand. Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies are enjoyed throughout the UK and are exported to over 50 international markets.

· Gordon & MacPhail acquired the Benromach Distillery, located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres, in 1993 and after an extensive reinstallation project, embracing the distillery’s original character; Benromach was officially re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1998. Included in the award winning range of Benromach whiskies is Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first fully certified organic single malt.

· Finally Gordon & MacPhail is one of the UK’s top independent premium drinks wholesalers stocking over 4,500 products, including 1000 whiskies, over 800 wines, an eclectic selection of premium spirits and a fabulous range of Scottish micro beers.

Global Thirst For Learning About Scotch Whisky Quenched

June 9, 2011 by Gary Leave a Comment

A course designed to give an understanding of Scotch whisky is being launched online in a bid to satisfy increasing global demand from students.

Created by Moray College in partnership with Gordon & MacPhail, the 20 hour online course can be studied anytime, anywhere with internet access. It aims to introduce students to the Scotch whisky industry and covers the history of whisky making, the production process and marketing. A section on whiskies from around the world, including Canada and Japan, is also covered to highlight the differences across the globe.

Delivered along with eight whisky miniatures and three sampling glasses the course also helps to develop skills in nosing and tasting so students can appreciate the general characteristics of different styles and types of whisky, including single and blended malts.

Moray College originally joined forces with Gordon & MacPhail to develop a residential whisky course, which was then developed into an open learning course available as a CD- Rom. Following growing registration from students overseas, from Austria to Australia, it is now available as an interactive, online course – making it even more accessible.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “It is exciting to see more people from different cultures and walks of life developing an interest and enthusiasm for Scotch whisky. By going online, this unique course is helping even more people across the globe learn about its origins and the many different varieties available.

“The increasing international appeal in whisky is also reflected in the growing number of exports of our very own handcrafted single malt, Benromach, which has seen particular growth throughout Europe, North America, South Africa and Japan over the last year.”

Master distiller Jim Cryle is the tutor for the course and regarded as one of the greatest authorities in Scotch whisky. Retired as manager from The Glenlivet Distillery he brings to the course a broad expertise of whisky making including malting, distilling and quality control. Coupled with Gordon & MacPhail’s extensive knowledge and history of Scotch whisky spanning over 100 years and the experience of Moray College, the course delivers an exclusive Scotch whisky learning experience.

Mike Devenney, Principal of Moray College, said: “The course has proven to be a huge success with people from a very broad range of 21 countries, including Estonia, South Africa and Hong Kong, enrolling for the CR-Rom over the last ten years.

“Converting it to an online format was the natural step in its progression. The technology means we can reach a greater audience and interact with students online via assessments and question and answer sessions. New computer animations clearly illustrate the skill and craft that whisky-making requires and students can introduce their own dimensions to the process to see the consequences of their actions on the final dram.”

Further details can also be obtained from Moray College.

About Gordon & MacPhail:
Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts and has a stock-holding of more than 700 whiskies. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In 1993 the company purchased Benromach Distillery in nearby Forres. After extensively re-equipping the distillery over a five year period, Benromach was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in October 1998. The award winning range includes Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first single malt to be certified by the Soil Association.

Spirit Of Speyside Whisky Festival Now On

April 28, 2011 by Gary Leave a Comment

Spirit Of Speyside Whisky Festival

Devotees of the dram and non-whisky drinkers alike will be able to discover even more about the delights of Scotland’s Malt Whisky country this month as the 12th annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival starts.

The five-day festival’s packed programme of over 200 events starts today and runs until the 2nd. May. There is something to suit all levels of interest, from the exclusive three day intensive instruction on offer at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky School to a more light hearted look at the world of whisky with stand up comedian Vladimir McTavish.

Included in this year’s programme is the opportunity to become a Benromach warehouseman for the day, offering enthusiasts a unique opportunity to be initiated into the ultra exclusive whisky world with the chance to take part in the time honoured preparations of the iconic drink before hand-filling a bottle of Benromach as a souvenir of this unforgettable experience.

Whisky lovers can also take part in the Cask Strength Challenge Quiz at Strathisla Distillery, with the winning team taking away rare limited edition bottles of Deoch an Doras 36 Year Old whisky, produced by the now defunct Inverleven distillery.

For those who want to let their hair down while in Malt Whisky country there are a range of exciting daytime and evening entertainments showcasing the best of Speyside spirit including the Coleburn Distillery Fun Day and Ceilidh, an extravaganza added to this year’s programme offering whisky barrel buggy racing and some traditional craic at an evening ceilidh.

Other brand new musical highlights include a celebration of contemporary Scottish music at the Celtic Spirit evening at The Glenfiddich Distillery and the Whisky and Jazz event at the Craigellachie Hotel, where Dutch whisky author Hans Offringa will be on hand to sign copies of his book ‘The Road to Craigellachie – Revisited’ which will be officially re-launched as part of the festival programme offering enthusiasts the change to get their hands on a copy of this whisky themed travel book that quickly became a collector’s item after its first edition was released in 2004.

Over the course of the Festival visitors will have the opportunity take part in numerous long-standing favourite events such as guided tours of many of Speyside’s 50+ world renowned distilleries, including some not usually open to the public, as well uncovering the unique appeal of this amazing area of north east Scotland on a range of whisky themed walks and tours.

Outdoor events include the festival’s famed “Dramble” where walkers can sample the spirits on offer at the seven stills of Dufftown by foot, a selection of whisky and wildlife walks guided by local rangers, as well as exclusive motorised tours taking in the backcountry braes that used to conceal the smugglers stills by four wheel drive or even in an amphibious argocat.

Connoisseurs will have the chance to blend their own whisky at the Cardhu distillery as well as sampling some superb single malts and helping to select the winning whiskies at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards prior to the annual opening dinner at Knockando Distillery.

Tastings will also be offered at a range of other events including the foodie friendly Sweet and Savoury Whisky Pairing workshops at Gordon and MacPhail where guests will receive guidance on how to select the top tipples to complement their favourite foods. Whisky and food will also be the subject of some new additions to the festival programme with tasting tours taking place on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

For more information: Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2011