At the 7th Annual Whisky Fest
New York, Michael Urquhart, Director for Gordon &
MacPhail, was delighted to accept a Lifetime Achievement
Award on behalf of the Urquhart family, third generation
owners of Gordon and MacPhail from John Hansell, editor
of Malt Advocate, America’s leading whisky publication,
on 8th November 2004.
John says,
“Two or three decades ago, very few single malts
were bottled and sold to the consumer. Most of the malt
whisky went into blended scotch. But this family began
purchasing malt whisky from Scotland’s most respected
and rarest distilleries and started selling the whisky
directly to consumers. It allowed us to appreciate fine,
rare whiskies which otherwise wouldn’t have been
available.
“I have also cherished many visits
over the years to their retail shop and grocery store,
which opened more than 100 years ago and still exists
today. I was always able to find whiskies there which
were nearly impossible to find anywhere else. And now
they have expanded their shop to include an additional
room dedicated to displaying and selling whisky, which
should make way for even more whiskies.
“The only thing missing in their
impressive whisky business was owning a distillery,
which they accomplished by the purchase of the (then
mothballed) Benromach distillery several years back.
Thanks to them, Benromach is now making whisky once
again. We join in with them in celebrating the first
release of whisky distilled under their ownership, Benromach
Traditional, in 2004, and we honor the Urquharts, the
family behind Gordon & MacPhail, with our Lifetime
Achievement Award.”
Gordon & MacPhail, the World’s
Leading Malt Whisky Specialist, was established in 1895.
Within a few months of opening for business a new apprentice,
John Urquhart, joined the company, and in 1915 he became
the senior partner following the death of one of the
founders and the retirement of the other.
So began the Urquhart family’s
connection with the management and direction of this
firm of malt whisky specialists – a focus that
was developed throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s by John’s
son, George Urquhart, and continued today by his family,
company directors, Ian, David, Michael and Rosemary,
who describe themselves as custodians of what their
father and grandfather achieved. The fourth generation
of the family has also now joined the Company, eager
to learn the family business and continue the traditions
of quality and commitment ongoing.
Gordon & MacPhail specialises in
maturing and bottling a wide range of single malts.
The warehouses in Elgin hold casks from over 80 different
distilleries. The whiskies are carefully selected and
then bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. Their current
range includes whiskies from five to 60 years old and
extends to more than 460 different presentations.
The Company enjoys an international
reputation for Scotch whisky, exporting to more than
35 countries where its products are appreciated by connoisseurs.
The Company owns and operates Benromach
Distillery in Forres, which produces Benromach, an award
winning single Speyside malt whisky.
Michael Urquhart, Director, comments,
“The Urquhart family and Gordon & MacPhail
are especially delighted to receive this prestigious
award from Malt Advocate, which recognises the work
of everyone at the company since 1895.”
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