Tuesday, 21 April 2009 00:00

Family-owned whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail has won a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, following a 94 per cent increase in the value of total exports over the last five years.

The Elgin-based whisky wholesaler, bottler and retailer, which also owns the Benromach Distillery, currently exports around 60 per cent of all its bottled products.

The company has recently expanded its export department and plans to boost international sales, which last year amounted to around £3.6 million across 50 different markets.

Gordon & MacPhail’s success will be announced today (Tuesday 21 April) – the Queen’s birthday – and the award will be presented to the company later this year by the Queen’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray.

Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, Michael Urquhart, who spends about a quarter of his time meeting partners and customers overseas, says: "Since 1895, from our base in the heart of Speyside, Gordon & MacPhail has championed the variety and virtues of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. For over a century we have spread our expertise and passion on a global scale. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is a welcome tribute to the achievement of our dedicated and enthusiastic staff in conjunction with our worldwide customers and suppliers."

"This award is recognised the world over and it’s a great honour to receive it. We intend to use it as a springboard to increase our global sales even further in coming years." Gordon & MacPhail employs 130 people in Elgin and Forres. It stocks around 300 different whisky brands and cares for some of Scotland’s oldest and rarest casks in its warehouses.

Benromach Distillery, which was brought back to life by Gordon & MacPhail in 1998, produces Benromach Organic - the world’s first bottled single malt to be fully certified by the Soil Association. Demonstrating commitment to growing this brand on an international basis, Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the Official Whisky Partner of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race.