Gordon & MacPhail
57°38′51.42″N 3°18′54.04″W / 57.6476167°N 3.3150111°W
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| Type | Scotch Whisky |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| Website | www |
Gordon & MacPhail is an independent bottler and distiller of Scotch Whisky, founded in 1895 and located in Elgin in the north-east of Scotland. It is a family business owned by the Urquhart Family. Gordon & MacPhail is the Trading name of Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd.[1] A June 2023 article in Forbes magazine described the company as an "independent bottler" which "sources its juice" and as "one of the most prestigious IBs in the industry".[2]
Independent Bottler
Gordon & MacPhail has been bottling single malt whiskies for over 115 years, and now bottles over 350 different expressions from around 70 distilleries.[3] In July 2023, Gordon & MacPhail announced that it would stop filling new barrels from 2024 and focus more on its own distilleries.[4]
The World's Oldest Whisky
On 11 March 2010, Gordon & MacPhail made history by launching Mortlach 70 Years Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the world's oldest bottled single malt whisky.[5][6]
On 8 March 2011, Gordon & MacPhail released the 2nd in the Generations series by launching Glenlivet 1940 70 Years Old.[7]
On 20 September 2012 Gordon & MacPhail released Generations Glenlivet 1940 70 Years Old (Release 2). This second, and final, release from Cask 339 created worldwide interest,[8] with a number of these bottles distributed as far as Australia through Alba Whisky.[9]
In 2021, the company released a new whisky which extended the record: Generations 80-Year-Old from Glenlivet.[10]
The Shop
As of late 2022, Gordon & MacPhail's primary retail shop was located on South Street in Elgin and had been in that location since May 1895. At the time, the shop was split into four sections. The Deli, The Wines and Spirits Department, The Grocery Department, and The Whisky Room, which had one of the largest collections of whisky in the world. A news item in December 2022 indicated that a significant change would soon be made. The premises on South Street would "undergo a multi-million pound makeover" in order to become a tourist attraction as the "whisky experience" while the actual shop would be moved to Unit 1 of the nearby St Giles' Centre.[11]
Distiller
In 1993 Gordon & MacPhail purchased Benromach Distillery in Forres.
Awards
In the 2023 International Whisky Competition, the company was honoured with the top prize, “Whisky of the Year” for its Connoisseurs Choice 1989 Mortlach single Malt Scotch. As well, its Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 1997 23-Year-Old, came in third in the "Top 15 Whiskies of 2023" category and the company was also awarded the "Golden Barrel Trophy".[12]
References
- ^ "Gordon & MacPhail". Scotchwhisky.net. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "The World's Best Single Malt Scotch—According To The 2023 International Whisky Competition". Forbes. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Gordon & MacPhail Official Page". Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Independent Bottler Gordon & MacPhail befüllt ab 2024 keine neuen Fässer • CaptainScotch.de". CaptainScotch.de (in German). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "'World's oldest' whisky unveiled in Scotland". The Independent. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Gordon & MacPhail Generations". Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Gordon & MacPhail Generations – Glenlivet". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Gordon & MacPhail Generations – Glenlivet (2nd Release)". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Alba Whisky – Australian Distributor". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ Micallef, Joseph V (7 September 2021). "The World's Oldest Whisky? Maybe Or Maybe Not". Forbes. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Gordon and MacPhail to turn South Street building in Elgin into whisky experience and open High Street shop". Northern Scot. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "2023 International Whisky Competition Official Results". International Whisky Competition. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.