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24th November 2020 |
Michael
Urquhart, Gordon & MacPhail former
Managing Director Named 2021 President
of the prestigious International Wine &
Spirit Competitio.
 Michael
Urquhart, former managing director of
Elgin based family-owned Scotch whisky
and premium spirits specialist Gordon &
MacPhail, has been named 2021 president
of the prestigious International Wine &
Spirit Competition (IWSC).
The IWSC’s president represents the
organisation’s objective to promote the
production of quality wines and spirits
throughout the world.
From the beginning, IWSC says it has
placed special emphasis on the analysis
and independence of its judging process
and it is now one of the oldest and most
respected industry competitions. It has
hundreds of international experts -
including buyers, producers, distillers,
sommeliers, distributors and influencers
– judging wines and spirits throughout
the year.
Michael replaces 2020 president Tamara
Roberts, CEO of English wine producer
Ridgeview. He is the first
Scotland-based president since former
chair and chief executive of Edrington
Sir Ian Good who held the position in
2009. Other iconic members of the wine
and spirits industries who have been
president include Baroness Philippine de
Rothschild, Wolf Blass, Robert Mondavi
and Napa Valley winemaker, Warren
Winiarski.
Michael retired as managing director of
Elgin-based Gordon & MacPhail, the
fourth-generation business owned by the
Urquhart family, in 2014 and stepped
down from the board in 2017 after
serving over 36 years in the company. He
travelled extensively throughout the
world promoting single malt Scotch
whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail and
also from the family’s owned distillery,
Benromach.
Becoming president of the IWSC adds to
the many accolades Michael has received
as a result of his dedication to the
Scotch whisky industry. In 1999 he was
made a Keeper of the Quaich and in 2012
a Master of the Quaich in recognition of
services to the promotion of Scotch
whisky worldwide. At the end of 2013,
The Whisky Advocate, one of North
America’s leading drinks publications
presented Michael with a Lifetime
Achievement Award. He was also inducted
to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in
2014.
Michael Urquhart said: "It’s a real
privilege, and I’m humbled, to be chosen
as president of such a prestigious
organisation as the IWSC. I believe this
is a reflection of Gordon & MacPhail’s
standing in the drinks industry and I
thank all those involved in our family
business for their support and
contribution to our success over the
years.
"I’ve always had the greatest respect
for the IWSC and the excellent work it
does in maintaining and developing the
high-quality reputation of the global
wine and spirits industry. I’m very much
looking forward to getting behind the
IWSC and ensuring it continues to work
in the best interests of the entire
industry."
Christelle Guibert, IWSC CEO, said:
"We’re delighted to be able to name
Michael Urquhart as our new president.
The president is chosen for their
stature and reputation in the wine and
spirits industry, and Michael perfectly
fits this remit. He has dedicated his
life to representing high quality
sprits, in particular Scotch whisky,
through his family’s business, Gordon &
MacPhail. We’re sure Michael will
continue to build the excellent,
long-standing reputation of IWSC."
Ewen Mackintosh, managing director at
Gordon & MacPhail, said: "We have seen
first-hand how hard Michael has worked
for our family business and on behalf of
the Scotch whisky industry as a whole.
This is yet more well-deserved
recognition for Michael, and Gordon &
MacPhail, and we’re sure he will be an
excellent president."
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