Gordon &
MacPhail launch four very rare old
whiskies to mark transition from 3rd to
4th generation of family owners.
Gordon & MacPhail the Elgin based family
owned independent single malt whisky
specialists have released more than a
few very special rare bottlings since
they were founded back in 1895 but I
don't recall such a unique and historic
series of whiskies like they have just
announced. The new Gordon & MacPhail
series is being launched to celebrate
the steady transition of the
family-owned business to the next
generation.
Four extremely rare Speyside whiskies
chosen jointly by members of the third
and fourth generations of the Urquhart
family will be released under the
prestigious Gordon & MacPhail Private
Collection Ultra label this autumn.
The four Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Ultra whiskies are:
Linkwood 61 Year Old the oldest
bottling ever released from Linkwood,
from cask No.279 of Linkwood in the
company warehouses, selected by retired
director Rosemary Rankin and her son
Stephen Rankin, Gordon & MacPhail’s
Director of UK Sales.
Glenlivet 62 Year Old initially matured
in first fill Hogshead before being
transferred to another first fill
Hogshead in January 1969, selected by
retired Managing Director Ian Urquhart,
his son Neil, Gordon & MacPhail’s
Director of Logistics and Facilities,
and daughter Jenny Houldsworth, who is a
Non-Executive Director of the company.
Mortlach 63 Year Old from the company’s
last cask of 1951 Mortlach, selected by
retired Joint Managing Director David
Urquhart and his twin sons Stuart,
Gordon & MacPhail’s Whisky Supply
Manager, and Richard, Export Sales
Executive.
Strathisla 57 Year Old the oldest ever
released, selected by current Managing
Director Michael Urquhart and his
daughter Laura Urquhart, Gordon & MacPhail Brand Manager.
Rosemary, Ian, David and Michael are the
daughter and sons of Gordon & MacPhail
pioneer George Urquhart, who succeeded
his father John in the business and
established its reputation as custodian
of some of Scotland’s rarest and oldest
single malt Scotch whiskies.
Michael Urquhart, who will retire as
Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail
this autumn, said: "The release of the
four whiskies marks a historical period
of time for Gordon & MacPhail. Our
business is built on a foundation of the
long term vision and of the handing down
of knowledge and expertise, along with
stocks of maturing whiskies, to future
generations.
"Embracing this philosophy the Executive
Directors, members of the fourth
generation of the Urquhart family and
the whole team at Gordon & MacPhail,
look forward to continuing to release
single malt whiskies of the highest
quality for whisky drinkers around the
world to enjoy."
The four whiskies in the Gordon &
MacPhail Private Collection Ultra are
presented in beautifully-designed
decanters, individually numbered, with
the whisky details engraved and
in-filled with silver colour. A
silver-plated neck collar and stopper
adorns each decanter.
Wood, metal and glass are combined in a
striking and innovative way to protect
and display the whisky; the decanter
nestles in a glass-bottomed pack,
revealing a hint of the whisky colour.
A series of four books by whisky writer
Jonny McCormick, one for each of the
whiskies, tells the story of Gordon &
MacPhail and the whisky and regales the
reader with tales of origins and
ancestry, of people, place and
belonging.
Mr McCormick said: "It has been a
privilege to sit down with each of the
four members of the third generation and
their children already working in the
business.
"As well as revealing a good deal about
themselves, they gave some powerful
insights into what has made this family
business such an extraordinary success
for more than 100 years."
Fifty-five decanters of Gordon &
MacPhail Private Collection Ultra
Linkwood 1953 will be released for sale
worldwide; sixty-nine of the Glenlivet
1952; sixty-one of the Mortlach 1951;
and sixty-one of the Strathisla 1957.
The UK recommended retail price will be
Ł6,250 for each decanter (prices may
vary in export markets because of duty
and import taxes).
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