GORDON & MACPHAIL APPOINTS NEW GLOBAL MARKETING DIRECTOR

Gordon & MacPhail, the Elgin-based, family-owned whisky specialist, is welcoming Jo Coomber as its new Global Marketing Director.

Jo brings more than 25 years’ experience in UK and international marketing, with a career spanning luxury, consumer brands and creative industries. She joins Gordon & MacPhail with extensive experience in board level Marketing and Leadership roles and with deep expertise in brand strategy, development and execution, alongside a strong track record of delivering commercially focused marketing programmes.

In recent years, Jo, who is a Fellow of the Marketing Society, has been a consultant, advising on brand development and marketing strategy for companies such as Suntory Global Spirits and Scottish design house Timorous Beasties. Her breadth of experience across both global organisations and distinctive luxury brands will bring valuable expertise to Gordon & MacPhail as it continues to build the strength and reach of its whisky brands.

Commenting on her appointment, Jo said:

“Gordon & MacPhail has a rich heritage, exceptional whiskies and an ambitious brand-led vision for the future. It is a personal privilege for me to be joining the business at such an exciting time. I look forward to working with the team and partners to deliver the next phase of our brand growth ambitions – both at home and internationally.”

This latest appointment reflects Gordon & MacPhail’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its senior team as the company accelerates brand development and international expansion.

Mark Geary, Chief Executive of Gordon & MacPhail, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Jo to the Gordon & MacPhail team. She will bring a wealth of experience to our Executive team and business as we deliver our ambitious growth plan.”

“Her proven track record in brand development and insight-driven marketing makes Jo the perfect fit as we continue to invest in our brands in key markets around the world.”

Jo’s appointment comes at an important time for Gordon & MacPhail, which continues to build on its long-standing reputation for quality, craftsmanship and expertise within the Scotch whisky industry. Her appointment will support the business as it looks to maximise the potential of its brands, including Gordon & MacPhail, Benromach Distillery and The Cairn, in both established and international markets.

Gordon and MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin. Established in 1895, it evolved from a local grocer to a globally respected name in the whisky industry.

For more information on Gordon & MacPhail visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned Scotch whisky specialist. Based in Elgin and operating on an international level, Gordon & MacPhail is owned by the third and fourth generation of the Urquhart family. Bringing together over 130 years of expertise in Scotch whisky production with a passion for building a business that will continue for generations to come, Gordon & MacPhail owns both Benromach Distillery in Forres and The Cairn Distillery in Grantown-on-Spey, as well as maturing and bottling some of the world’s rarest Single Malt Scotch Whiskies under its Gordon & MacPhail brand.
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com

Weekend Packages Announced for 2027 at Luxury Castle

Rothes Glen, the luxurious exclusive-use castle in the heart of Speyside, Scotland has announced its highly anticipated programme of Ultimate Weekends for 2027 – a collection of all-inclusive luxury escapes celebrating the very best of Scotland’s heritage, whisky, food and culture.

Experiences include private distillery tours, unforgettable falconry displays, guided foraging, and a range of bespoke experiences that showcase Scotland’s rich traditions and breathtaking landscapes. New for 2027 is the Ultimate Castle Conspiracy, where guests will spend a thrilling Traitors-inspired murder mystery weekend at Rothes Glen.

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The Ultimate Weekend Collection 2027

Ultimate Burns Weekend with ‘Andy the Highlander’ | 22–24 January 2027

Ultimate Scottish Weekend with ‘Andy the Highlander’ | 13–20 June 2027

NEW FOR 2027 – Ultimate Castle Conspiracy | 26–29 August 2027

Ultimate Whisky Weekend | 12–14 November 2027

Ultimate Christmas Weekend | 3–5 December 2027

In addition to the themed Ultimate Weekends, Rothes Glen offer the following individual room packages:

Speyside Whisky Festival | 28 April – 3 May 2027

Easter at Rothes Glen | 26–30 March 2027

Hogmanay at Rothes Glen | 29 December 2027 – 2 January 2028

Whether celebrating Scotland’s national poet, immersing themselves in the country’s renowned whisky heritage, enjoying festive traditions or simply escaping to one of Scotland’s most spectacular private castles, Rothes Glen’s guests can expect an unforgettable luxury experience.

“Our Ultimate Weekends have been carefully created to offer guests far more than a luxury stay,” said Damian Riley-Smith, owner of Rothes Glen. “They’re an opportunity to experience Scotland at its most authentic and memorable, with exceptional hospitality, remarkable food and drink, exclusive access to Speyside’s finest attractions and experiences that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.”

Cask KD#203
Rye Irish Whiskey – Column Still – Cab Sav Full Term

The micro batch experimental journey continues with the next edition to the Contours of Killowen and this time it’s a whiskey – but not just any kind of whiskey!

This is the first whiskey that went through our hybrid column still – Columbanus. Fully matured in a Cab Sav it showcases the wonderful balance that can be struck between spirit and cask.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE:
Blueberry & Strawberry Tart/pie. A slight lemon zest over almond paste

PALLET:
Mixed berry Jam. Cherry Bakewell especially the almond and glazed cherry part.

FINISH:
Shortbread with raspberry & blueberry compote.

RELEASE DATE

Wednesday 21st October 4pm (Killowen Time)
Price: £65

Purchase Here

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

New and Exclusive: Laphroaig 2007

An exclusive bottling for The Whisky Exchange, we are extremely excited to be able to present this rare taste of a fully sherry cask-matured Laphroaig. After 19 long years in the cask, this is a single malt luxuriating in the marriage of the distillery’s distinctively coastal peat and brine with the rich fruitcake of sherry influence.

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Nose

Coastal peat smoke to start, packed with brine, tar and iodine. Sweet toffee follows, along with barbecued apples and pears, hints of roasted pineapple, creosoted fences, singed raisins and ashy coal stoves.

Palate

A burst of ashy smoke fades to reveal classic, rich Laphroaig character: the sweet coastal peat from the nose is joined by dark-chocolate-covered ginger, raisin jam and damp ferns. A core of dark liquorice is surrounded by earthy and mulching grassy notes with a tingle of anise. Tarry notes build alongside fruit: apple, pear and pineapple.

Finish

Iodine, coastal smoke and menthol freshness linger, with polished oak and roasted apples slowly fading.

ralfy review 1150 – Raasay Hungarian Oak @50%vol:

Crafted By Masters, Perfected By Time; Aberlour Unveils Its Oldest Permanent Expressions

Aberlour, the meticulously crafted Speyside single malt whisky, is elevating its permanent portfolio with the release of new 21 Year Old and 25 Year Old single malts. Built from Aberlour’s signature double cask maturation, these two, highly aged and single batch expressions are a sensory testament to the powerful union of time and craftmanship. The expressions will make their debut at Whisky Live Paris in September 2026.

For the Aberlour team of makers, time is the ultimate tool of their craft, one that requires daily vigilance and sensory precision to honour the decades of hands-on mastery captured within each cask. Under the expert guidance of Master Distiller Graeme Cruickshank, the new expressions have been drawn from decades-old casks, each one hand-selected for bottling at its absolute peak. Released annually in highly limited, small-batch runs, they represent a finite moment in the distillery’s 150-year legacy and an anticipated must-have for collectors, connoisseurs and seekers of rare craft.

A proud showcase of how age unlocks new heights of flavour complexity, the Aberlour 21 Year Old has been rested for over two decades in a combination of American oak and Sherry oak casks. This is the brand’s first annual permanent release, offered at an elevated ABV of 48%, this expression delivers a remarkably deep, complex character, shaped by the casks chosen for its journey. On the nose it reveals a luxurious bouquet of vibrant cherries, spiced baked apples, and rich toffee which leads to a palate of indulgent chocolate and warm ginger. The finish is a delicate, enduring whisper of spice.

The Aberlour 25 Year Old stands as the ultimate celebration of rarity and hands-on patience. Distinguished from the 21 Year Old by its ultra-limited scale, this remarkable single malt was crafted by marrying a small number of exceptionally rare, hand-selected casks; including a single first-fill Sherry hogshead. Bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered to preserve its depth, this rare single malt offers an incredibly refined character, shaped by a small number of exceptionally rare, hand-selected casks. The result is an incredibly refined spirit, offering a sweet and fruit-forward nose. On the palate, a luxurious texture unfolds with indulgent notes of creamy vanilla balanced by the sophisticated warmth of spiced ginger and aromatic cardamom.

 “The introduction of these 21 and 25 Year Old expressions is a proud milestone for everyone at the distillery,” says Graeme Cruickshank, Aberlour Master Distiller. “Having personally guided the 21 Year Old on its journey from grain to glass, I know first-hand the patience, precision and care required to bring a whisky of this age to life. It is the ultimate reflection of what happens when craft meets time.”

“In many ways, our journey mirrors that of a master chocolatier. Just as crafting exceptional chocolate requires meticulous roasting to unlock deep sensory profiles, bringing a whisky of this age to fruition demands absolute sensory precision and patience. By meticulously curating these casks over two decades, we’ve ensured we’ve captured the wood’s influence at its absolute peak, creating the pinnacle of our heritage and the very definition of Speyside luxury.”

Protected in elegantly crafted display boxes, the presentation mirrors the artistry of the single malt within, ensuring these rare expressions stand as the centrepiece in any collection.

Both expressions will be released from September 2026, available at selects retailers worldwide.  To discover more about the craft of Aberlour, visit www.aberlour.com or follow the journey via @aberlour.

Our October 2026 Auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from 7pm (GMT) Friday 16^th October until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 25^th October.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Karuizawa – 33 Year Old Golden Geisha (Cask #3579)

Macallan – 20 Year Old (Carta Nautica)

Ladyburn – 20 Year Old (1966) Cadenhead’s (75cl)

Hibiki – 21 Year Old (Arita Decanter) 2005 Release (60cl)

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

Ask anybody what their favourite whisky is, and at least half the time, they aren’t going to mention what it tasted like. It may have had fruity notes, it may have been spicy, it may have been smoky, but they won’t remember that. Instead, they talk about where they were, who they were with, and exactly when it happened.

I recently asked a friend, who is just a couple of years into their whisky journey, what the best one is they’ve had so far. They couldn’t name it. But they remembered me bringing the bottle round, talking it through, and explaining the distillery’s journey to releasing it. That was enough for them to treasure this whisky as the current undisputed best whisky they’ve ever had.

Whisky’s biggest strength is the stories behind every brand and every bottle, and the fascinating people that are either part of the industry, or finding their way in.

Discover the latest content in the world of whisky, including the journeys of some genuinely interesting people, and some recommended whiskies that make great discoveries for the stories behind them.

Bradley Weir
Whisky Magazine editor

Visit Whisky Magazine

Glenallachie 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak

The fourth release from Glenallachie’s Sinteis series is again exploring how the interplay between virgin oak casks and carefully selected sherry casks can lead to fascinating expressions of the distillery’s single malt.

This release saw whisky matured in Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks, then transferred into rarely-seen Mongolian virgin oak to complete its ageing. This slow-growing species is noted for its tight grain and the intensity of flavour it can impart, with this expression a near-unique opportunity to discover its impact for yourself.

The nose opens with butterscotch, warm pastries, brandied fruit and cocoa, joined on the rich palate by hazelnuts, warm spices, gentle citrus, vanilla and honey.

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ralfy review 1149 Extras – A potted history of Teachers Blended Scotch.