Manager of iconic retail shop joins exclusive Scotch whisky society 

A retail shop manager, who has been enthusing visitors for nine years in one of the world’s most renowned whisky shops, has become a Keeper of the Quaich at an exclusive ceremony at Blair Castle, Perthshire.

Mark Angus, retail manager at Gordon & MacPhail’s historic shop, was invited to join the international and select society which recognises those that have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch whisky industry.

Mark Angus said: “I am honoured to become a Keeper of the Quaich. I wholeheartedly support the society’s mission to achieve a greater appreciation and awareness of our magnificent spirit and look forward to working alongside such distinguished individuals from across the industry to fulfil this common goal.

“I am privileged to spend my days sharing my passion for Scotch Whisky with visitors from across the globe. It is an industry of continuing discovery and I am constantly finding new and exciting whiskies to explore and share with our customers.

“I am fortunate to work with a hugely talented and experienced team at Gordon & MacPhail. Our retail premises opened in 1895 and we can draw upon 122 years of experience in delivering excellent customer service and whisky education.”

Mark offers regular tours and delivers tastings in Gordon & MacPhail’s iconic Whisky Room which stocks over 1000 different single malts, including many of the company’s own rare and aged expressions. He also sits on the company’s whisky quality panel and selects single casks bottlings for exclusive sale in the shop. The shop also offers a selection of groceries, a well-stocked delicatessen and a dedicated wine and spirits room.

As a board member of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, a judge for Scottish Field’s Whisky Challenge Events and a passionate advocate of exceptional customer service, Mark ensures his team receive regular training and retain excellent product and industry knowledge.

The shop and its staff have been recognised with a five-star retail experience from VisitScotland and three Whisky Magazine Icons of Scotland Awards for retail excellence, most recently this year.

Mark and his colleagues will be delivering several engaging masterclasses and whisky themed events for local and international visitors and whisky aficionados during this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival from 27^th April – 1^st May 2017.

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About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail’s retail shop was established on 24 May 1895 and still trades today providing customers from around the world with a range of products and services including the world famous Whisky Room, a room dedicated to wines and spirits, and a selection of groceries and a well-stocked delicatessen.

Since these early days the business, owned for four generations by the Urquhart family, has grown and has a number of business interests.  The company is one of the United Kingdom’s top specialist wines and spirits wholesalers; a distiller, owning Benromach Distillery in Forres; and a bottler of Scotch whiskies from throughout Scotland.

Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with new-make spirit, and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 60 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade; an honour that was bestowed on the business again in 2013 with a visit from HRH The Princess Royal.

In 2015 Gordon & MacPhail made history by bottling the oldest cask ever released – a 75-Year-Old Mortlach, distilled in 1939.