Edrington announces Board leadership transition

Edrington, the ultra-premium spirits company, today announces the retirement of its Chair, Crawford Gillies and the appointment of his successor, Angus Cockburn.

Mr Gillies will step down from the Edrington board on 31^st March 2025 after eight years’ service. During his tenure Edrington has seen sustained growth, with highlights including the opening of the new distillery at The Macallan in 2018 and core revenue rising to over £1 billion.

Mr Cockburn is a Chartered Accountant with an MBA from the IMD Business School in Switzerland and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining the Edrington Board as a Non-Executive Director in September 2020 he had a highly successful career as a CFO, senior finance officer and Non-Executive Director with several major international companies.

He was Chief Financial Officer of Serco Group plc and before that, CFO of Aggreko plc. He is currently Chair of James Fisher & Sons plc, Senior Independent Director of Ashtead Group plc and a Non-Executive Director of BAE Systems plc.

Mr Gillies said: “It has been a privilege to chair Edrington and to witness the growth and resilience of the company and its world class portfolio of ultra-premium spirits. I have been impressed by the Giving More charitable ethos that is at the heart of the unique culture and values demonstrated by its extraordinary people around the world.

“I wish Angus every success in his role as Chair of Edrington and know his background as one of the UK’s most experienced CFOs and Non-Executive Directors will be invaluable to Edrington in the coming years.”

Mr Cockburn commented: “It is an honour to be taking over from Crawford as Chair of Edrington, a unique business that has such a clear purpose in that it competes globally with some of the world’s best-known brands whilst being owned by a charitable trust, The Robertson Trust, and plays a significant role in Scotland’s economy.

“Crawford leaves the business in good health, and I look forward to supporting the Executive Team as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Scott McCroskie, Edrington CEO, said: “Crawford has been an outstanding Chair, helping to steer the company through a period of significant growth despite volatile trading conditions. The Board and Executive Team are grateful for his dedicated service and the positive impact he has had on Edrington during his tenure. On a personal level I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Crawford and have learned a lot from him.

“Angus has been a great support to the business as a Non-Executive Director for the past four years and we are all delighted to welcome him as Chair as Edrington faces into a more challenging trading environment.”

About Edrington

The Edrington Group Limited, trading as Edrington, is a privately owned international spirits company based in Glasgow, Scotland. It produces single malts such as The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes, Naked Malt, and The Famous Grouse blended Scotch whisky.

Fettercairn Distillery closes its bicentenary with an Icon of Whisky Award for Andrew Lennie

The globally renowned whisky house, Whyte and Mackay, is celebrating after Single Malt specialist Andrew Lennie was named Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards 2025 following an elegant ceremony at Edinburgh’s The Signet Library.

Lennie was awarded the accolade in recognition of his work championing Fettercairn on the international stage since joining the house in 2019. The Highland Single Malt, which this year marked 200 years of imaginative whisky making, is famous for its tropical house style, unique production methods and its ethos for doing things differently and naturally.

Lennie has been instrumental in sharing Fettercairn’s enlightened approach to whisky making throughout the bicentennial year. Including, introducing refreshed collections across both the core and travel retail ranges and concluding with presenting the Anniversary Collection – six remarkable Single Malts with a combined age of 200 years housed in a beautiful, bespoke cabinet.

Lennie comments:  

“To be recognised by Icons of Whisky, especially in Fettercairn’s 200th Anniversary Year, is incredible. I have been overwhelmed by the response to this award, and to our 200th Anniversary Collection, with six whiskies that celebrate everything that is special about Fettercairn. Thank you to everyone that has supported myself, especially the team that make these whiskies at Tamnavulin, Jura and Fettercairn”

During the night, Whyte and Mackay’s beachside distillery, Jura, also took home a trio of medals in the World Whiskies Awards Scotland.

Most notably, Jura 14 Year Old American Rye was a triumph with judges, claiming a Gold medal in the Single Malt Islands (non-Islay) category thanks to its finish in hand-select Rye barrels, adding depth and complexity to Jura’s fruity, aromatic and coastal house style.

The award is a tribute to Jura’s bright, community spirit. Nestled off Scotland’s West Coast, Jura’s Distillery has become the beating heart of the community since it reopened its doors 60 years ago. With fewer than 250 residents, the island of Jura and its community shape every bottle of whisky – today the UK’s number 1 Single Malt^[1].

The impressive collection of awards further solidifies Whyte and Mackay’s position as a driving force in whisky and home to multi-award-winning Single Malts, including The Dalmore and Tamnavulin.

Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay

Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador and Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo. In the UK the company produce Whyte and Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte and Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.

In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.

Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.

Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.

[1] By volume, Nielsen MAT 02.04.24. Also number 1 by value in total UK off trade, Nielsen MAT 02.04.24

December’s Outturn is here and with it we usher in a month of malty celebration to ease you into celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. And be sure to download the .pdf of the Outturn to read the final installment of our year-long look at Scotch and sherry.

A TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE

CASK NO. 93.208

CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  9 years

LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BANANAS

CASK NO. 78.75

CASK: Refill HTMC ex-Islay hogshead 

AGE:  9 years

WELCOME IN, 2025

CASK NO. 39.307

CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  12 years

MERRY CHRISTMAS

CASK NO. 115.33

CASK:  1st fill oloroso hogshead

AGE:  9 years

BACON BAKED IN TREACLE FRUITCAKE

CASK NO. 53.471

CASKS:  1st fill & refill bourbon and sherry hogsheads

AGE:  15 years

FROM HEAVY PEAT TO STICKY SWEET

CASK NO. 140.20

CASK:  New oak barrique #3 char

AGE:  3 years

BROWSE DECEMBER OUTTTURN HERE

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American Single Malt Whiskey Definition Ratified by the TTB

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has officially recognised American Single Malt Whiskey as a distinct whiskey category — a landmark ruling that has been years in the making and marks a pivotal moment for the spirits industry in the United States and beyond. The ruling, published officially on 18 December, is set to take effect on 19 January 2025.

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Laphroaig 30 Year Old “Limited Edition 2024 Release” Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

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ralfy review 1059 – Benriach 25yo @50%vol: (Auction 2020)

Gleann Mòr Spirits appoints Matt McKay to reawaken

The London Distillery Company

Gleann Mòr Spirits, the family-owned spirits producer, today announced that it had appointed Matt McKay as Managing Director and Whisky Maker of The London Distillery Company.

Joining the business in January 2025, Matt will lead the revitalisation of the distillery (which operated in Battersea and Bermondsey in London from 2011 – 2020), following the acquisition of the company by Gleann Mòr Spirits in 2023.

Breathing new life into The London Distillery Company (TLDC), which was London’s first whisky distillery since the Lea Valley Distillery closed in 1903, Matt will initially craft expressions from the remaining single malt whisky stocks originally produced by the TLDC. Alongside this, he will also draw from, and blend casks produced by modern-era English whisky producers, replicating the style and character that the Gleann Mòr Spirits team anticipate for the future of TLDC.

Matt brings with him a wealth of exceptional experience in the whisky industry, most recently from his positions as Director of Whisky Creation and Outreach at Dunphail Distillery and Director of Communications at Bimber Distillery, where he played an integral role in establishing the distillery as a leading light in craft whisky production.

Commenting on the appointment, the Company said:

“We are delighted to welcome Matt to the Gleann Mòr family. He is the perfect person to lead the revitalisation of The London Distillery Company, bringing with him outstanding knowledge of the whisky industry, and English whisky in particular. Gleann Mòr has grown significantly over the last few years, and the rebirth of TLDC is an important and exciting part of our ambitious next chapter.” 

Matt added:

“This is not just a role for me, it’s a deep-seated passion, and I therefore could not be prouder to be leading a renewed TLDC. Whilst the company has waxed and waned many times since it was first established by Ralph Dodd in 1807, alongside the highly talented Gleann Mòr Spirits team, I am greatly looking forward to inspiring enthusiasts around the world to discover and appreciate both the past and the bright new future of TLDC.” 

In addition to his position leading TLDC, Matt will also support Gleann Mòr’s wider operations, including ‘Rare Find’ – the company’s highly regarded independently bottled whisky series. Drawing from his extensive knowledge and experience, Matt will support the Gleann Mòr team’s strategic growth aspirations and assist with broadening the visibility and appreciation of the company’s finest single malt whiskies and highest quality spirits.

The London Distillery Company: https://londondistillery.co.uk/

About Gleann Mòr Spirits 

We have a range of distinctively delicious premium drinks brands with an uncompromising approach to liquid creation and awesome branding.

Our Edinburgh HQ and stillhouse, includes a bottling facility on site, which enables us to get our products to market quickly and our development team is constantly on the look-out for emerging trends.

From our Rare Find cask releases, handpicked from the finest single malt distilleries across Scotland, to our extensive range of blended whisky, gins, rums and pre-mixed cocktails, we don’t compromise, and we don’t cut corners. So, when you are sipping one of our sublimely smooth and satisfying spirits, you’ll know it’s been made and selected to our exacting standards.

Our business began back in 2015 from the family kitchen, but today, we a have a production facility and Stillhouse where we produce and bottle unique, award-winning premium gins and other spirit products using modern distillation methods to preserve the richness of flavour and aromas together with the best ingredients to ensure every sip is something special.

www.gmspirits.com

Merry Christmas from all of us at The Whisky Shop!

What an incredible year it’s been for our busy elves here at the Santa’s Grotto of the Whisky World! In 2024, we’ve brought you over 100 exciting new releases, 19 engaging Digital Drams sessions, 4 issues of Whiskeria, 150 insightful blog posts, more than 20 fun competitions, and plenty of great savings along the way. And we’re just getting started — 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger, so stay tuned for more fantastic surprises!

A heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful customers, both old and new. We truly appreciate your support, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with joy (and great whisky)!

Cheers,

The Whisky Shop Team

Michel Couvreur “Blossoming Auld Sherried” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) $249.99

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Email: wine@klwines.com
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