Gordon & MacPhail Sales Executive honoured at Òran Mór whisky awards  

Jim Irvine from Gordon & MacPhail was recently declared Whisky Representative of the Year at the Òran Mór Whisky Awards, held in Glasgow.

Jim joined Gordon & MacPhail, the leading malt whisky specialists based in Elgin, just one year ago and has quickly cemented his place in the company, and among his customers. Jim works across the west of Scotland, from Campbeltown to Dumfries, with Glasgow, Islay, Ayrshire and Arran in between, promoting Gordon & MacPhail’s range of single malt Scotch whiskies, including their own distillery’s brand, Benromach.

Jim has 20 years’ experience in the drinks trade and was nominated by members of the trade, who range from hoteliers, restaurateurs, licensees and wholesalers.

East Kilbride resident Jim said: “I went to the awards hoping that Gordon & MacPhail would win an award, but I had no idea that I was nominated for one. I was absolutely gobsmacked and really chuffed to win Whisky Representative of the Year.

“I’ve been with Gordon & MacPhail for just over a year, which makes the award even more special. It’s a family company with a huge reach across Scotland and globally, too.” 

Stephen Rankin, Director of UK Sales at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Jim has been a passionate ambassador for Gordon & MacPhail since he joined our skilled team a year ago and it’s wonderful that his knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment have been recognised by the trade.”

Benromach 10 Years Old was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Experts Choice category and Benromach Peat Smoke was ‘Highly Commended’ in the People’s Choice category at the same awards.

The Òran Mór Whisky Awards have been running since 2008 and attract entries and nominations from across Scotland.

PICTURED (l-r): Sandy Gourlay, general manager of Òran Mór; Jim Irvine and Sue Buchanan (formerly of Waverly TBS).

Notes 

About Gordon & MacPhail:  

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. 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 55 countries. It offers more than 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts and has a stock-holding of more than 700 whiskies. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In 1993 the company purchased Benromach Distillery in nearby Forres.  After extensively re-equipping the distillery over a five year period, Benromach was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in October 1998. The award-winning range includes Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first single malt to be certified by the Soil Association.

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

About Oran Mor Whisky Awards 

Formerly Kelvinside Parish Church, Òran Mór, Gaelic for ‘great melody of life’ or ‘big song’, is a thriving arts & entertainment venue in the heart of Glasgow’s West End.

It has a dedicated Whisky Bar and is known as a live music venue throughout Scotland. Visit www.oran-mor.co.uk for more information.