Gordon & MacPhail Managing Director wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael Urquhart, Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, has won a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in the United States.

Credited with leading the team who released a whisky “that shone like a beacon round the world”, Michael was awarded the title by Whisky Advocate, the biggest selling whisky magazine in the USA and organiser of WhiskyFest, the largest whisky festival in America.

Michael Urquhart is the final member of the third generation to take on the mantle of Managing Director of the independent family-owned firm which was established in 1895. The company offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts and exports to more than 55 countries.

Fewer than twenty people, working in the various whisky industries across the world, hold a Whisky Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award. In conferring the award Jonny McCormick commented: “Michael is impeccably well-mannered and gracious company, yet he commands instinctive, razor-sharp business acumen too: what better qualities to represent Scotland and Scotch whisky around the world?

“A Master of the Quaich, Michael’s tireless energies are focused on driving forward exports of Scotch whisky, particularly Benromach, to new and existing markets. This ensures he is constantly traveling to the fifty or more markets they supply.”

A century on from its beginnings in a shop in Elgin, Gordon & MacPhail bought and subsequently re-opened the Benromach Distillery. Sales of its flagship 10 years old single malt have seen exceptional growth since its launch in 2009 and in this current year sales of the Benromach portfolio have continued the same trend. Total sales for the period March to November are up 23% on the same period last year and export sales have increased by 26%.

In 2010 the company launched its Generations range of the world’s oldest single malt whiskies, one of the reasons cited for Michael’s award.

As Jonny McCormick explained, “For the whisky community, the unrivalled release of the Generations Mortlach 70 year old 1938 and Generations Glenlivet 70 year old 1940 shone like a beacon around the world. It was Michael who led the team that designed and launched these exceptional whiskies.”

Michael Urquhart said: “I am deeply honored to receive this award which I see as recognition for the whole team at Gordon & MacPhail. It’s provided a wonderful finish to what has been an outstanding year for the company, with the visit of HRH The Princess Royal to present our second Queen’s Award for Enterprise.”

Whisky Advocate magazine covers all the whisky industries across the globe including Scotch whisky, Canadian whisky, Irish whiskey and Bourbon.  It has more than 200,000 readers and its blog attracts more than 125,000 visitors each day.

Notes

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned Scotch whisky specialist 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 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts.  In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

A second Queen’s Award for Enterprise was presented by HRH The Princess Royal at a ceremony in 2013 at the company’s bottling hall in Elgin.

In 1993 Gordon & MacPhail purchased Benromach Distillery and re-equipped it before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998. A four star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach distillery is a member of the world famous Malt Whisky Trail.

In 2010 Gordon & MacPhail made history by bottling the oldest cask ever released – a 70 Year Old Mortlach, distilled in 1938. They followed this up by releasing 100 70cl and 175 20cl decanters of 70 Year Old Glenlivet in 2011. They have now released the remaining 100 70cl decanters from this cask.

Gordon &MacPhail is proud of its Moray roots and the company, its directors and its staff play an active role in their local community by supporting local charities and sponsoring local events.

Chivas Brothers Wins Rocco Award for ‘Journey to Zero Waste’

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, has been recognised for its green commitments with the ROCCO award for Journey to Zero Waste.

The accolade highlights the company’s pledge to send zero waste to landfill by 2015. Chivas Brothers has already made significant strides towards this goal, with a current recycling rate of 98%, up from 78% in 2006. This has been achieved through a reduction in packaging waste, improvements to the manufacturing process, employee awareness campaigns and events, and the replacement of standard bins with recycling bins in all areas of the business – from warehouses and distilleries to canteens and offices.

The ROCCO awards are the annual business awards of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, and this year celebrated their 10th anniversary with a glittering awards dinner at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew. This is not the first ROCCO win for Paisley-based Chivas Brothers – last year the company won the ROCCO award for International Trade.Chivas Brothers Environment Manager Ronald Daalmans, who collected the award on behalf of the company, said: “The award recognises the hard work being done at Chivas Brothers to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill. It is a great honour to have this acknowledged so close to home, by the Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

“Our strong environmental performance could not have been achieved without a shared commitment from all employees in all areas of the business, of which we are incredibly proud. That said, we are determined to keep improving and reach our target of zero waste to landfill by 2015.”

BEAM JOINS OPERATION HOMEFRONT IN HOLIDAY MEALS PROGRAM FEEDING 7,500 MILITARY FAMILIES

Deerfield, Ill. – Dec. 20, 2013 – For the fifth consecutive year, Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), a leading global premium spirits company, has joined with Operation Homefront as a partner for the Holiday Meals for Military program, which will provide 7,500 holiday meals to military service members and their families at 22 bases nationwide this month.

Beam, and its flagship Bourbon brand, Jim Beam, founded the Holiday Meals for Military program in 2009 to help ease the burden that service members and their families often experience during the holidays. Now in its fifth year, the Holiday Meals program has grown from initially providing 500 meal kits in 2009 to providing 7,500 this holiday season – reaching 15 times more military families than the first event five years ago.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to Operation Homefront and the military, Beam is honored to be a key partner in the Holiday Meals effort and celebrate the fifth year of the program by reaching more military families than ever before,” said Ken Ruff, VP of national accounts, on-premise for Beam. “Service men and women have given so much to our country; this is just one small way we can give back to them and share the spirit of the holidays.”

In a series of 22 giveaway events happening this month, Beam, Operation Homefront and key sponsors will distribute pre-packaged meal kits to military families stationed at bases nationwide, including Fort Campbell and Fort Knox in Kentucky, where Beam produces more than 60% of its volume; Great Lakes Naval Base, near Chicago and close to Beam’s global headquarters; and several other large military communities. In addition to helping secure sponsors and volunteers, Beam will donate $25,000 to the cost of the pre-packaged meal kits, which contain all the grocery items needed for a full holiday meal and more.

“Operation Homefront has been proud to partner with Beam on several charitable efforts since 2008, the Holiday Meals program being a great example of the incredible impact that can result,” said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Homefront. “We have significantly expanded our reach every year for the past five years, and we look forward to working together to support even more of our nation’s military families in the future.”

Since 2008, Beam has worked closely with Operation Homefront, an organization that provides emergency financial aid and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Beam has donated more than $2.5 million to the cause since their partnership began.

For more information on Holiday Meals for Military events or to join Beam in support of this cause, please visit http://www.holidaymealsformilitary.org/. 

Here’s to the festive spirit

As we reach the end of the year, we’d like you to celebrate the holiday season with us by sharing your vintage moment.

We all have them, those moments where the perfect convergence of time, place and people create a memory that lasts forever. Just like our whisky, bottled only when it reaches the peak of its maturity.

Look back fondly and raise a glass for those moments that bring a smile to your face. Share your moment here.

Wishing you the very happiest of holidays from everyone here at The Glenrothes.

Whisky Inspires Scottish Designer of the Year  

— Award-winning designer Judy Clark creates Ardbeg-inspired clothing line — 

Multi-award-winning Scottish fashion designer Judy R Clark has unveiled a stunning new range of tweed clothing for Islay single malt whisky, Ardbeg. 

Judy – who was named Womenswear Designer of the Year at the Scottish Style Awards 2013 and has commissioned bespoke pieces for leading global brands – has designed a collection of clothing which will be worn by Ardbeg staff worldwide. 

The “edgy” collection includes bespoke waistcoats and shorts for women, and matching waistcoat and trousers for men, which have been inspired by Ardbeg. 

Ardbeg is revered worldwide as the peatiest of the Islay malts and Judy has drawn inspiration from the herringbone pattern effect of the peat stacks found on the isle of Islay on the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, where Ardbeg is distilled. 

She incorporated the design into the bespoke, proprietary Ardbeg tweed, which was weaved at the family-run Islay Woollen Mill established in 1881. 

The colours of the beaches, hills, trees and peat are the tapestry of Islay and Judy has creatively woven these earthy tones through her designs. 

To enhance the luxury outfits, Judy added a triple lapel on the waistcoats to reflect the number of World Whisky of the Year awards Ardbeg has won. The brushed gold rivets along the collars represent Ardbeg’s logo and knotwork. 

Judy explains: “Creating a new line with Ardbeg has been wonderful as the inspiration from the whisky and location were endless. From design to the woven cloth, everything was produced in Scotland which really reflects Ardbeg’s almost 200-year heritage on Islay. 

“In addition, Ardbeg has always has always pushed the boundaries of whisky marketing and I was delighted to be able to come up with an edgy line that combines heritage and style in equal measure.” 

After graduating from Edinburgh’s Heriot Watt University in 2006, Judy worked with legendary fashion designer Alexander McQueen before going on to launch her own label.  

As well as her most recent award for Womenswear Designer of the Year, Judy has also won the prestigious JOLOMO award for Innovation and Creativity and the award for ‘Best New Designer’ at The Scottish Variety Awards in March 2012. In addition, she was selected by a panel of fashion experts at ‘Scotland Re:Designed’ to showcase her collections in New York, Chicago, London and Glasgow.  

Carolyn Sanchez, Ardbeg Brand Manager explains: “Judy’s beautiful tweed pieces clearly show how she has been inspired by Ardbeg’s attitude and its Islay heritage. Both brands are extremely innovative in their fields and the combination of both elements has created something truly distinctive.” 

The new range of clothing will be used as uniforms for Ardbeg trial and sampling teams around the world at whisky events. 

Notes to Editors:                       

About Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. 

Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. 

Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and was awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ at the World Whisky Awards 2013. 

For more information on Ardbeg please visit: http://www.ardbeg.com/ 

Responsible Drinking

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.  

About Judy Clark

Judy R Clark is a Scottish designer specialising in hand tailored womenswear designs comprising of Harris Tweeds, Scottish lace and antique fabrics. Her work has travelled the globe showcasing in Japan, Italy, Russia, London, New York, Chicago and numerous platforms around the UK. 

For more information on Judy R Clark visit: judyrclark.com 

NEW SERIES OF TRIPLE MATURED SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY EXCLUSIVES FOR FRIENDS OF THE CLASSIC MALTS™ 

LOVE ORCHESTRATES EXPLODING ‘SYMPHONY’ OF FLAVOURS IN NEW JOHNNIE WALKER TV ADVERT  

Manchester and Shanghai: 16th December 2013: Creative agency, LOVE, has just finished working with British film director, Jake Scott, on a vibrant new TV advert for Johnnie Walker Black Label. Filmed in Bangkok, the advert sets out to capture the big bold flavours of Diageo’s best selling whisky and features a “symphony” of exploding fruits, spices, flower petals and billowing smoke. The iconic Striding Man – introduced by LOVE as a contemporary character last year – is at the heart of the narrative once again. 

Being launched this month in China, the TV ad is part of a wider campaign to engage with a youthful Chinese demographic and introduce them to Black Label as a premium brand with complex flavours; other cities will be targeted next year. The 60, 30 and 15 second TV spots are being supported with outdoor advertising. 

Mark Williams, Creative Director of Advertising at LOVE says: “We were really keen to bring the concept of the big bold flavours to life and wanted to film the ad in real time without the use of CGI. Jake got this straightaway and his treatment felt almost symphonic – as he describes it “soulful’ – and it worked really well for us. 

“The advert also presented us with an opportunity to place the Striding Man – the embodiment of Johnnie Walker – in a social setting. So, he’s at the centre of the commercial, but he still keeps his anonymity and a sense of mystique.” 

60sec ad – http://vimeo.com/wearelove/jwblchina

BTS ad – http://vimeo.com/wearelove/jwblchinabts 

Credits: 

Agency: LOVE 

Director: Jake Scott 

Production company: Ridley Scott Associates, London 

Print photography: John Ross, Ross Photography