SOUTHERN COMFORT NAMES WIEDEN+KENNEDY NEW YORK AGENCY OF RECORD

New campaign entitled “Whatever’s Comfortable” launching August 1

August 1, 2012, LOUISVILLE, KY – Southern Comfort is pleased to announce Wieden+Kennedy New York has been selected as the new agency of record for the brand’s global marketing communication services across all traditional, digital and emerging media channels.

The first campaign from the new partnership, entitled “Whatever’s Comfortable,” launches digitally via Southern Comfort’s online communities on Facebook and YouTube August 1. The campaign, much like the brand, was created to celebrate and inspire the awesome attitude of people who are completely comfortable with themselves. In “Beach,” the launch spot for the campaign, we are captivated by a man who owns his self-comfortableness so completely as he walks casually down the beach. The new work begins airing on national television on Aug 5, with an exclusive two week run of :60 second spots – the first ever in the brand’s history.

“We are thrilled to welcome Wieden+Kennedy into the Southern Comfort family,” said Mark Bacon, SVP, Managing Director, Southern Comfort. “Wieden+Kennedy’s global perspective, passion and insight will enable us to build equity with our core consumer and ensure Southern Comfort meets its ambitious growth objectives. We look forward to collaborating with them for years to come to share our brand’s great heritage with consumers.”

“We are really excited to have the opportunity to work with such an iconic brand like Southern Comfort,” said Neal Arthur, Managing Director of Wieden+Kennedy New York. “We are proud of the work produced together already, and look forward to the future of this great partnership.”

About Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort®, a fruit, spice, and whiskey flavored liqueur, was created in New Orleans by bartender M.W. Heron in 1874. Today, it is enjoyed by friends in over 100 countries around the world and continues to grow as an icon brand. Please visit us at www.SouthernComfort.com  and facebook.com/southerncomfort.

About Wieden+Kennedy

Wieden+Kennedy, founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1982, is an independent, privately held international advertising agency with offices in Amsterdam, Delhi, London, New York City, Portland, São Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo. A full-service, creatively led communications company, Wieden+Kennedy has helped build some of the strongest global brands, including Coca-Cola, Chrysler, Delta Air Lines, Electronic Arts, ESPN, Heineken, Honda, Kraft, Levi’s, Nike, and Procter & Gamble. www.wk.com

BenRiach Releases Latest Batch of Single Cask Bottlings

BenRiach has today, 3 August, released the latest batch, its ninth, of single cask bottlings.

It comprises in total some three thousand bottles from ten outstanding casks. Bottled in July, all are available as of today.

Ranging from 22 to 35 years, the release demonstrates the range of multi-layered expressions for which BenRiach is renowned. As would be expected from BenRiach, there is tremendous variety across the ten casks – including “classic Speyside”, peated expressions and various wood finishes (Pedro Ximenez, Tawny Port, Sauternes and Rioja).

Incidentally, Jim Murray was especially complimentary about the delicate influence of BenRiach’s PX sherry wood finishes. In his 2012 Whisky Bible, he says of the 15 year-old: “This is one of the world whisky noses of the year: absolute perfection.”

All ten casks have been hand-selected by BenRiach’s Managing Director Billy Walker.

He said: “Getting the wood right can be expensive but it’s one of the things I’m most proud of since we took over BenRiach.”

And what an amazing range Batch Nine has. Billy’s tasting notes convey a seductive mélange of styles ranging from “waves of damsons, plums and raisins” to “sweet honey with vanilla”, “buttered toast” and “a beautiful combination of peat reek, dates and dark chocolate”.

The cask details are as follows:

1976 cask # 5317 / 35 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish / 54.1% vol. / approx 204 bottles

1976 cask # 6967 / 35 years old / Classic Speyside / 59.0% vol. / approx 339 bottles

1976 cask # 8804 / 35 years old / Peated / 54.9%vol. / approx 232 bottles

1977 cask # 2593 / 34 years old / Sauternes Finish / 44.2% vol. / approx 278 bottles

1977 cask # 2588 / 34 years old / Rioja Finish / 44.1% vol. / approx 280 bottles

1983 cask # 291 / 29 years old / Classic Speyside / 43.1% vol / approx 264 bottles

1984 cask # 1052 / 27 years old / Peated, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish / 50.7% vol / approx 258 bottles

1984 cask # 4050 / 27 years old / Peated, Tawny Port Finish / 52.2% vol / approx 283 bottles

1985 cask # 7190 / 26 years / Peated, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish / 48.7% vol / approx 211 bottles

1990 cask # 2596 / 22 years / Tawny Port Finish / 53.4% vol / approx 624 bottles

Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on these new releases, tasting notes and exclusive product photography.

If you would like to receive more information regarding Batch 9 releases, please contact us on info@benriachdistillery.co.uk

Highland Park to create living tapestry of global fans

The home of the ‘best spirit in the world’* is set to make its fans around the world a permanent part of its distillery through the creation of a new, innovative piece of artwork. The Highland Park ‘mosaic’ is a collection of people’s faces crafted into an image capturing one of Orkney’s most striking and unique views.

Everyone who visits Highland Park on Orkney always says that when they leave, they take a little piece of the Island with them. With that in mind, Highland Park has taken this one step further and given its Inner Circle members a unique chance to be immortalised within the very walls of the distillery itself.

Daryl Haldane, Global Brand Advocate, Highland Park, said, “Today, we feel as strongly about our family as Magnus Eunson did back in 1798 and when this unique family portrait is completed, it will adorn one of the walls in the distillery, meaning that no matter how far away you happen to live from our beloved home, you can always say that you’ve left a lasting impression. It really does bring a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘your face here’…!”

To be part of the mosaic, all people need to do is upload a picture of themselves to the mosaic and in return for their unwavering loyalty they will become part of the distillery’s rich history, by joining our living artwork.

Photographs can be submitted in three ways; by downloading the Highland Park App from iTunes; on Highland Park’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/HighlandParkWhisky or via www.highlandpark.co.uk

* Highland Park is also the only ever spirit to be awarded the prestigious Best Spirit in the World, receiving the accolade in both 2005 and 2009 for its 18 year old single malt.

Notes:

Highland Park

Five keystones contribute to making the Best Spirit in the World:

• Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.
• Cask harmonisation ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Its core range of 12, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malt is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts.
www.highlandpark.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL GOLD FOR LOCAL BAIN’S CAPE MOUNTAIN WHISKY

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, South Africa’s only 100% single grain has added yet another award to its name. It took gold at the 2012 International Wine and Spirits Competition, competing against whiskies from around the world, all tasted by an international panel of judges.

This premium whisky, launched in 2009, has also recently been added to Ian Buxton’s 101 World Whiskies To Try Before You Die, the UK’s best seller offering a definitive guide to whiskies that every enthusiast should taste to extend their whisky education.

Jeff Green, production manager at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, says that the whisky, inspired by the Bain’s Kloof Pass and its natural beauty, is crafted from the finest South African grain, making it one of the most unique whiskies around. With a distinctive South African taste profile, the grain used in making Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is South African maize, the very same maize that was imported into Scotland up until the mid 1980s to make Scottish grain whisky.

Made in a style that allows the maximum interaction between the cask and whisky, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is double-matured, first for 3 years in specially selected oak casks that have been previously used only for Bourbon, and then re-vatted for a further two years in ex-Bourbon cask oak.

The result is a whisky that shows exceptional interaction between spirit and wood. Toffee, floral and vanilla aromas and flavours softened by sweet, spicy undertones, produce a warm mouth-feel and a smooth finish.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is distilled and matured at The James Sedgwick Distillery which dates back to 1886 and is situated near the foothills of the Bain’s Kloof Pass in Wellington, in the heart of the Boland. The whisky pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain, the pioneering road builder who planned and built Bain’s Kloof Pass which connected Wellington to the interior in 1853.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is available from leading liquor outlets and retails for about R200 per 750ml bottle.

THREE SHIPS SAILS IN LIQUID GOLD

The Three Ships whisky fleet is celebrating two gold medals received at the 2012 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish and The Three Ships Premium Select 5 year old both ensured that this proudly South African brand rubs shoulders with some of the best whiskies in the world. The announcement comes only months after the Three Ships Premium Select 5 year old took the title as World’s Best Blended Whisky at the annual Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards.

According to master distiller Andy Watts, it’s an honour to receive gold medals for two such different whiskies, both produced at The James Sedgwick Distillery situated in the Boland town of Wellington.

“We have since the brand’s inception always strived to produce whiskies of not only exceptional quality but that could also stand proud within their own right. These two whiskies could not have been more different in taste profile from each other, indicating that the diversity we create here is a winning recipe.

“The Three Ships Premium Select 5 year old is an artful blend of selected South African and Scotch whiskies, combining heavily peated malted barley and grain, and matured for five years in American oak, where as the Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish uses unpeated malted barley and grain whiskies, matured for the initial three year period in Bourbon casks with a further six months spent in first-fill American Bourbon Casks for a marrying period.

The Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish is South Africa’s first 100% blended whisky, with both the malt and grain whiskies being distilled and matured at The James Sedgwick Distillery. The whisky is soft, estery and warm on the nose, leading to a soft honeyed sweetness with vanilla notes on the palate. The finish is lingering with subtle hints of pepper and spice. In contrast the Three Ships Premium Select 5 year old is robust, aromatic and unpretentious. A full peaty character on the palate leads to an extended warm finish.

The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select and Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish are available from leading liquor outlets and retails for about R115 and R130 respectively.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Sixth Round of Single Oak Project Bourbon

Barrel #106 leads the online voting so far and more votes wanted!

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug., 2012) – Buffalo Trace Distillery launches its sixth round of Single Oak Project Bourbons, known as the 105 Proof Warehouse L Release.

As the moniker indicates, all the bourbons in this release were aged in Warehouse L and entered into the barrel at 105 proof. This allows this release to focus on three other variables, the recipe, rye vs. wheat; the char level, a number three vs. a number four char; and wood grain size, tight, average, or coarse. All of the other variables such as stave seasoning, aging warehouse, entry proof, and tree cut (top or bottom) remain constant.

Warehouse L is considered by many to be the best all-around aging warehouse at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Longtime Warehouse Operations Manager Leonard Riddle proudly defends Warehouse L as his favorite; the Distillery even dedicated this warehouse to Leonard in 2011. This brick warehouse with five concrete floors and concrete walls create a very concentrated aging environment.

But the most exciting part of this sixth release to Buffalo Trace’s Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley is hearing what people think about the 105 entry proof, since entry proof has always been a hot button amongst Master Distillers. “We experimented with many variables and tried to use the most profound. Entry proof is one that has been debated for decades and we are able to offer to the public different variables to get a good look at how it affects flavor.”

So far, nearly 1,800 industry expert and consumer reviews have been given on the five various Single Oak Project releases, and Buffalo Trace is looking forward to receiving many more as consumers get into the project, log in and create accounts to give feedback.

After one year into the Single Oak Project experiment this May, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced there were three barrels in the lead, 10, 106 and 184. Since then, 106 has pulled away as the leader, according to online reviews at www.singleoakproject.com.

“This Single Oak Project experiment is a rare occasion for whiskey connoisseurs to be heard, offer their expertise, and help develop the next great bourbon,” said Kris Comstock, brand manager. “We just hope consumers continue to weigh in with their reviews online.”

After a consumer reviews a bottle online, they will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, actively participate in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s quest to create the perfect bourbon!

The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first releases hit select stores in 2011. This sixth release will reach stores towards the end of August. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The sixth release is made up of barrel numbers 30, 32, 62, 64, 94, 96, 126, 128, 158, 160, 190, 192. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.

At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated barrel based on online consumer feedback, make more of that product and launch it under the Single Oak Project nameplate.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Ka Va Lan Whisky in Canada

Sitting on the east coast, Ka Va Lan is the only single malt whisky distillery in Taiwan. (See Mark Gillespie’s Whisky Cast on Ka Va Lan: http://youtu.be/WVIHFPFONB0). The Ka Va Lan Distillery is owned by one of the largest food group “King Car” in Taiwan. With the ambition to craft the best whisky from Taiwan, the whisky team spent one month in 2003 in Scotland in search of the perfect distill shape and variation in whisky making.

Ka Va Lan obtained consultation from Dr. Jim Swan on crafting the whisky flavours fitting for a hot and humid tropical weather in Taiwan. To date, there are four single casks variation and three single malts. The ex-bourbon and ex-sherry single casks are aged for more than three years where angel share is around 10 to 15%.

(Due to the tropical climate, the maturation of three years is comparable to that of 15 – 18 years)

The whisky distillery was built in 2005 with a purpose to be a tourism destination. The current visitor center can easily accommodate a couple thousand people with a Costco sized cafeteria to showcase the King Car group of products. Currently there are 45,000 barrels in the aging process.

Some virtual reality 360 view of the distillery

Lobby: http://vr.17high.com.tw/Entertainment/Yilan/Kingcar_Whisky/vr-03.html (this sure looks like a hotel grand lobby).

View of the warehouse and column distills: http://vr.17high.com.tw/Entertainment/Yilan/Kingcar_Whisky/vr-09.html

Outside the distillery: http://vr.17high.com.tw/Entertainment/Yilan/Kingcar_Whisky/vr-06.html 

The ex-bourbon and ex-sherry single casks are being offered exclusively at Kensington Wine Market in Calgary.

World’s First Constellation Collection Sold to US Buyer

The world’s first Dalmore Constellation Collection has been sold through The Whisky Shop in the UK to a US based investor.

Mahesh Patel, an American entrepreneur and property developer, purchased the 21 bottles for £158,000 to add to his already considerable collection estimated to be worth $2 million. This includes the Dalmore Trinitas, which was the first bottle of whisky to sell for a six figure sum in 2010.

Patel has purchased set 13 as it’s his lucky number.

The Dalmore Constellation Collection consists of 21 individual whiskies created at the Highland distillery between the years 1964 and 1992. They have spent their lives finessing in the finest casks from around the world before being bottled at natural cask strength and at natural colour.

Prices range from £2,000 for a bottle of Vintage 1992 up to £20,000 RSP for a bottle of the Vintage 1964. Only 9 full set collections will be available and showcased in iconic cities across the world, including London, Paris, Moscow, Miami, New York, LA, Berlin, Hong Kong and Edinburgh.

The Whisky Shop is the first high street retailer in the world to stock the Dalmore collection.

The sale of the collection comes on the back of the news that The Dalmore is the fastest growing malt whisky in the world amongst the top 25 global malt brands, as verified by the IWSR (International Wine & Spirits Research), and is rated the top investment whisky by independent authority Whisky Highland.

Mahesh Patel:

“The Dalmore is up there with the best when it comes to quality, rarity and investment – and of course taste.

“I’m a big fan and I am delighted to get the set inscribed with my lucky number 13, and that is why I bought it from The Whisky Shop. The Constellation will have pride of place in my collection.”

Andrew Torrance, Managing Director, The Whisky Shop:

“The creation and sale of this prestigious collection shows that whisky goes from strength to strength. We have seen sales increase in the last year, and in a really tough economic climate. And premium bottlings like this have grown in our stores.”

http://www.whiskyshop.com

NOTES

The Dalmore

Dating back to the days of King Alexander III, The Dalmore gained its iconic 12-point stag emblem in 1263 when one of the Mackenzie clan saved the king from being gored by a stag.

Unlike other whiskies The Dalmore is produced in very limited quantities. Due to the distinctive distillation process no two batches will be exactly the same, ensuring that each release of the The Dalmore is unique.

A bottle of The Dalmore 62 Sinclair sold last year in Changi Airport, Singapore, for £125,000, making it the most expensive bottle ever sold in retail. The first whisky to break the six figure barrier, The Dalmore Trinitas, was launched in 2010 with only three bottles made available. Two were sold for £100,000 and the final bottle was acquired by Harrods and subsequently sold for £120,000 within 6 months of launch.

In the last two years The Dalmore has sold a number of rare and precious whiskies in record time. Dalmore’s Sirius peaked at £10,000 a bottle, and with only 12 available worldwide in 2009, the bottles sold out in four days and now change hands for twice that price.

Prince Harry’s Royal Salute Team Wins the Kent & Curwen Cup

The Royal Salute team triumphed at the Kent and Curwen Cup on Saturday, narrowly defeating the Westcombe Group team, 7-6.

Hosted by Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber at Watership Down, their family estate in Berkshire, Prince Harry’s Royal Salute Team contested a closely fought match, emerging victorious.

The Best Player prize was awarded to Leonora De Ferranti from the Westcombe Group team.

The glamorous event, attended by Lady Gabriella Windsor, Kate Silverton, and singer and actor Aaron Kwok (Kent and Curwen Brand Ambassador), raised funds for the Tusk Trust and Sentebale charities, whose patrons are The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Neil Macdonald, Brand Director of Royal Salute said: “It was great that the British summer weather finally arrived for the royal charity polo match at Watership Down, a place that is surely one of the most beautiful venues for polo in the UK. We’re proud to have supported this prestigious event and we were thrilled to see the Royal Salute team take the trophy, after a closely fought game.”

Royal Salute Scotch Whisky is one of the world’s leading sponsors of international polo, with events that include:

• Australia Sydney Gold Cup, Sydney
• Brazil Copa Ouro Championship, Indaiatuba, São Paulo
• Brazil Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup 2011, Campinas, São Paulo State
• China Royal Salute China Open, Beijing
• India Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup
• South Korea Royal Salute Gold Cup, Jeju
• Spain Santa Maria Club Snow Polo, Sierra Nevada
• Spain: Sotogrande Polo Cup, Cadiz
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup, Dubai
• USA Royal Salute CV Whitney Cup, West Palm Beach, Florida

Notes

Teams

ROYAL SALUTE
1. Jonathan Munro Ford (-1)
2. Prince Harry (1)
3. Jonny Good (5)
4. Juan Cruz Guevara (6)

TOTAL 11

WESTCOMBE GROUP
1. Kola Karim (-1)
2. Leonora De Ferranti (0)
3. William Emerson (5)
4. Juan Ambroggio (6)

TOTAL 10

Royal Salute Scotch Whisky

Royal Salute starts where other whiskies end, as only the most precious Scotch whiskies aged for a minimum of 21 years are used to create its powerful and sophisticated blend.

The Royal Salute range includes Royal Salute 21 Year Old, Royal Salute Hundred Cask Selection, Royal Salute 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny, and Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – the oldest permanent whisky expression in the world, with whiskies aged for a minimum of 40 years. Royal Salute has also released a number of limited editions including Royal Salute 50 Year Old and Royal Salute Tribute to Honour.

Special RAF whisky commission raises £10k for local charities

An exclusive whisky produced by independent bottlers, Gordon & MacPhail, to commemorate RAF Kinloss has raised £10,000 for charities.

The Limited Edition Blended Malt ‘The Last Hunter’ was produced and named to not only mark the closure of RAF Kinloss, but also to reflect the 73 years of continuous RAF service at the station.

Named after the Nimrod surveillance aircraft, which were based at RAF Kinloss, the whisky was bottled at 41.6% abv. Incorporating a 25-year old Speyside Single Malt blended with a Speyside Single Malt from 1939, to mark the 73 years, it has a rare and unique make-up.

Only a single cask was bottled, producing just under 500 bottles, and were devised as a memento for past and present personnel.

Station Commander Group Captain JCM Johnston from RAF Kinloss, was presented with the cheque from David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail.

It is planned the proceeds will go to a number of national and local charities.

Flt Sgt Kevin Hastie said; “Response to the sale of The Last Hunter was absolutely amazing to the point that the limited number of bottles were not enough. However, it wasn’t about the quantity, it was about producing a high quality reminder for people to remember the station by.

“It is very satisfying to us all that the station is able to mark our closure with a final contribution towards over 50 local and national charities including The MacMillan Hospice, Friends of the Grove, Dr Gray’s Children’s Ward as well as military charities such as Help for Heroes, SSAFA and BLESMA”.

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail added; “We were proud to have been commissioned to produce such a special bottle of whisky. The Last Hunter is an exclusive, one-off, blended whisky to commemorate RAF Kinloss, which has been a huge part of the local community for over 73 years. It’s great that so much money raised by the proceeds will be donated to many local charities. And, we hope everyone who purchased a bottle enjoy it.”

Notes:

· Pictured: Group Captain Johnston with David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, Project Officer Flight Sergeant Kevin Hastie and Mrs Marie Bowron.

· The presentation between Gordon & MacPhail and RAF Kinloss took place on 25 July 2012

· RAF Kinloss handed the base over to the Army (39 Engineer Regiment) on 26 July.

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have 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 founding, 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 Queens 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 fully certified by the Soil Association.