Eleven local apprentices have had the chance to learn their trade on the construction site of Gordon & MacPhail’s new Cairn Distillery near Grantown-on-Spey.
The main contractor, Morrison Construction, has employed four joinery apprentices during the construction period and EJ Parker Technical Services had three electrical apprentices on site working on the electrical installation and plumbing, heating, and ventilation. A further two apprentice stone masons have been employed by AB Masonry at The Cairn. A mechanical engineer apprentice and an electrical apprentice were also employed by Forsyths, who manufactured the distilling equipment at their workshops in Rothes and Elgin before installing it on site.
Ewen Mackintosh Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail commented “We have a strong commitment to our local communities. We wanted to ensure the building of The Cairn helped boost the local economy and we’re really pleased this has involved supporting young people to pursue apprenticeships.”
Gordon & MacPhail’s ongoing commitment to local business was demonstrated last year with the news that more than 90% of the £20m investment in The Cairn Distillery near Grantown-on-Spey had been awarded to firms in the North of Scotland.
The Distillery is due to open to visitors in the summer of 2022 and will offer a range of immersive visitor experiences, whisky tastings and a bistro with a menu shaped by ingredients from the local area.
This will be the second distillery for Scotch malt whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail who bought and re-equipped Benromach Distillery at Forres in the 1990s.
Gordon & MacPhail have announced the new management team who will run The Cairn Distillery, their new distillery on the outskirts of Grantown on Spey, which is due to open in summer 2022.
Distillery Manager Mhairi Winters joins from William Grant & Sons Distillers where she was Team Leader for Balvenie and Kininvie Distilleries. Mhairi has worked in the Scotch Whisky industry for twenty years in a variety of industry roles from tour guide to technical support and production management.
Visitor Experience Manager Andy Kitchin has most recently been part of the team managing the visitor experience at The Falkirk Wheel and prior to that he spent 10 years managing multiple visitor experience teams on board P&O cruise ships.
Mhairi said, “I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the team bringing The Cairn Distillery to life. It’s not every day that a brand-new Distillery of this scale is built and it was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by. I’m extremely passionate about our industry and our products. I am excited to begin commissioning and start creating our new spirit.”
Andy added, “For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a stunning new venture in a wonderful part of the Scottish countryside. I am very much looking forward to opening our doors to welcome our visitors and let them share the Cairn experience.”
The Cairn will be the second distillery for Scotch malt whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail who bought and re-equipped Benromach Distillery at Forres in the 1990s.
The company prides itself on the positive relationships it has built with the local community in the areas in which it works and has been keen to replicate that approach in Grantown. As Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, explained, “We have been delighted by the incredibly positive welcome we’ve had locally. Now we have a local team in place we are keen to continue the process of building long-term relationships with the community and local businesses. Andy in particular will be focusing very much on getting to know people in the local area while Mhairi focuses on the production of The Cairn spirit. I’m sure they will enjoy the same warm welcome we have already experienced.”
Gordon & MacPhail, the family-owned Elgin distiller, has been named a Young Person’s Guarantee Employer a Young Person’s Guarantee Employer after an assessment period which looked in detail at the support the company offers to young people and the career opportunities it provides those aged 16 – 24 years old.
The accolade, awarded in December 2021, is the latest demonstration of Gordon & MacPhail’s commitment to become one of the best places to work in the local area for employees and young people. The company, which has long been a Scottish Living Wage employer and has worked alongside Developing the Young Workforce to provide foundation and graduate apprenticeships in recent years, has also created its first modern apprenticeships.
The news comes after Gordon & MacPhail announced strong profits for the financial year 20-21, with total sales increasing by 1% to £34.1 million from £33.7m and pre-tax profit growing from £9.8m to £13.9m. Continuing to invest for the future, Gordon & MacPhail is not only dedicating resource to training the next generation of the whisky industry but is also gearing up to launch a new distillery, The Cairn, in Grantown-on-Spey in summer 2022.
Over the next 12 months Gordon & MacPhail will offer seven modern apprenticeships, collaborate with schools and colleges to introduce more young people to the opportunities available to them, and offer further foundation apprenticeships.
Alongside the apprenticeships which cover many aspects of the business, from working in the distillery through to working in specialist roles such as finance or international sales, or within the operations team, Gordon & MacPhail also provides young people with career mentors. Supporting those still in education, Gordon & MacPhail also offers mock interview support and employability skills at partner schools, helping young people to consider their skills and interests and identify new career opportunities.
Maya McNeil, one of the young people employed, starts with Gordon & MacPhail early this year as an International Sales Admin Assistant and commented, “I was attracted to join Gordon & MacPhail because it is a long established, well-known business which has excellent values. Because it is a local business, it was accessible to me and meant that I could continue staying in the area. If the role at Gordon & MacPhail was not available to me, I would have most likely have had to move to a larger city to find more career opportunities.”
Jodie Clayton, from the HR team at Gordon & MacPhail, said, “It’s particularly important to us at Gordon & MacPhail to create a diverse workforce that provides opportunities to people from all backgrounds and skillsets. There is a misconception that young people need to move away to a big city to pursue an exciting career, however we want to show that this isn’t the case, and that there’s a wealth of opportunity and talent to learn from in the local area if you know where to look.“We have long been committed to developing our young workforce, now adding the introduction of modern apprenticeships to go alongside our existing foundation and graduate apprenticeships. Achieving the Young Persons Guarantee employer accolade demonstrates our commitment to continue to provide opportunities for our future workforce and ensure we are an employer of choice.”
Aimee Stephen, Business Liaison, Developing the Young Workforce, commented, “It is important for organisations like Gordon and MacPhail to invest in young people, as they are our future workforce. Employers need to capture people at a young age and inspire them on what their business and Moray has to offer, something which Gordon & MacPhail has been an advocate of. Over the years, Gordon & MacPhail has done an extensive amount of work within Moray schools to better prepare young people, including supporting Foundation Apprenticeship placements and creating career card resources to use at career fairs. The manufacturing industry in Moray is a fantastic place for young people to develop and grow and Gordon & MacPhail is a great supporter of helping individuals achieve exactly that through various upskilling opportunities”.
Following on from the mystery shoppers feedback during our recent awards judging, it was clear that we have some great whisky bars. DRAM decided to take a look at the Top 10 and to develop a model that would look at visitor feedback.
We used metrics from Facebook, Tripadvisor, and a combination of other providers, and then applied an average score to allow for population bias. There were a few surprises and a few surprise omissions from the Top 10. We had to use a standard metric so, if you want to get into the Top 10, make sure to get some comments, ratings, and reviews on social media.
1. THE MALT ROOM, Church Street, Inverness
The Malt Room in Inverness won our G&M Connoissuers Choice Whisky Bar of the Year gong this year and they also came out on top in our statistical analysis. Statistically, it is also the best whisky bar in the country! The Malt Room was conceived in a London Airbnb by Inverness native and bar manager Matt Macpherson and Alex Hancock. Over the next few nights while Matt was hosted by Alex they chatted about their shared love of whisky. On the third evening, and several whiskies in, Matt described his frustration that there was nowhere he could send patrons when they asked for a specialist bar where they could drink great whisky. It was at that moment that they decided to make the first (and best) whisky bar in Inverness. And, as it turns out, Scotland. The bar opened in July 2017, and since then it has gone from strength to strength not only do their tastings regularly sell-out but over lockdown it really bedded itself in with more than 240 live Lockdown Gigs. Here is our favourite review and probably the best review of all of the bars in the Top 10: “In summary, two of the best afternoons/evenings I’ve ever had in over 50 years of living on this planet and the Malt Room for me was like I’d died and gone to Heaven!”
2. CURLY COO BAR, Barnton Street, Stirling
The Curly Coo, now in Stirling, first opened in Crieff in 2009, and this bar comes in at Number 2. Owner Mandy Silver opened the bar in Stirling in 2013 and it remains the only whisky bar in the town. It now offers customers a selection of more than 130 bottles, all curated by Mandy who is now an expert. “Whisky has turned into my passion. It’s such an amazing product, that is so lovely and exciting, each bottle has its own distinct taste. I take selling my drams very seriously, and it is very important to me that a customer enjoys their dram; so I like to spend a little time chatting with a whisky drinker, ensuring they choose the right dram for themselves”. I am sure lots of people feel like this customer, “Was in Stirling for a day trip and after a lovely day going around the area we went to the Curly Coo pub (i read about it online), this place is defo whisky heaven, what an amazing selection she has. We had some drinks which were very enjoyable and on the way out i purchased a “curly coo” whisky glass to add to my collection. Was a nice end to our day trip and we will defo be back next time we are in Stirling!”
3. THE ARDSHIEL HOTEL, Campbeltown, Kintyre
The Ardshiel Hotel in Campbeltown has a fantastic whisky bar. You can’t miss the passion for whisky with all sorts of bottles covering the walls and shelves in the bar and the lounge. And with over 700 different malts, many which are rare and exclusive, it attracts visitors from far and wide. The hotel itself was built in 1877 and was designed by John Burnet Senior, a prominent architect of the time and was once the home of one of the towns distilling families. Today it is run by Flora Grant and Marion MacKinnon, who bought the hotel in 2008. A reviewer said of this award winning pub… ”We have a warm welcome, superb table in the bar and the food and whisky selection was magnificent. The bar tender was absolutely tremendous and he helped us find some lovely whisky. All in all this was a fabulous evening, in lovely surroundings and thoroughly enjoyed it.”
4. USQUABAE, Hope Street, Edinburgh
Usquabae is a basement bar in Edinburgh’s West End and has been owned by Caledonian Heritable for years. Dr Chris White, Usquabae’s General Manager, has hand picked a huge collection – over 400 bottles – of whisky for the bar. It too was previously a recipient of the accolade Whisky Bar of the Year.
A customer said, “Wow what a whisky lovers paradise. If you love a great individual meal and drink experience give this ago, food and atmosphere was great.”
5. CASC, Stirling Street, Aberdeen
CASC celebrates its 8th birthday this year. In the heart of Aberdeen’s Merchant Quarter, this is truly an original concept bar and is without doubt a unique. The bar is specialists in not just Whisky but craft beer, Cuban cigars and artisan coffee too. As they themselves say, “we have more beer than most taprooms, more whisky than most whisky bars, more cigars than most tobacconists.” As they explain on their website, “Pairing cigars with beer and whisky is something my old man and I have been doing since way before CASC opened it’s doors in 2013. We knew people were drinking whisky and beer but rarely together, and certainly not with a good stogie in their chops. This is something we’ve been doing for years and it seemed we were pretty much the only two who truly mixed things up.”CASC has a focus on single cask, limited release and independent bottles and claims to have one of the best selection of whisky ‘you’ll ever find’.
This Tripadvisor reviewer had this to say, “If you like craft beer and/or whisky I’d definitely say you should visit here. The choices are great. The amount of whisky on offer is outstanding and there’s just so much choice. We love going here. The atmosphere is always really nice and the staff are a great laugh and really nice to talk to. Also very helpful”.
6. THE BLACK CAT, Rose Street, Edinburgh
The Black Cat is the only independent public house in Rose Street in Edinburgh and opened in 2011. The Financial Times Magazine once named it “one of Edinburgh’s top five places to hang out”. It is owned by Chris Miles – aka Chico. It has one of the largest whisky collections in the New Town with well over 130 bottles. As well as an extensive range of whisky it also has regular quizzes and live music nights and gets rave reviews from locals and visitors alike. “Such a welcoming place, got a taster flight of whisky and a few pints, the guy behind the bar was very knowledgeable with the whiskies and made me a flight to my taste, came over to our table and told us about them which was very nice. Never want to leave this place when we visit, my favourite pub in Edinburgh”.
7. THE MASH TUN, Broomfield Square, Aberlour
Owned and run by Mark and Karen Braidwood, The Mash Tun, situated in the heart of the whisky trail in Speyside is an outstanding whisky bar. Formerly known as “The Station Bar” the building was originally constructed in 1896 by James Campbell, a sea captain, who instructed a marine architect to design the building in the shape of a small ship. A pledge contained in the title deeds, made in 1963 by the owner at the time states that since Dr Beeching closed the railway in Aberlour then a name change was appropriate – but that if ever a train should pull up at the station again then the pub will revert to “The Station Bar”. The bar has over 100 whisky’s and as this customer says, the Mash Tun knows them all.
“Staff are exceptionally knowledgeable on their drinks and food and served with a great attitude despite being very busy. Would come back and stay here next time! Highly recommend for families and small groups. Particularly good for those who like whisky!”
8. THE POT STILL, Hope St, Glasgow
The Pot Still is one of the oldest bars in the Top 10, proving that consistency and great service – and a love affair with whisky – pays off. This is another previous Dram Award winner, picking up Whisky Bar of the Year in 2016. The Murphy family took ownership on 28th Nov 2011 with Dad Brian, brother Frank and sister Geraldine in the driving seat. The bar now boasts over around whiskies from all over the world and it certainly has one of the best personalities in the trade behind bar.
This well-loved bar is appreciated far and wide and this customer says, “Called in while on a visit to Glasgow after attending the Passport Office. What a gem of a place, an absolutely mind boggling range of whiskys to try. The staff were really helpful and knowledgeable about their subject giving me pointers as to which would suit my tastes. The ones I tried really hit the spot, so to speak. I also met a lovely local gentleman there and we had a great chat before he had to catch his bus. If you’re ever in Glasgow you must visit, truly. I only wish that every town had a bar like this, it would be heaven!”.
9. BON ACCORD, North Street, Glasgow
This whisky bar is an iconic bar that sits beside the Mitchell Library on North Street. The McDonagh family have been running the bar for 20 years and, as a family business, they are passionate about their work. They have over 400 whiskies on their gantry, and they say that the pinnacle of their collection is the 70-year-old Glenlivet and the 72-year-old Macallan. It started out as a pub specialising in real ale and pub food, and, over the years, it has grown into a specialist whisky bar. They are home to The Bon Accord Whisky Society and many other whisky societies in Glasgow and they help run Glasgow’s Whisky Festival. More recently, they have even opened an online whisky shop. A regular says, “Has to be one of the best places in Glasgow. Staff are always amazing. Food is always amazing. Drink selection is always amazing. There’s no airs and graces here, they know who they are and absolutely smash it. Been here countless times and never leave disappointed!! Hats off to everyone there”.
10. THE WHISKI BAR AND RESTAURANT, High Street, Edinburgh
The Whiski Bar and Restaurant, on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, offers all day dining as well as live music and an excellent Whisky bar with over 300, mostly malt, whiskies. Anne and Gary Still took over the bar in 2006, rebranding and re-positioning it to focus on whisky and Scottish cuisine.
There are some great reviews on both the food and drinks and this is what one customers said on TripAdvisor, “My wife and I popped in for a few whisky cocktails which were by far the best cocktails that we had on our Edinburgh trip. The bar staff were friendly and we have no complaints towards the service. The bar itself has great array of whisky’s for the connoisseur”.
Gordon & MacPhail has appointed Ben Cookman as Finance Director ahead of the opening of its new whisky distillery, The Cairn, in the heart of the Cairngorms. The new distillery, which is currently being built by the family-owned distillers, will open in Summer 2022.
The appointment will see Cookman play an integral role in the organisation helping to shape and implement the Gordon & MacPhail business strategy, including delivering extensive capital plans and fuelling the growth of the company’s brands: Gordon & MacPhail, Benromach, Red Door and The Cairn.
Cookman brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous role as Finance Director at Greenwoods GRM LLP and, prior to that, his position as Head of Finance at McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd.
Commenting on the appointment Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director, said, “Ben joins us at an exciting time for Gordon & MacPhail as we work towards opening The Cairn Distillery in summer 2022.
“Gordon & MacPhail is known for its commitment to creating the finest whiskies and now, as we look towards this new chapter of the company with the creation of a purpose-built distillery in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, it is more important than ever that we invest in not only our stocks and infrastructure but also the right people who will help us achieve our business aspirations.
“Ben brings with him not only the technical skillset and knowledge required for the role but also a passion for the spirits industry and a desire to grow Gordon & MacPhail both domestically and in international markets.”
Finance Director Ben Cookman added, “I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Finance Director at Gordon & MacPhail and look forward to helping the company achieve not only its current objectives, but also to support investment decisions that will secure its long-term success. One of the elements that attracted me to Gordon & MacPhail is this commitment, as a family business, to remain focused on the long-term future of the organisation.”
The Cairn Distillery will be Gordon & MacPhail’s second whisky distillery. The Cairn will not only produce the finest single malt Scotch whisky but will also be home to a high-quality visitor centre, offering tours and tastings which will attract visitors from around the world.
Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Prestige and fourth-generation member of the owning family Stephen Rankin has been honoured as one of the 50 Most Influential People in British Luxury in the 2020 Power List from Walpole.
The list recognises the individuals and brands who despite enormous challenges throughout 2020, have continued to deliver success in the luxury sector.
Said Stephen, “It’s an honour to be named one of the country’s most influential people in luxury. I’m in great company among some of the industry’s greatest – some of whom I’m proud to call friends.
“It’s particularly poignant to be recognised in such an important year for Gordon & MacPhail, as we celebrate over a century in whisky creation. Despite challenging circumstances, the whole team and I are proud to continue our pursuit of whisky perfection for people to enjoy all over the world.”
Walpole acknowledged Stephen’s role in bringing the company’s history, heritage and whiskies to life in entertaining ways, stating: “With over 20 years’ experience in the world of Single Malt (as well as Wine and Spirits), Stephen Rankin’s contribution to the industry was recognised in in 2019 when he was made a Master of the Quaich: the highest honour possible in the Whisky industry.
“Alongside fellow family members and colleagues, Stephen has contributed to the growth of the 125-year-old family firm Gordon & MacPhail, and the release of some of the rarest and most iconic whiskies in the world. His work today is focused on engaging with consumers around the world, and bringing to life the wonderful story of Gordon & MacPhail through their truly unique and rare portfolio of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.”
Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, Gordon & MacPhail recently launched four extremely rare and unique commemorative whiskies released to honour the Elgin company’s milestone.
Alongside the four commemorative whiskies, Gordon & MacPhail has also launched a new film serialisation charting the company’s 125-year story. The ‘Chapters’ series of five short films includes personal reflections from over 20 contributors, including fellow Walpole Power List honourees Conor O’Leary, managing director of Gleneagles, Simon Cotton, CEO of Johnstons of Elgin and Knut Wylde, general manager of The Berkeley hotel.
The 2020 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards are pencilled in for the 20th October and it will be a real celebration of the last 6 months. Pub owners and hospitality workers around the country have gone above and beyond and they deserve to be recognised. Not only that but we can use the intervening time for some positive PR for the trade. So our social media guru will be on the case on your behalf. As usual, we will be asking customers, sales reps and yourself to get nominating and we, as well as our media partners the Sunday Mail, will be publicising our nominees, finalists and of course the winners.
For us, the awards have always been about celebrating and promoting the licensed trade. I personally take an interest in the judging – as you all know. We have mystery shoppers, and then the sponsors and myself drop in – mostly unannounced. And if you are in the running – you’ll be open and there won’t be a problem paying you a visit. I am as passionate about the industry as I have ever been. Possibly even more so after the last few months having seen how resilient, innovative and caring you have all been. I take my hat off to you all and the drinks companies too. It’s been the worst of times and in a funny way the best of times – because people have rallied round. But you need votes to get into the final six…
The DRAM has always rallied round – and I won’t be letting you down now! Roll on 20th October and our 25th anniversary. It may be a smaller event, and we will be utilising live streaming too. So you won’t miss out on the occasion. So get your customers voting for your now at www.scottishbarandpubawards.com and check out all the categories. Last date for Voting 4 September. The final four will go through to the finals.
A big thank you to all our sponsors too.
Antos Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
BII Customer Service Award
Buzzworks/Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Carling Community Pub of the Year
Cellar Trends Independent Pub Group of the Year
Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year
Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Whisky Bar of the Year
The Sea Change Evolution Award
Kopparberg Best and Most Improved Outside Area
Wee Guide Restaurant of the Year
Wm Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice 2020
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
And there will be a few special nominations for Stand -out businesses and people who have helped the trade through this pandemic.
Benromach has a new look inspired by the Speyside distillery’s history and traditional approach to making their multi-award-winning single malt whisky.
Made by hand for genuine character, Benromach, owned by Gordon & Macphail, is a traditional Speyside distillery owned by a family intent on producing single malt the right way. Its small team of distillers rely entirely on their expertise and senses to make the finest handmade whisky, matured exclusively in first-fill casks, with a subtle smoky character and authentic Benromach taste.
Commenting on its new look,Andrew Hannah, Head of Brand at Benromach, said, “We took inspiration for our new look from the hand-painted sign that used to adorn the roof over the kiln, along with the distinctive red doors around the distillery and the iconic red-brick chimney.
“The design aims to convey the genuine handcrafted care that goes into Benromach and to serve as a promise that every drop is made in Forres using just four ingredients: barley, water, yeast and the expertise of our distillers.
“Although the design for Benromach has changed, the character, taste and quality of our award-winning single malts remains the same.”
The new look comes off the back of numerous recent awards for Benromach Single Malt Whiskies. In May, Benromach 15 Years Old received a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – an accolade only given to a liquid if the judging panel unanimously awards it a Gold rating and considers it to be among the finest products in the world. Benromach 10 Years Old was awarded Gold at the same competition.
The new look Benromach 10 Years, Old, 15 Years Old and 2009 Cask Strength Vintage are exclusively available from www.thewhiskyexchange.com for the next three months.
For more information about Benromach and its new look, visit www.benromach.com
Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled a duo of special bottlings from its Connoisseurs Choice range. The Connoisseurs Choice 1999 from Old Pulteney Distillery is joined by a Connoisseurs Choice 2004 from Glenlivet in a celebration of
the Speyside and Highland regions.
The Connoisseurs Choice range, which marked its 50th anniversary last year, has featured more than 2,000 bottlings with releases from almost 100 distilleries from all over Scotland.
Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail said, “Passion for single malt Scotch whisky has been at
the heart of our family business for four generations, with each spirit hand-selected from distilleries and matched with our casks before being patiently monitored throughout the maturation process, bottled only when it is ready. For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com
Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled its Summer Collection, which includes some of the oldest ever whisky releases from two silent distilleries.
Bottled as part of its ‘Private Collection’ range, Gordon & MacPhail 1969 from Dallas Dhu Distillery is joined by Gordon & MacPhail 1982 from St. Magdalene Distillery, a 38-year-old single malt. Single malts in the Private Collection are personally selected by members of the Urquhart family that has owned Gordon & MacPhail for four generations. For over a century, the specialist has matured spirit from more than 100 Scottish distilleries in its own casks to create a liquid library found nowhere else in the world.
A third Private Collection release, Gordon & MacPhail 1966 from Longmorn Distillery will be available as part of the Summer Collection. The Speyside malt has been matured in a first-fill Sherry butt for 53 years, which has delivered a rich, dark mahogany colour, intense fruitcake notes on the nose and dark fruits on the palate.
Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail said, “Our ‘Private Collection’ whiskies embody the expertise, skill and patience that has been passed down over four generations of my family.
“My grandfather, George Urquhart, recognised an opportunity to match new make spirit with carefully selected casks at a time when the vast majority of production went into blends. Over the decades he was able to master this art which has become his legacy.
“He could never be persuaded to bottle a whisky before he believed it had reached its ultimate peak in terms of quality – a tradition we’re proud to continue today.”
Gordon & MacPhail has announced a 26 per cent rise to £5.1 million in profits in the year to end February.
The company, owned by the Urquhart family, announced that its main trading activity increased by 11 per cent to £31.4 million. International sales were up 22 per cent to £10.9 million with UK sales at £20.5 million – a rise of six per cent.
This year’s accounts include the proceeds from bulk sales of mature single whisky stocks to the value of £8 million. As a result, overall sales increased by 39 per cent to £39.4m with profit before tax of £12.9m.
The firm said that as Benromach had begun its 20 anniversary year since distilling restarted, sales continued to rise, with targeted brand building activity contributing to 22 per cent growth.
Gordon & MacPhail whiskies also performed well with an increase in sales of 14 per cent, helped by exploiting new routes to market.
The company continued to invest in buying new and seasoned sherry casks and fillings from distilleries around Scotland.
Strong performance in premium single malt whisky and gin led to good progress for the UK wholesale operation and the decision was taken to focus on this aspect of the business and withdraw from wine and beers wholesaling in the future.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ range, family-owned whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail has enhanced the range with a series of single malts aged 30 years and above. Over the past five decades, almost 100 of Scotland’s distilleries have been represented across more than 2,000 separate bottlings under the ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ banner, encompassing the entire spectrum of single malt flavours and profiles and featuring spirit from many distilleries that have been closed for decades. The new series of ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ releases is aged to a minimum of 30 years and features single malts from distilleries such as Mortlach, Caol Ila and Linkwood, among others. The premium expressions are complemented by 30 further ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ single malts. Matured in Gordon & MacPhail casks in small batches, all are non-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour. Gordon & MacPhail is also releasing three new expressions in its new ‘Discovery’ range, designed as an ideal starting point for whisky drinkers to explore the wide diversity of flavours that exist within single malt Scotch. Under the ‘Discovery’ banner, Gordon & MacPhail groups new expressions in three distinct colour-coded profiles; ‘Smoky’, ‘Sherry’ and ‘Bourbon’. The latest releases are from the Ledaig, Bunnahabhain and Tomatin distilleries. Prices for the new ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ releases start at approximately £75 RSP, rising to around £500 for the premium expressions.
The first new distillery to be built in the Cairngorms National Park in 15 years is being planned by Speymalt Whisky Distributors, the parent company of family-owned whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail.
Plans for the new distillery, which will be located at Craggan, near Grantown-on-Spey, will go before planners but not before the company consult with the local community. A public exhibition on the plans will also take place over the summer.
It’s a multi-million investment by the company, who also own and operate Benromach Distillery in Forres. They plan to turn it into a major tourist attraction and create local jobs.
As Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director, Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd explained, “Building a second distillery is an important part of our business plan and we have spent some time researching a suitable site. We believe we have found the perfect place for our new distillery at Craggan. It’s a stunning location with strong transport links and can accommodate the distillery, warehousing and a visitor experience.
“The Cairngorms are a beautiful part of the world and we aim to design a distillery which will be in keeping with this wonderful landscape.
“We continue to build our business using our expertise and skill in the industry. The purchase of Benromach Distillery and the growth of this brand internationally over the past twenty years has proved to be a huge success. Constructing a second distillery will enable us to continue creating a sustainable long-term legacy for future generations.”
No decision has been made on a name for the distillery but if planning is approved, building is expected to start in 2019 and should take 12 months to complete.
Speymalt is a fourth-generation family owned business which has built its knowledge and experience of the Scotch whisky industry over a 120-year history. The Urquhart family realised a long-held ambition when they acquired Benromach Distillery in 1993. They reopened it after extensive refurbishment in 1998 and are celebrating the 20thanniversary this year. A member of the world famous Malt Whisky Trail, Benromach Distillery attracts over 13,000 visitors to the area every year. Work recently started on creating a gin distillery and visitor experience at the Benromach site. http://www.gordonandmacphail.com
Scotch whisky distiller Gordon & MacPhail has announced the relaunch of its portfolio of single malt Scotch whiskies with the streamlining of its existing portfolio into five distinct ranges: ‘Discovery’, ‘Distillery Labels’, ‘Connoisseurs Choice’,‘Private Collection’, and ‘Generations’.
The first range to be unveiled is ‘Connoisseurs Choice’, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.
Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige and a fourth generation member of the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon & MacPhail comments, “Gordon & MacPhail has a 122-year history of forging strong and lasting relationships with distillers across Scotland and our loyal consumers. With four generations of experience in the whisky industry, we have continually evolved, innovated, and grown.
“As we begin a new chapter, we are streamlining our portfolio to make it more accessible for our consumers, placing their desire for products with heritage, authenticity, and provenance at the heart of each range. We want to take malt whisky lovers on a journey that will help them explore beyond their usual whisky choices.”
The newly refreshed ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ was first pioneered in 1968 by George Urquhart, second generation of the family, at a time when very few whiskies were bottled as single malts.
Stephen explains“, “When my grandfather launched ‘Connoisseurs Choice’, he was considered eccentric for taking such an innovative approach. This range provided an opportunity for whisky lovers to explore whiskies that had never previously been bottled as single malts. As a result, he is heralded as one of the pioneers of the single malt category. Our ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ range remains true to my grandfather’s vision and philosophy”.
The brand-new ‘Discovery’ range will follow in late spring; ‘Distillery Labels’ will launch in the summer, and new look ‘Private Collection’ range will be released in the autumn; the date for its ‘Generations’’ unveiling is still to be revealed. http://www.gordonandmacphail.com
THIS MONTH WE ASKED SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLE IN THE TRADE TO TELL US THEIR PREDICTIONS AND VIEWPOINT ON THE YEAR AHEAD. THANKS TO:
Andrew Morrison, Sales Director, MAXXIUM UK; John Gemmell, Commercial Director, HEINEKEN UK; Stuart Ellis, UK Sales Manager, Gordon & MacPhail; James Byrne, Retail Development Manager, Molson Coors; Steve Anand, Sales Director, Inverarity Morton; Alan Hay, Sales Director On-Trade, Tennent’s (pictured) ; Peter Risk, Senior National Account Manager, Diageo; Harry Greenhalgh, On-Trade Category Manager, William Grant & Sons UK Ltd. This is what they had to say:-
WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THIS YEAR?
ANDREW MORRISON: Bourbon is the next category to see the type of acceleration we have seen in gin. Whisky to continue to grow with consumers becoming more inquisitive and experimental. Casual dining / food occasions to continue to dominate why people visit the on trade. Maxxium to become the partner of choice in Scotland.
JOHN GEMMELL: MUP will come in to play, with more of an impact on the Off-Trade. Gin will continue to storm ahead in spirits. Craft beer will continue to grow and spread interest in beer, although there are clear signs that it is beginning to mature. Customers will need to pay particular attention to ranging and brand profitability. The other one that I expect to see is signs of premiumisation in draught cider. I remain very confident that the on trade remains in good shape.
STUART ELLIS: Similar to last year we expect gin to continue its growth, locally sourced product will become more and more relevant particularly in the gin category. The ‘buy less buy better’ phenomenon continues particularly within the single malt whisky category as consumers become more and more savvy about what they like and where they want to experiment with new flavour profiles from different distilleries
JAMES BYRNE: Great quality venues, with a range of brands and a story to tell will continue to go from strength to strength in 2018. Cheers to that!
STEVE ANAND:Seasonal and rotational products in every drinks category will become increasingly prominent. We will see greater interest in wines from lesser known grape varietals and countries as drinkers look for new taste experiences.
ALAN HAY: Last year we saw innovation across the licensed trade lead the way, whether it is the types of drinks on offer or the way in which the industry runs. We are witnessing increased usage of digital initiatives across the licensed trade. Services such as MyTennent’s were introduced in 2017 with the sole purpose of providing licensees with a single digital hub to aid the running of their business. In terms of drinks trends, we’re confident that premium serves will continue to grow, and in particular tank beer. In the last few years, consumer interest was piqued when tank beer took a resurgence and we were delighted to install our first tank dispense system in nearly three decades at The Citizen in Glasgow, serving consumers brewery fresh pints of Tennent’s Lager, something we’ll be looking to grow in 2018. We also expect craft to continue its growth, so stocking a brand like Drygate allows operators to tap into this growing trend and capitalise on the opportunity to sell drinks which often sit at a higher price point.
PETER RISK: The trend for premiumisation is still ongoing. We have seen premium spirits experience double-digit growth and drive total spirits performance, which really demonstrates that people are happily trading up in their purchases. Young people are drinking less, but they are seeking higher quality in their purchases – serves are going through a “make-under”. Wow-factor cocktails will always be sought after but lately, bartenders and mixologists are going back to basics with simple, no frills cocktails, focusing on quality spirits and making consumers think twice about what’s actually in
their glass. We expect to see Gin continue to surge in popularity due to the improved quality, diversity, and larger variety of mixers on offer – with the average pub now stocking four Gin brands on their bar. Similarly, we’ve seen a shift in the last few years away from malt whiskies carrying an age-statement, to more flavour-led products which are more diverse.
HARRY GREENHALGH: Continued movement towards premium products, alongside evolving cocktail menus in wider ranges of outlets Influence on the on-trade of key food and health trends like vegan/vegetarian eating, super-ingredients, and cuisines of the world. Success for venue types that combine multiple dimensions like food, drink, and social fun, like outdoor market-style nightlife spots.
AND FINALLY WE ASKED STEPHEN MCGOWAN OF LICENSING LAWYERS TLT WHAT HIS PREDICTIONS FOR THIS YEAR WERE…
2018 will be a big one for retailers when the minimum price starts in May. It will be interesting to see how LSOs are asked to check that the minimum price is being observed and if this will impact on their other duties. Also look out for possible further restrictions being debated such as a ban on alcohol advertising connected to sport, separate tills for alcohol in shops, and possibly more. Later this year all the licensing boards will be implementing new policies. There are already some suggestions that certain boards might be interested in changing licensed hours for pubs and clubs so this could be of benefit to some on trade operators. I also expect most boards to put in more focus on home delivery of alcohol which is a controversial topic at the moment.
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