Gordon & MacPhail to launch 'Private Collection Ultra' range...
A unique and historic series of whiskies has been launched by single malt specialists Gordon & MacPhail to celebrate the steady transition of the family-owned business to the next generation.
Four extremely rare Speyside whiskies chosen jointly by members of the third and fourth generations of the Urquhart family has been released under the prestigious Private Collection Ultra label.
The whiskies are:
A 61 Year Old Linkwood, the oldest ever released, from cask No.279 of Linkwood in the company warehouses, selected by retired director Rosemary Rankin and her son Stephen Rankin, Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of UK Sales
A 62 Year Old Glenlivet initially matured in first fill Hogshead before being transferred to another first fill Hogshead in January 1969, selected by retired Managing Director Ian Urquhart, his son Neil, Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Logistics and Facilities, and daughter Jenny Houldsworth, who is a Non-Executive Director of the company
A 63 Year Old Mortlach from the company’s last cask of 1951 Mortlach, selected by retired Joint Managing Director David Urquhart and his twin sons Stuart, Gordon & MacPhail’s Whisky Supply Manager, and Richard, Export Sales Executive
A 57 Year Old Strathisla, the oldest ever released, selected by current Managing Director Michael Urquhart and his daughter Laura Urquhart, Gordon & MacPhail Brand Manager
Rosemary, Ian, David and Michael are the daughter and sons of Gordon & MacPhail pioneer George Urquhart, who succeeded his father John in the business and established its reputation as custodian of some of Scotland’s rarest and oldest single malt Scotch whiskies.
Michael Urquhart, who will retire as Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail this autumn, said:
“The release of the four whiskies marks a historical period of time for Gordon & MacPhail. Our business is built on a foundation of the long term vision and of the handing down of knowledge and expertise, along with stocks of maturing whiskies, to future generations.
“Embracing this philosophy the Executive Directors, members of the fourth generation of the Urquhart family and the whole team at Gordon & MacPhail, look forward to continuing to release single malt whiskies of the highest quality for whisky drinkers around the world to enjoy.”
The four whiskies in the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Ultra are presented in beautifully-designed decanters, individually numbered, with the whisky details engraved and in-filled with silver colour. A silver-plated neck collar and stopper adorns each decanter.
Wood, metal and glass are combined in a striking and innovative way to protect and display the whisky; the decanter nestles in a glass-bottomed pack, revealing a hint of the whisky colour.
A series of four books by whisky writer Jonny McCormick, one for each of the whiskies, tells the story of Gordon & MacPhail and the whisky and regales the reader with tales of origins and ancestry, of people, place and belonging.
Mr McCormick said:
“It has been a privilege to sit down with each of the four members of the third generation and their children already working in the business.
“As well as revealing a good deal about themselves, they gave some powerful insights into what has made this family business such an extraordinary success for more than 100 years.”
Fifty-five decanters of Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Ultra Linkwood 1953 have been released for sale worldwide; sixty-nine of the Glenlivet 1952; sixty-one of the Mortlach 1951; and sixty-one of the Strathisla 1957.
The whiskies are:
A 61 Year Old Linkwood, the oldest ever released, from cask No.279 of Linkwood in the company warehouses, selected by retired director Rosemary Rankin and her son Stephen Rankin, Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of UK Sales
A 62 Year Old Glenlivet initially matured in first fill Hogshead before being transferred to another first fill Hogshead in January 1969, selected by retired Managing Director Ian Urquhart, his son Neil, Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Logistics and Facilities, and daughter Jenny Houldsworth, who is a Non-Executive Director of the company
A 63 Year Old Mortlach from the company’s last cask of 1951 Mortlach, selected by retired Joint Managing Director David Urquhart and his twin sons Stuart, Gordon & MacPhail’s Whisky Supply Manager, and Richard, Export Sales Executive
A 57 Year Old Strathisla, the oldest ever released, selected by current Managing Director Michael Urquhart and his daughter Laura Urquhart, Gordon & MacPhail Brand Manager
Rosemary, Ian, David and Michael are the daughter and sons of Gordon & MacPhail pioneer George Urquhart, who succeeded his father John in the business and established its reputation as custodian of some of Scotland’s rarest and oldest single malt Scotch whiskies.
Michael Urquhart, who will retire as Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail this autumn, said:
“The release of the four whiskies marks a historical period of time for Gordon & MacPhail. Our business is built on a foundation of the long term vision and of the handing down of knowledge and expertise, along with stocks of maturing whiskies, to future generations.
“Embracing this philosophy the Executive Directors, members of the fourth generation of the Urquhart family and the whole team at Gordon & MacPhail, look forward to continuing to release single malt whiskies of the highest quality for whisky drinkers around the world to enjoy.”
The four whiskies in the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Ultra are presented in beautifully-designed decanters, individually numbered, with the whisky details engraved and in-filled with silver colour. A silver-plated neck collar and stopper adorns each decanter.
Wood, metal and glass are combined in a striking and innovative way to protect and display the whisky; the decanter nestles in a glass-bottomed pack, revealing a hint of the whisky colour.
A series of four books by whisky writer Jonny McCormick, one for each of the whiskies, tells the story of Gordon & MacPhail and the whisky and regales the reader with tales of origins and ancestry, of people, place and belonging.
Mr McCormick said:
“It has been a privilege to sit down with each of the four members of the third generation and their children already working in the business.
“As well as revealing a good deal about themselves, they gave some powerful insights into what has made this family business such an extraordinary success for more than 100 years.”
Fifty-five decanters of Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Ultra Linkwood 1953 have been released for sale worldwide; sixty-nine of the Glenlivet 1952; sixty-one of the Mortlach 1951; and sixty-one of the Strathisla 1957.
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