Gordon & MacPhail
Gordon & MacPhail was born in the heart of the Speyside region and more precisely in Elgin, considered the Scottish home of Whisky. It all began in 1895 when James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail founded a grocery business that distributed products from all over the world, such as tea, coffee, wines, and spirits. Over the years, they became increasingly specialized in Speyside Single Malts. The turning point came in the early 1900s when the young John Urquhart joined the business. Under James's wing, they selected and purchased the best Whiskies from distilleries, aged them in selected oak casks, and bottled them under their own “brand”. The boy learned quickly, driven by his passion for scotch, and within a few years became a master of Speyside.
In 1933, the baton passed to George Urquhart, James's son, who expanded the knowledge branch and further perfected the aging process. During these years, Gordon & MacPhail already dominated the market of the Highlands, becoming a reference point for Whisky outside the region, and, thanks to the high stocks, it also managed to establish itself during the turbulent period of World War II. George left his legacy in the hands of his son Ian, who, before becoming CEO, undertook a long training period in the world of spirits in France and London. David, the brother, inherited the estate, further expanding the markets. In 1980, Michael Urquhart and Rosemary Rankin joined the business, becoming, in the following years, the pillars of the new generation. Today, at the helm are Neil Urquhart, Ian's son, and Stephen Rankin, John Urquhart's great-grandson.
Gordon & MacPhail is considered worldwide as one of the most prestigious distributors and bottlers of Scottish Single Malt Whisky. This is due not only to the long history and tradition and the extraordinary relationships established long ago with over 70 distilleries but also to the ability to carefully match the spirits with oak to obtain perfectly integrated and aged, which acquire body, elegance, complexity and an extraordinary range of aromas through the wood aging.
Gordon & MacPhail was born in the heart of the Speyside region and more precisely in Elgin, considered the Scottish home of Whisky. It all began in 1895 when James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail founded a grocery business that distributed products from all over the world, such as tea, coffee, wines, and spirits. Over the years, they became increasingly specialized in Speyside Single Malts. The turning point came in the early 1900s when the young John Urquhart joined the business. Under James's wing, they selected and purchased the best Whiskies from distilleries, aged them in selected oak casks, and bottled them under their own “brand”. The boy learned quickly, driven by his passion for scotch, and within a few years became a master of Speyside.
In 1933, the baton passed to George Urquhart, James's son, who expanded the knowledge branch and further perfected the aging process. During these years, Gordon & MacPhail already dominated the market of the Highlands, becoming a reference point for Whisky outside the region, and, thanks to the high stocks, it also managed to establish itself during the turbulent period of World War II. George left his legacy in the hands of his son Ian, who, before becoming CEO, undertook a long training period in the world of spirits in France and London. David, the brother, inherited the estate, further expanding the markets. In 1980, Michael Urquhart and Rosemary Rankin joined the business, becoming, in the following years, the pillars of the new generation. Today, at the helm are Neil Urquhart, Ian's son, and Stephen Rankin, John Urquhart's great-grandson.
Gordon & MacPhail is considered worldwide as one of the most prestigious distributors and bottlers of Scottish Single Malt Whisky. This is due not only to the long history and tradition and the extraordinary relationships established long ago with over 70 distilleries but also to the ability to carefully match the spirits with oak to obtain perfectly integrated and aged, which acquire body, elegance, complexity and an extraordinary range of aromas through the wood aging.
