This Gordon & MacPhail tasting brought nine well-aged single malts from the family’s Elgin warehouses to the glass, led by fourth-generation Sales Director Richard Urquhart. The line-up was drawn straight from the company’s Speyside warehouses and spanned vintages from a 1965 Glenlivet and a 1976 Ardbeg to a single-cask 2005 Macallan Speymalt. Three Benromach expressions, including a 1975 vintage, came from Gordon & MacPhail’s own distillery, with extra bottles pulled from the private collection of host Michael Madsen, a Keeper of the Quaich. It was effectively two tastings in one: independent bottlings alongside Benromach, covering Speyside sweetness through to Islay smoke.
| Distillery | Expression | ABV | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortlach | 15 Years Old | 46.0% | Speyside, sherried house style |
| The Glenlivet | Vintage 1965 | 43.0% | Bottled 2006 |
| Strathisla | Vintage 2009 | 57.5% | 1st-fill sherry hogshead |
| The Macallan | Speymalt 2005 | 58.1% | Single cask, bottled 2024 |
| Benromach | 15 Years Old | 43.0% | G&M’s own distillery |
| Benromach | Vintage 1975 | 54.6% | Pre-G&M-era stock |
| Benromach | Vintage 2014 | 59.8% | Cask strength |
| Ardbeg | Vintage 1976 | 40.0% | Islay, pre-renaissance |
| Caol Ila | Vintage 2005 | 54.7% | Islay |
Who are Gordon & MacPhail?
Gordon & MacPhail opened on South Street in Elgin on 24 May 1895, founded by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail as a grocer and wine and spirits merchant. The business has been owned by descendants of John Urquhart since 1915 and marked its 130th anniversary in 2025. Richard Urquhart, who led this tasting, is the fourth generation of that family.
While most of the industry chased blended Scotch, Gordon & MacPhail went the other way: buying new-make spirit, filling it into American and Spanish oak, and laying it down as single malt for decades. That patience is why the company can today pour a 1965 Glenlivet or a 1976 Ardbeg. It also owns Benromach in Forres, which is why three of the evening’s drams came from a distillery the family runs itself rather than simply bottles.
From the moment guests arrive, it’s clear this is more than just a tasting t’s an encounter with living whisky history. Guiding us through the evening is Richard Urquhart, Sales Director and fourth-generation member of the family behind Gordon & MacPhail. With him comes not only expertise, but a deep-rooted passion and firsthand stories from one of the most respected names in Scotch whisky.
A Treasure Trove from Elgin
The tasting features nine exceptional and well-aged single malts, drawn from Gordon & MacPhail’s almost mythical warehouses in Elgin.
For decades while distilleries closed and the industry struggled Gordon & MacPhail stayed the course. They continued to purchase new-make spirit and carefully fill casks, allowing the whisky to mature in the finest American and Spanish oak. Today, we reap the rewards of that foresight.
Many of the world’s leading whisky writers credit Gordon & MacPhail with helping to keep the flame of single malt whisky alive during its most uncertain years.
Two Tastings in One
As if that weren’t enough, the evening offers two tastings in one.
Alongside the independent bottlings, guests will also experience three remarkable whiskies from Benromach Gordon & MacPhail’s own distillery in the heart of Speyside.
These include exclusive single casks selected especially for the anniversary year rare expressions that few will ever have the chance to taste.
A Private Collection Revealed
Adding an extra layer of exclusivity, our host Michael Madsen owner and Keeper of the Quaich. Will present a selection of extraordinary bottles from his personal whisky collection.
These are not just whiskies; they are pieces of history in a glass.
The Evening’s Line-Up
Highlights from the tasting include:
- Mortlach Distillery 15 Years Old – 46%
- The Glenlivet Vintage 1965 – 43% (bottled 2006)
- Strathisla Distillery Vintage 2009 – 57.5% (1st Fill Sherry Hogshead)
- The Macallan Speymalt 2005 – 58.1% (Single Cask, bottled 2024)
- Benromach 15 Years Old – 43%
- Benromach Vintage 1975 – 54.6%
- Benromach Vintage 2014 – 59.8%
- Ardbeg Vintage 1976 – 40%
- Caol Ila Vintage 2005 – 54.7%
A Journey for the Senses
This is more than a tasting. It’s a journey through time, tradition, and terroir. From the elegant sweetness of Speyside to the smoky depth of Islay, the evening offers a rare opportunity to explore whisky in all its complexity.
It’s a celebration of craftsmanship, patience, and the people who dedicate their lives to creating something that only truly comes into its own decades later.
Slàinte mhath and welcome to an unforgettable evening. 🥃
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gordon & MacPhail historical tasting? A guided tasting of nine well-aged single malts drawn from Gordon & MacPhail’s warehouses in Elgin, Scotland. It was hosted by fourth-generation family member Richard Urquhart and combined independent bottlings with three Benromach expressions from the company’s own distillery, plus rare bottles from a private collection.
Which whiskies were poured at the tasting? The line-up ran from a 1965 Glenlivet and a 1976 Ardbeg to a single-cask 2005 Macallan Speymalt, alongside Mortlach 15, Strathisla 2009, Caol Ila 2005 and three Benromach vintages (15 Year Old, 1975 and 2014). ABVs ranged from 40% up to a cask-strength 59.8%.
Who is Richard Urquhart? Richard Urquhart is Sales Director at Gordon & MacPhail and a fourth-generation member of the Urquhart family, who have owned the Elgin business since 1915. He hosts tastings worldwide, sharing the company history and explaining how its decades-long approach to cask maturation shaped each whisky in the glass.
What is Gordon & MacPhail known for? Gordon & MacPhail is one of Scotland’s most respected independent bottlers, founded in Elgin in 1895. It built its name by maturing single malts for decades when the industry focused on blends, helping keep single malt alive. It also owns Benromach distillery and has bottled some of the world’s oldest whiskies.
What is Benromach’s connection to Gordon & MacPhail? Benromach, in Forres on the edge of Speyside, is Gordon & MacPhail’s own distillery rather than a bottling partner. That ownership let the tasting feature three Benromach expressions, including a 1975 vintage from older stock and cask-strength bottlings, presented as a distillery showcase within the wider session.
What is a Keeper of the Quaich? The Keepers of the Quaich is an exclusive international society recognising people who have made a significant contribution to Scotch whisky. Host Michael Madsen holds the title, and brought bottles from his personal collection to the evening, adding rarities beyond Gordon & MacPhail’s own line-up.
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