Bonhams Edinburgh smash the Whisky World Record
December 15, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
£46, 850 PAID FOR BOTTLE CELEBRATING THE 110 YEARS OF LIFE OF SCOTLAND’S OLDEST INHABITANT
A rare and exclusive bottle of 55 Year Old Glenfiddich commemorating and celebrating the 110th birthday of Janet Sheed Roberts, the granddaughter of William Grant – founder of the Glenfiddich distillery – and the oldest person in Scotland sold for a world record £46,850 at Bonhams Whisky auction in Edinburgh yesterday. The previous world record for a bottle of single malt at auction was £29,700.
In total the sale raised £215,000 and 93% the lots were sold.
Whisky auction for Japan in Edinburgh – tonight!
March 29, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
The sale of a £13,000 bottle of Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old, launched earlier this month, is to be auctioned at a special evening at Bonhams tonight in aid of the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Our photograph was taken at the recent launch at Edinburgh Castle.
Family owned whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail unveiled the iconic Single Malt Whisky at Edinburgh Castle on 8 March. Distilled in 1940, only 100 full sized decanters have been released for sale in 2011. Decanter number 1 of 100 has been presented for this special event.
Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, had been due to fly to Japan to launch the whisky when the tragedy struck. He had the idea of auctioning the bottle in Scotland to raise much needed money for the relief effort. The proceeds will be donated to the British Red Cross Japan Appeal. The special, single item, charity auction will be held at Bonhams, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh on Tuesday evening 29 March at 7.00pm GMT to allow buyers in the USA and the Far East to take part. Bonhams are giving their services for free.
Michael Urquhart said, “Gordon & MacPhail has had trading relationships with Japan for over thirty years and members of our family-owned business felt it was important to show our support and raise funds to aid the relief. I think we all feel helpless in the face of a tragedy like this so it is good to be able to do something practical. I hope people will respond generously.”
Bonhams Managing Director in Scotland, Miranda Grant, who lived in Japan as a child, said, “We’re just pleased to be able to help Everyone has been shocked by the scenes of devastation and the loss of life and we’re all hoping to raise a good sum.”
Norman McKinley, director of the Red Cross in Scotland, said, “This is an extremely generous gesture by Gordon & MacPhail and Bonhams. The massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan have caused widespread destitution and suffering.
“The costs of the relief effort and of rebuilding the homes and lives of those affected will be immense. Donations to the British Red Cross will be used towards helping the Japanese people recover from this devastating natural disaster over the coming months and years.” The charity auction itself will be preceded by a reception at 6pm and a talk at 6.40pm by the renowned whisky connoisseur Charles Maclean.
www.bonhams.com/scotland or www.bonhams.com/whisky
70 year old malt launched at Edinburgh Castle
March 8, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
An extremely rare and valuable malt is the jewel in the crown of a collection of exclusive malt whiskies revealed on Tuesday 8 March at Edinburgh Castle, by Gordon & MacPhail. We were invited along to witness the launch, and although The Reporter is not a whisky drinker we have to say that it was a lovely drink! We were told to keep it on our tongues for a second for every year of maturation…so a minute and 10 seconds later we finally got the real flavour!
The 1940s-themed event launched six decades’ worth of whisky from the same distillery unveiled by members of the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon & MacPhail – world renowned whisky specialists established in 1895.
Fiona and Richard Urquhart, members of the fourth generation of the family, wearing period dress to capture the ‘spirit’ of the era, unveiled the new malt before an audience of whisky connoisseurs and leading industry experts.
We had the opportunity of speaking with Neil Urquhart one of the company directors and also Paul McLaughlin of Scotland Food and Drink
Gordon & McPhail Whisky Launch 8th March 2011 by PMStephen
G&M, founded in 1895, is known the world over as the custodian of some of the oldest and rarest single malts available. Last year the company launched Mortlach 70 years old, then the world’s oldest whisky, on March 8th 2011 a follow-up product – this equally rare and aged whisky has been revealed.
Edinburgh Whisky company announces improved results
February 25, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
[caption id="attachment_8995" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="©Helen Pugh Photography"]
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Edinburgh based Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd, owners of Glengoyne Distillery and one of the largest independent family-owned companies in the UK spirits industry, has announced improved financial results for the eighth consecutive year.
Financial highlights for the year to 30 September 2010:
· Group turnover increased 22% to £31.9m (2009: £26.5m)
· Profit after tax increased 41% to £3.1m (2009: £2.2m)
· Overall stock has increased by £2.3m taking the total stock to £27m
· Case sales volume increased 20% and accounts for 93% of the revenue growth
· Within cased sales, Glengoyne Single Malt revenue grew by 49%
The 22% (£5.9m) turnover growth is due to increased sales of case goods to domestic and export markets. Export growth is broadly based across the company’s traditional markets of Northern Europe, The Gulf and The Far East. UK turnover expanded well from increased supply and new listings of private label product to high street multiples.
The Group’s flagship brand, Glengoyne Highland Single Malt, had an extremely positive year with case sales volume increasing 40%. Export sales of Glengoyne account for the majority of the growth, most notably in Travel Retail sales and the activity in traditional Glengoyne markets of France, Germany and Scandinavia.
The Group established a 100% owned Indian subsidiary during 2010, Ian Macleod Distillers India Private Limited. This move has been spearheaded by Managing Director, Leonard Russell and Area Sales Director for the Far East, Jonathan Scott.
Leonard Russell commented: “India is a key growth market for us and this is an ideal time to establish a presence due to recent and expected changes in the customs and state specific excise duty rates. The creation of this distribution company is an excellent spring board from which to establish our brands in India. It is something I have been personally striving to make happen and I believe it will lead to good growth opportunities for us.”
The Norwegian spirits distribution company Cask Owners AS, in which the group took a 34% share during 2009, is now profitable with its trade growing throughout Scandinavia. The move has enabled Ian Macleod Distillers to be more directly involved in these markets by being closer to the local buyers.
Bank term financing of £1.7m was secured from the Royal Bank of Scotland for new warehousing at Glengoyne Distillery which is now complete and has created two new jobs. The Group has continued to invest in bulk stock and overall stock has increased by £2.4m (11%).
Leonard Russell said: “The warehouse development was funded readily by the Royal Bank and has allowed cash generated from operations to be invested in bulk stock. Investing in stock is an essential pre-requisite for growing the business and ensures long term stability and security.”
Planned developments for this year include strengthening the UK business through the recruitment of Alan Wardrop as UK Sales Manager and Neil Boyd as UK Commercial Director. Visitor centre enhancements at Glengoyne Distillery are in progress and the new warehouse will become fully operational.
Leonard Russell said: “The addition of Alan and Neil to the team has had a very positive effect on our UK sales. Also, the establishment of our Indian subsidiary and continued export sales focus will lead to further growth in our offering and capability.
“I am extremely happy with our progress over the last year. We are ahead of our internal forecasts and are growing strongly relative to our peers in the industry.”
Whisky, whisky all around and not a drop to drink…
August 19, 2010 by Phyllis Stephen · 1 Comment
Topping up at the petrol pump is about to take an intriguing twist as cars are set to be fuelled with a new super biofuel, made from whisky by-products.
Edinburgh Napier University has filed a patent for the new biofuel, which can be used in ordinary cars, without any special adaptions needed.
The innovative fuel process has been developed over the last two years by Edinburgh Napier’s Biofuel Research Centre. As part of their research, the centre was provided with samples of whisky distilling by-products from Diageo’s Glenkinchie Distillery. The £260,000 research project was funded by Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme.
The Edinburgh Napier Biofuel research team focused on the £4bn whisky industry as a ripe resource for developing biobutanol – the next generation of biofuel which gives 30% more output power than ethanol. It uses the two main by-products of the whisky production process – ‘pot ale’, the liquid from the copper stills, and ‘draff’, the spent grains, as the basis for producing the butanol that can then be used as fuel.
With 1,600 million litres of pot ale and 187,000 tonnes of draff produced by the malt whisky industry annually, there is real potential for bio-fuel to be available at local garage forecourts alongside traditional fuels. Unlike ethanol, the nature of the innovative bio-fuel means that ordinary cars could use the more powerful-fuel, instead of traditional petrol. The product can also be used to make other green renewable bio-chemicals, such as acetone.
The University now plans to create a spin-out company to take the new fuel to market and leverage the commercial opportunity, in the bid to make it available at petrol pumps.
Director of the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, Professor Martin Tangney is leading the ground-breaking research. He said: “The EU has declared that biofuels should account for 10% of total fuel sales by 2020. We’re committed to finding new, innovative renewable energy sources.
“While some energy companies are growing crops specifically to generate biofuel, we are investigating excess materials such as whisky by-products to develop them. This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue on the back of one Scotland’s biggest industries. We’ve worked with some of the country’s leading whisky producers to develop the process.”
Lena Wilson, chief executive, Scottish Enterprise, said: “This pioneering research is testament to Scotland’s world-class science base and demonstrates how Scottish Enterprise helps to transform cutting-edge knowledge into successful new high-growth sustainable businesses for Scotland.
“The Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept Programme is successful precisely because of its high calibre projects. By proactively taking innovative ideas from the laboratory to the global market place, Scotland can continue to compete at the highest level and successfully boost its economic recovery.”
Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism said: “This is an innovative development, and I am delighted to see Edinburgh Napier University once again display its expertise in this field by bringing this biofuel to market.
“I support the development and use of sustainable biofuels. This innovative use of waste products demonstrates a new sustainable option for the biofuel industry, while also supporting the economic and environmental objectives of the Scottish Government’s new Zero Waste Plan.
“In these challenging economic times we need to play to our strengths and take advantage of the low carbon opportunities of the future. It’s exactly this type of innovation that will help sustain economic recovery and deliver future sustainable economic growth.”
Susan Morrison, Director and General Manager at The Scotch Whisky Experience said: “Working in a tourism role to represent the Whisky Industry we are delighted that the green agenda is moving forward at such a pace, both through the Green Tourism Scheme and innovations such as this new whisky bio-fuel.”
