The success of the smallest distillery on Speyside has been underlined this week when Elgin firm Gordon & MacPhail revealed pre-tax profits had risen by almost a quarter.
Since taking ownership of the Benromach distillery in Forres in 1993 the firm have seen phenomenal growth in the brand.
Now their latest figures for the 2013/14 financial year have revealed that not only has the company profits risen by 23% to £3.2million but sales of Benromach have contributed to that success, up by 27% in value.
The figures for the Moray firm have been released on the eve of managing director Michael Urquhart stepping down from his role at the family firm.
It was with his brother David that Mr Urquhart initially took the decision to purchase the Benromach distillery – a move that proved to be a “sound business decision”.
Mr Urquhart said: “We realised a long-held ambition to own a distillery when we rescued Benromach in 1993.
“It has proved to be a very sound business decision for us and we have slowly built the brand over time. Our investment has continued with the recruitment of additional staff, the launch of new packaging to wide acclaim and the completion of two new warehouses.”
While Mr Urquhart will this week step down as managing director in favour of chief operating officer Ewen Mackintosh he will remain on the Gordon & MacPhail board.
The company employs 138 people and controls a whisky portfolio of over 300 single malts which are sold throughout the UK and overseas.