Scotland’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, Cockburns of Leith, has brought Malcolm Ogilvie onboard in the newly created role of Wine Ambassador, with a remit to expand its wine tasting offering.
Having earned a diploma from the globally recognised Wine and Spirits Education Trust, Ogilvie brings to the team more than 40 years of experience in the wine and spirit industry. He will carry out bespoke tasting events all over Scotland, promising that these sessions can be entertaining, educational, or specifically themed and cater to groups of all sizes.
Company director Keith Murray said: “We are thrilled to welcome Malcolm to Cockburns of Leith as a Wine Ambassador. His invaluable knowledge and experience of the industry will be a true asset.
“We want to provide our customers with the best possible service, and Malcolm’s appointment will ensure we can offer an exceptional level of quality in our tastings and events. We are also looking at the possibility of appointing more ambassadors later this year, to further expand this offering.”
Malcolm said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Cockburns’ first Wine Ambassador. In this role I will be conducting wine tastings on behalf of Cockburns of Leith, using their fantastic range of cutting-edge wines.
“Having joined the wine trade before the deluge of southern hemisphere wines hit these shores, I have helped the modern world of wine evolve. I am looking forward to bringing this experience to bear with my work for Cockburns of Leith and I hope to offer customers a unique set of insights into this fascinating subject.”
The Edinburgh company – which has counted Sir Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, and King George IV among its customers – was established in 1796 by brothers Robert and John Cockburn to supply the best of global wine and spirits to the Capital’s upwardly mobile social classes.
The company and its famous brand were rescued from administration by Murray Capital in 2010, with a new bottle shop and tasting facility launched from premises in the capital’s Frederick Street last year. Cockburns has experienced widespread demand for corporate and private tastings since then and hopes to capitalise on that trend with this new appointment.
