Charles Gordon, from whisky firm William Grant and Sons, dies
Charles Gordon, a major figure in the Scotch whisky industry, has died in New York at the age of 86.
Life president of family firm William Grant and Sons, he put Glenfiddich on the road to becoming the world's leading single malt.
The Dufftown-based distiller now has sales of more than £1bn a year.
Its chief executive Stella David said he had made a "truly exceptional contribution" to the company.
"Indeed few people have made a greater contribution to the Scotch whisky industry over such an extended period of time", she said.
"The company is fully committed to continue to build on Charles' remarkable legacy."
Mr Gordon's son Glenn, the company's present chairman said: "We are all very proud of my father's achievements in his very full and energetic lifetime, and give thanks for the legacy that he has left us with.
"He touched the lives of many, many people and will be sorely missed by all.
"In our family and our business, which my father always intertwined, he very much believed in a spirit of partnership. In his memory, we will continue to build this spirit, and with it our independent family business, for future generations".