Scotch Whisky's Keepers of the Quaich Lift a Toast (Several, Actually) In New York

On the evening of September 25th, some of the biggest names in scotch whisky gathered at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). The occasion? The U.S. chapter of the Keepers of the Quaich—a Scotland-based group founded in 1988 that honors and recognizes the workers, writers, and evangelists of the scotch whisky industry—hosted its third banquet. What followed was a night of songs, scotch, and camaraderie.

The proceedings kicked off with a cocktail hour in the NYAC card room and lounge on the 9th floor, with a who’s who of scotch ambassadors, executives, actors, and writers—most of whom were “Keepers” (members of the group), along with journalists and other invited guests.

The Keepers of the Quaich inducts new members at ceremonies held twice a year at Blair Castle in Scotland. Those who become members must have worked in scotch whisky for at least 7 years, and must be recommended by at least two existing members. Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Whisky Advocate, was one of the original inductees into the Keepers at its first ceremony in 1988, and currently serves as vice chair of its U.S. chapter.

The cocktail hour offered over 25 whiskies, all scattered around the room at tasting stations, as well as Perrier Jouët champagne and beer at the bar. The whisky list was star-studded, with delicious gems like Bruichladdich Black Art 11, Talisker 30 year old, Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 5, Ardbeg Vintage Y2K, and Balvenie Stories: French Pineau Cask 18 year old, among others.

The list also included mouth-watering previews of some scotches that aren’t yet widely available on our side of the pond, including Dewar’s Double Double 38 year old blended malt, Mossburn 12 year old Calvados Cask Finished blended malt, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6, Glenmorangie Tale of Ice Cream, and the newest whisky released under the Johnnie Walker Blue Label banner: Blue Ice Chalet

Just after 7 o’clock, a volley of music from the Keepers’s official piper called the crowd to order and signaled the start of dinner in an adjoining room. Opening remarks were made by co-chair of the Keepers U.S. chapter Frank Coleman. After that, Rob Munro from the St. Andrew’s Society of NY gave an impassioned recitation of “Address to the Haggis”—a Scottish tradition usually seen at Burns Night celebrations. A plate of haggis, a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep offal, was ceremonially carried into the room to the tune of bagpipes. Munro then recited a Robert Burns poem to the haggis, before cutting it open with a dagger and toasting it with a dram of Bowmore x Aston Martin Master’s Selection 2024. More music came by way of a band, which played traditional Celtic music throughout the dinner.

As the night went on, speakers occasionally took the podium for toasts. Keepers U.S. chapter co-chair Edward Pilkington, from Diageo, and distribution chair Jonathan Yusen (Allied Beverage Group CEO) were among the first, both raising glasses to the scotch industry.

Next came toasts to Scotland from Colin Gray of the Scottish Government, Edrington Americas CEO Paul Ross, and Rory Hedderly, the director of Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation—a charity that aims to foster entrepreneurship in Scotland through scholarships and internship opportunities. In fact, the banquet served as a benefit for the foundation, and Hedderly was presented with a check at the podium.

Later in the evening, Coleman introduced the banquet’s keynote speaker: renowned Scottish actor James Cosmo, best known for his appearances in “Braveheart” and more recently as Jeor Mormont in “Game of Thrones,” among other roles. “I’m no whisky expert, but I was raised in Clydebank, Scotland (near Glasgow), and whisky was always a thing,” said Cosmo. “The first time I tasted whisky, when I was 16, I thought ‘my goodness.’”

Last year, Cosmo teamed up with Lowlands-based Annandale Distillery to release his own scotch brand called Storyman, drams of which were sipped around the room as he spoke. “There are so many people here who have such a depth of knowledge about the craft of whisky making, and I’m not one of them. But I do know what I like,” he mused, noting that he was “so proud” of how his whisky turned out.

As the banquet drew to a close, Brian Cox, vice president of Dewar’s for North America and Keepers U.S. treasurer, took the floor for closing remarks. Over drams of Dewars Double Double 21 Mizunara, Cox concluded the proceedings by asking the band to play “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by Scottish rock duo The Proclaimers, which he referred to as “Scotland’s unofficial national anthem.” The line drew laughs from the crowd, which then joined Cox and the other hosts in singing along.

Keepers of the Quaich USA Banquet 2024 Whisky List

Cocktail Hour Tastings

• Bruichladdich Black Art 11
• Octomore 15.3 Edition
• Dewar’s Double Double 38 year old blended malt
• Talisker 30 year old
• Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ice Chalet
• Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 5
• The Macallan Harmony Amber Meadow
• Mossburn 12 year old Dupont Calvados Cask Finished Blended Malt
• Torabhaig The Legacy Series Chapter 3: Cnoc Na Moine
• Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6
• Ardbeg Vintage Y2K
• Glenmorangie Signet Reserve
• Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream
• Chivas Regal 25 year old
• Longmorn 22 year old
• Glenlivet 25 year old
• Jura 18 year old
• Tamnavulin Double Cask
• The Dalmore Select Edition 2008
• Ardray
• Laphroaig 28 year old
• Laphroaig 33 year old
• Balvenie Stories: French Pineau Cask 18 year old
• Glenfiddich 12 year old Sherry Cask Finish
• Glenfiddich 31 year old Grand Chateau

Dinner Drams

• Bowmore x Aston Martin 21 year old Masters Selection 2024 Edition
• Lagavulin Offerman Edition Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
• Glenfiddich 21 year old Gran Reserva
• Macallan Rare Cask
• Storyman blended scotch
• Dewar’s Double Double 21 year old Mizunara Cask