Keepers of the Quaich

The Keepers of the Quaich is an exclusive society founded in 1988 by major companies within the whisky industry. Membership by invitation only, and members are sworn in at bi-annual induction ceremonies (Spring & Autumn) held at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland. The primary rationale for the group was to promote Scotch Whisky after some decline in sales for the commodity at home and globally. According to one source the group's mission statement is:

"To advance the standing and prosperity of one of Britain’s premier export industries, and to make more widely known its uniqueness, traditions, quality, service and benefits to the community it serves at home and in the markets of the world."

Powerful Guests

Tom Bruce Gardyne writing in Whisky Magazine provides some insight into the twice yearly gatherings in terms of the powerful guests present and the masonic style rituals used. However, it should be noted that although present at the dinner Gardyne was not witness to the initiation ceremony of new members.

The gathering at Blair Castle in Perthshire took place in autumn as part of the twice yearly get together of the Keepers of the Quaich, the society dedicated to the Scotch whisky industry. Watching McColl (Jim McColl of Beechgrove Garden Fame) dance about with his skean-dhu, or dagger, flashing in the lights reminded me of a tale from a previous banquet. The story goes that the Fear an Tigh that evening was having quite a tussle with a particularly slippery haggis which jumped the knife and had to be snatched from the floor. "What's he doing?" whispered Nancy Reagan, wife of the guest of honour – the former President of the United States Ronald Reagan, to her neighbour on the top-table. "Addressing the haggis," replied Lord Elgin, the Society Patron and past Grand Master. "What for?" came her reply. "So we can eat it," replied Lord Elgin (Andrew Bruce) politely. This was met by a horrified cry of: "EAT IT? I'm not eating it!"

This time the guest of honour was Philip Lader, the US Ambassador to Britain, who earlier that evening had been sworn in by laying hands on the ceremonial Quaich together with the 31 Life Members and eight Masters also being inducted. Before the haggis, the Quaich itself, a shallow silver drinking bowl the size of a small basin, was piped in and presented to the top table. After numerous speeches, music, songs and more speeches, it became apparent that the Ambassador would have a very hard act to follow.

When the summons came to attend the banquet I had certainly heard of the Keepers of the Quaich but had little idea of what actually went on. With its Members, Masters, Grand Masters and its confusing set of rituals it all sounded decidedly Masonic. If not, then perhaps with its emphasis on swearing allegiance it was Jacobite in origin as in toasting the King o'er the water. And what about the induction ceremony itself – what kind of rites of passage would that involve? I thought back to my first night at boarding school and to the time I first crossed the equator by sea. On that occasion the crew had threatened to tie me to the funnel and pelt me with slop, though by three in the morning everyone was too tired or drunk to oblige. This time round, however, I was just there to observe or rather to be a second-hand observer since the induction chamber itself was reserved for Members only.

The Reverend Cairns,(John Cairns) the former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, dispatched a wickedly irreverent broadside at every other variety of booze on the planet. Talk about preaching to the converted! This rousing battle cry to go forth and convert the natives to the water of life went down a storm among the 230 guests. His tone was one of bemusement for all those sad souls from the Sake sippers of Saigon to the Pisco drinkers of Peru whose lives are made miserable for want of whisky. Like everyone else I assumed the poem had been written years ago during a long winter spent in some remote glen by a distillery manger huddled beside his still. In fact it was scribbled down that afternoon by the Rev. Cairns himself. The man is clearly in the wrong job.

John McGrath, Chairman of Diageo, proposed the Loyal toast. He drew inspiration from the way whisky has had to struggle against governments and their hostile tax regimes and how this has helped encourage a sense of unity.

We were getting to the crux of the matter – the role of the Keepers of the Quaich in drawing together the diverse and dissipated threads of the trade under one roof. The industry could now pay tribute to its far-flung worker bees and at the same time re-affirm the bond between Scotch, of which 90 per cent is exported, and the land it comes from. This last point is crucial to whisky. After all not every spirit can bang on about its roots with such conviction as sight of the massive Cameron Bridge distillery in Fife and its steady stream of Smirnoff tankers would prove.

Many claim the big decisions affecting Scotch whisky are too often made outside Scotland, but watching the big guns on the top table one wondered what deals were being struck right here in the heart of Perthshire. The industry is currently in a state of jittery anticipation over the fate of its third biggest player – Seagrams. Then again the talk was probably of something far less contentious. On our table we were discussing when the Society of the Keepers of the Quaich was actually conceived. If its origins weren't Jacobite perhaps they were from the late Victorian whisky boom? The truth is the Society is barely twelve years old – a fact that seemed almost shocking given how polished and well choreographed the whole event was. It also begs the question: why hadn't anyone thought of it before? .

Patrons

This List was compiled in 1996 and therefore, may not remain accurate:

GRAND MASTER

• George Bull, Group Chief Executive, Grand Metropolitan PLC

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

• Richard Waitling, Chairman
• Andrew Dewar-Durie, Vice Chairman
• Julia Thorold Director
• Brian Morrison
• Christopher Barry Green
• Patrick Millet
• Matthew Gloag
• Derrick Fillingham

MASTER OF CEREMONIES (FEAR AN TIGH)

• Sir Anthony Greener

PIPER

• Tom Thomson

Patrons

• The Right Honourable The Earl of Erroll, Merlin Hay
• His Grace, The Duke of Argyll, Ian Campbell 1937-2001
• His Grace, The Duke of Atholl DL, John Murray
• The Right Honourable The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine KT, Andrew Bruce
• The Right Honourable The Earl of Mansfield, William Murray
• The Viscount Thurso, John Thurso
• Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden, Norman Macfarlane
• Lord Napier and Ettrick KCVO DL, Nigel Napier
• Sir Iain Tennant KT LLD
• Sir George Bull
• Mrs James Throughton
• Mr James Bruckner