By 
IT’S A TEMPERATE August evening at the recently revamped Linseed House at Sydney’s Grounds of Alexandria. An ‘immersive Scottish experience’ is on the itinerary and so far, the proceedings are keeping to the theme. The Quaich, a traditional Scottish drinking vessel, is being ceremoniously carried into the venue to the tune of a chorus of bagpipes. While a menu including a selection of six exceptional Scotch whiskeys is promised, along with a sensory food experience. This is the first time the Keepers of the Quaich have come together in Australia since 2019, and this is rarified air.
Founded in 1988 in Scotland, the Keepers of the Quaich boast a global network spanning more than 100 countries, with chapters in the United States, Scandinavia, Germany, India, the Middle East, Brazil, and South Africa. But despite their global reach, there are only 3,000 members of the Keepers of the Quaich worldwide, and only 50 in Australia and New Zealand.
Additions to the society’s membership come on an invite-only basis, and to qualify for membership, you need to make some immense contribution to the Scotch whisky industry. That being said, a select few honorary members can also count themselves among the society’s elite, including the likes of King Charles, Ronald Reagan and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. As you can likely tell, when these members come together, few gatherings are more exclusive or prestigious.
The Keepers of the Quaich don’t meet very often, and exceedingly less often in Australia. All that does, however, is make each occasion more significant. Like the most recent one, where the theme of the night was ‘United By Nature’ and industry leaders, prominent Scotch whisky houses and distinguished members of the Keepers of the Quaich came together to celebrate Scotch whisky in the antipodes, where the category has held its position as most popular spirit for the last 30 years.
A key factor in building and maintaining that popularity is the quality of the locally produced stock – which, it must be said, is among the best in the world. The aforementioned stock was on full display at the Sydney meeting, with a tasting experience including drams from six of the nation’s leading Scotch whisky producers.
Among the highlights was a one-off bottling of a Glenfarclas 25-year-old Single Cask, as well as a Laphroaig 25yo, a Macallan Rare Cask, a Johnnie Walker Blue Label and The Glendronach’s 18yo single malt. Each whisky was complimented with a dish crafted by chef Paul McGrath, to pair with the rich flavours of the drinks on offer.
It wasn’t just an evening of food and drink, however, with large scale projections of Scotland’s scenic landscape adorning the walls of the venue to create a multi-sensory experience.
So, what purpose does such an exclusive, globe-trotting community serve to the average consumer? Does this group really dictate the ebbs and flows of the Australian liquor industry? Well yes, that’s exactly what they do. The Keepers of the Quaich are not only dedicated to tasting good whiskies, but to carrying on the legacy of scotch whisky by imparting their expertise upon the next generation of distillers.
This approach hasn’t just maintained Scotch whisky’s position as Australia’s favourite spirit, it’s strengthened it. Just look to Colin Rochester, a Master Keeper and chair of the Australian Keepers chapter, for proof. In addition to his role within the Keepers of the Quaich, Rochester is also the managing director of William Grant & Sons Australia, which has tripled in size over the last nine years while not dipping in quality in the slightest.
If you enjoy a good Scotch whisky, you can rest assured knowing that thanks to the influence of the Keepers of the Quaich, the quality of the liquor in your glass can only get better.
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