We talk a lot about whiskey – the product, but whiskey is so much more than the amber nectar that ends up in your glass at the end of the day. It's a culmination of thousands of years of experimenting, communities, people, countries, politics, and in some cases even violent altercations!! (see our blog about the Whiskey Rebellion barrelglobal ). Over the coming months, we will look at various aspects of the history and traditions surrounding whiskey all over the globe.

The timeline of whiskey (or whisky, if we're talking history) goes back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. There are ongoing debates about which country really started making it, Scotland or Ireland. Yet the distillation process can go back to Mesopotamia, around 5000 years ago.

Today, we will focus on something a little more recent. There are many associations within the whiskey (whisky) industry, from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA),which was formed to "secure a sustainable future for the Scotch Whisky Industry" (Who we are(scotch-whisky.org.uk)), through to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (Home - Distilled Spirits Council of the United States ). Of course, these two associations act on behalf of the industry itself. Along with these are groups supporting specific countries and styles of whiskey, and then there are the smaller groups of whiskey lovers (can we call them geeks??) who get together and talk about whiskey, drink whiskey together, and spread the word like whiskey disciples.

In this article, we will examine "The Keepers of the Quaich.” Of course, this is another Gaelic word that no one has the confidence to say aloud until they have been taught how to say it.

How to say “Quaich”: Kwakche. So broken down even more; quake + a soft back of the throat “ch.”(How to Pronounce Quaich(youtube.com) )

What is a quaich? In simple terms, it's a traditional Scottish vessel for drinking Scotch whisky. With centuries of history, it has gone from a simple drinking cup to a ceremonial artifact. It can be made from wood (primarily oak) or silver ,sometimes a combination of both materials. You can read more about the making of a quaich here The fine art of quaich making | Scotch Whisky  .

Back to "The Keepers of the Quaich" (KoTQ): This is a group of people who are associated with the whiskey/whisky industry in some way, whether they write, work, or evangelize about the Scotch Whisky Industry. The KoTQ celebrates the commitment of those who produce and spread the word about whisky/whiskey.

Now, to the outsider, it seems like a club that few can enter. Firstly, you need to be nominated by a current member, and that nomination needs to be seconded and then accepted by the management committee. There are approximately 2700 Keepers to date, and the KoTQ is not restricted to Scotland. Scotch whisky is recognized and drunk globally; therefore, many other countries have a "Chapter," so the work of promoting Scotch spreads worldwide. Countries with a KoTQ Chapter include Australia, South Africa, India, Germany, The Nordics, The Netherlands, Türkiye, Brazil, and the United States of America.

The U.S.A Chapter was founded in 2019 where “we seek to foster greater mutual understanding of Scottish culture in America and American culture in Scotland”.

Given that changes are afoot within the whiskey/whisky industry from all angles, maintaining heritage and tradition is especially important. American whiskey is not traditionally associated with single malt whisky, but distilleries are innovating, and more U.S. single malts are becoming available.

In Scotland, where bourbon casks (along with sherry) have been a mainstay for maturing spirits to become whisky, other spirits and drink casks are used to finish and/or mature whisky. The 'rules' for cask type for maturation for Scotch Whisky are a little complex; see here: Q&A: Scotch Whisky Cask Specification | Scotch Whisky Association (scotch-whisky.org.uk) Based on these rules we can have a Lagavulin Guinness Cask edition (Offerman edition 11 yrs old), but we can’t have a Guinness Coffee Cask edition, though that would probably taste amazing!

These rules only apply to whisky made in Scotland, hence the rise of whiskey/whisky experimentation elsewhere. Is it not exciting for a country to make whiskey/whisky and then add a finish of something traditionally associated with that country? For example, Mackmyra, a Swedish whisky producer, will use traditional fruit wine barrels for some maturation, and Japanese whisky producer Togouchi has a sake-finished whisky.

Even in the U.S., distilleries are spreading their wings in terms of innovation and the use of different cask types. Bardstown, one of our partners, has an experimental series of expressions, working with Amrut (an Indian Whisky producer) through to Sauternes barrel aging.

Whatever you feel about whiskey/whisky, whether you're a traditionalist, a modernist, or a little in between, the Barrel Global team can advise you on creating your whiskey barrel collection.

We are on a mission to make whiskey barrel ownership accessible to collectors worldwide. As thefirst-ever global marketplace for whiskey barrels, you can connect withdistilleries and collectors worldwide to build your own portfolio. For awhiskey experience unlike any other, request access today barrelglobal .

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