Keepers of the Quaich

The Keepers of the Quaich were founded in 1988 to honour individuals who have made a lasting contribution to Scottish whisky culture. This was preceded by the great British recession at the end of the 1970s. Sales of Scotch whisky declined worldwide until the 1990s. The aim was to create an institution alongside the Scotch Whisky Association, the industry organisation for whisky, which would combine trade and tradition and thus boost sales of Scotch whisky. Since its foundation, the organisation has gained a high international reputation.

The aim of the organisation is to promote the spread and appreciation of Scotch whisky worldwide. It aims to ensure that the unique culture and heritage of Scotch whisky is preserved and celebrated.

The touch of exclusivity!

Membership of the Keepers of the Quaich is by invitation only. Candidates must play an exceptional role in the whisky industry, be it through innovation, marketing, production or other relevant contributions.
An even more exclusive honour is the title of Master of the Quaich, which is only awarded to a small group of particularly deserving members. The Keeper designation is for life and recognises individuals who have been continuously active in the Scotch whisky industry for at least seven years and have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements. After a further ten years and continued commitment, a Keeper may be elevated to Master of the Quaich.

The Society organises two induction ceremonies and banquets each year at Blair Castle - a historic castle in Scotland and the spiritual home of the Keepers of the Quaich. Induction into the organisation takes place in a formal ceremony. The Quaich, a traditional Scottish drinking cup, is the central symbol of the ceremony and symbolises hospitality and community.

New "Keepers of the Quaich" and "Masters of the Quaich" are appointed at each banquet.

In a ceremony that is not open to the public, each Keeper swears with their right hand on a giant handmade silver quaich to uphold the spirit and aims of the Keepers of the Quaich. This is accompanied by a laudation and everyone signs the membership list, which includes many illustrious names. The most famous members include former US President Ronald Reagan, the British King Charles III and the Scottish actor Sean Connery. The rest of the evening is an opulent, classic Highland dinner, naturally with whisky, haggis, poems by Robert Burns and bagpipe music.

The organisation brings together key players from the whisky world and creates a platform for the exchange and promotion of new ideas. By awarding honours, it strengthens global awareness of the quality and tradition of Scotch whisky.

Mr Lüning gratefully accepted the invitation to join the Keepers for his life's work. He became a member of the Keepers of the Quaich for two reasons: Firstly, he was honoured for his well over 1,000 Scotch whisky videos on Whisky.de, which have made a significant contribution to the sale of Scotch whisky in German-speaking countries. On the other hand, he was honoured indirectly for the great success of the Whisky.de company, which is primarily due to Mrs Lüning's achievements. And so Theresia Lüning was also indirectly honoured by the Keepers of the Quaich.

Membership of the Keepers of the Quaich is considered one of the highest honours in the whisky industry. Members represent the elite of the industry and actively contribute to the development and protection of the heritage of Scotch whisky. The organisation comprises a diverse group of members, including Master Distillers, Brand Ambassadors and other leading figures in the whisky industry.

Further information about the Keepers of the Quaich can be found on the organisation's official website. https://www.keepersofthequaich.co.uk/