Highest Scotch Whisky industry accolade for Richard Joynson of Loch Fyne Whiskies

This Monday – 11th April 2011 – a signal honour was paid to Richard Joynson of the renowned Loch Fyne Whiskies in Inveraray. He was elevated to Master of the Quaich and the honour was conferred at Blair Castle, pictured above. This is the highest possible accolade the Scotch Whisky Industry can bestow upon its servants – there are only 140 Masters.

An exclusive society, the Keepers of the Quaich was founded in 1988 by major whisky industry companies. It’s purpose is  the promotion of Scotch Whisky.

Membership is by invitation only with members sworn in at an induction ceremony at Blair Castle in Perthshire which is held twice a year  – in Spring and Autumn.

There are now around 2,000 Keepers of the Quaich and they choose, from within their number, a small number who are raised to the status of Master of the Quaich.

Loch Fyne Whiskies is the only retailer to be managed or owned by a Master, and since one of the rights of the Master is to consult any other member of the association when you browse  – an experience of its own – and buy from Loch Fyne Whiskies, this is the level of service behind the sale.

At the moment, Loch Fyne Whiskies is one of only two retailers from which you can buy – if there are any left – a bottle of the never to be repeated Spirit of Unity Scotch malt whisky blended from the a cask of whisky from each of the seven independent distilleries that are part of the initiative.

They are Arran, BenRiach, Bladnoch, GlenDronach, Mitchell’s Glengyle, Kilchoman and Springbank.

Their purpose is to raise money for the relief of Japan and of Christchurch in New Zealand, both laid waste recently by earthquake and Japan additionally devastated beyond imagining by a consequent tsunami.

Loch Fyne Whiskies in Inveraray and Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh and London are the only places where Spirit of Unity can be bought – and there is now, in pre-ordering, little, if any of it left.

Anyone wanting to support this imaginative and generous initiative – all proceeds are going straight to the relief funds – and to get the unique whisky – could try Loch Fyne Whiskies here and see if ordering is still possible. The whisky will be distributed in early May.

The photograph above shows the Atholl Highanders forming the guard to welcome guests at the biennial ceremony for The Keepers of the Quaich at Blair Castle. It is reproduced here under the GNU Free Documentation licence.