#the keepers of the quaich

[p-redux]

Finally, pic of Sam Heughan in his KILT at The Keepers of the Quaich event in New York--The Metropolitan Club!

https://instagram.com/stories/sprigandsocial/3206648667825102030?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

[transparentdreamruins]

📷 leonstudio.nyc IGS

Sam Heughan at Keepers of Quaich event NYC Metropolitan Club 10/4/2023

[sweetcorage]

Congratulations 🥇🥇🥇🥇

Instagram bella_outlander_fan

Sam with New York Giants punter and fellow Scotsman Jamie Gillan aka The Scottish Hammer at the Keepers of the Quaich event NY

[sgiandubh]

Labor of love

I was very interested to see what S told Mark Gillespie on the last episode of the latter's WhiskyCast podcast, @bat-cat-reader immediately shared with us.

It was a most instructive 35 minutes. I listened to all of it, because I wanted to also hear Gillespie's tasting notes forThe Sassenach. And I regret nothing: once you get past the traditional (and a bit obnoxious) 'why The Sassenach?' question, you're in for some interesting news.

You can listen to it here, by the way:

Before anything, who is Mark Gillespie?

One of the most respected professionals in the very small world of alcohol specialized podcasters, with a 37 years work experience in media and broadcasting, spanning household names such as CNN, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Gallup and MSNBC. But also, and this I found very interesting, given the current context, the owner of CaskMedia, a firm specialized not only in media production, but also marketing and PR.

The podcast was recorded at The Metropolitan Club's library, moments before the Keepers of the Quaich dinner, where S was a keynote speaker. So not 'just there for the Haggis Ceremony ' - a 'guest of honor' is never invited just for the show, people should have known better, eh?

S's 7 minutes interview starts at the 09:32 mark. Comments in brackets are mine.

Gillespie surely doesn't like to beat around the bush and after the customary niceties, asks a million-dollar question:

MG: 'I have to ask: did you have the troubles (problems?) in Germany straightened up?'

SH: ' Ha, ha, ha [not an organic giggle, but hey - gotta do what you gotta do, eh?]. Well, I am not entirely sure I should talk about it [speaks very quickly and through his teeth - visibly annoyed/nervous; not entirely sure I got it all correctly, so feel free to amend in comments], ah... ummm... not as yet... not as yet...ummm...we did fall into an issue with the name Sassenach, which was similar to a big brand in the US... ah!... in Germany, sorry... of a beer brand... I...I personally don't see the similarity [neither do I, S...neither do I], but I am sure once people taste our whisky, they'll know what it is, whatever the name is on it.'

Yes, this interview was probably rehearsed. Yes, Gillespie might have sent the questions to S/his people in advance for reviewing. No, he could not speak about a legally complicated situation before the final settlement with that Schoppingen beer brewer (penalties are probably still to be fixed and paid, but I will check that, so don't take my word for Gospel truth, yet). I will write separately about this whole thing, because I still think that was a very questionable decision of the EUIPO. Not because it royally pisses me off (so fucking unfair!), but because I really fail to see the proper legal reasoning and basis for it. His answer was perfect, under the circumstances. Absolutely perfect.

Anyways, FWIW, it would seem some sort of solution has already been found ('whatever the name is on it') and that most probably would be to rebrand it. And sell it on the German/EU market under a new name.

Lallybroch (https://trademarks.justia.com/981/67/lallybroch-98167525.html), perhaps? Time will tell, but that could explain this recent trademark application I didn't have time to properly look into, yet:

Further ahead (and fast forward through the cask version release, these things bore me to death), we land on another (as yet) unexploded ordnance:

MG: 'I have to mention your show MIK that you do with Graham McTavish, you visited a bunch of distilleries during that one... any visit in particular stands out?'

Now I am not very sure if that question was the best possible one, since that SAG-AFTRA strike is still an ongoing situation. And his answer was quite clever, changing the focus on their visit to Laphroaig's distillery on Islay and waxing lyrical about the casks, the peat, the landscape, etc. But other than a perfunctory and logical 'we', I heard absolutely nothing about McTavish, and it could have been so damn easy to further change the subject and mention his bourbon, with a few kind words. Therefore, I think things are pretty obviously not exactly on the sunny side, between the two. And I guess we all know why.

To end this long post on a cheerful note, I almost forgot to mention something very important. Answering a listener's question about Sassenach not being available in Rhode Island/part of New Jersey, S said something very interesting: 'obviously you can get it online, (...) we've just signed a deal with Southern Glazer's, so we're rolling it out. It is a limited batch, so you know, every year we do do a release and it is very limited, so it does tend to sell out pretty quick. But yes, it is available (...), but obviously you're not gonna see it in every bar, restaurant or retailer, because we just don't have enough of it. But online you can get it and great delivery service, it's very quick.'

I am taking two things home from this last answer: demand exceeds supply, which is both a blessing (solid yield, room for expansion) and a curse (lackadaisical market presence). On short to mid term, distribution will concentrate on the online market, with the help of Southern Glazer's superb infrastructure.

Remember the older guy he had lunch with in MIA, in May? You should, if you didn't focus on Mordor's inept babble about shirts, ballerinas and the like. That guy was instrumental into arranging the deal with Southern Glazer's. Just the biggest wine and spirits distributor on the US market, mind you.

Don't believe me? Check this out:

That company was founded in Florida. Its HQ is still in MIA. He didn't go there because he was looking for ballerinas at his birthday dinner. He went there because when these people are available to meet you, well: you leave everything aside and you damn GO.

Now who the hell is writing fanfiction, eh? You really should be ashamed, madam.

I rest my case.

[outlander-online]

Sam Heughan heading to The Keepers of The Quaich

📸 Getty

[transparentdreamruins]

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

I hope Sam doesn't bring along his partner AN, to appropriate the Scottish culture by wearing the traditional kilt outfit in front of the Keepers of the QUAICH. USA Chapter. Like he did in 2019. No one knew who was he on the gala night. Don't try to shove Alex down the throat!! 🤯

SH’s bloggers friends invited to the gathering. Why it will be 🤔

@shinycomputerqueen Ryan Maloney is from Massachusetts, USA. He has a live liquor radio show and podcast and is the owner of Julio’s Liquors, in a shopping centre in downtown Westborough, MA.

[briefcupcakealpaca]

Keepers of the Quaich. USA Chapter. Gathering in New York City. 4th of October. SAM HEUGHAN.

Only for Keepers!!!

[anamonteiro29]

Sam Heughan

Such an honor to be in Keeper of quaich dinner tonight!

The Keepers of the Quaich is an exclusive and international society that recognizes those that have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch Whiskey industry.

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Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland.

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In this video you can see Sam sitting next to Duke of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell

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October 7, 2019

#samheughan #keepersofthequaich #sassenachspirits #greatglencompany #blaircastle #whisky #scotland

[sweetcorage]

Sam Heughan at Keepers Of the Quaich ceremony

Metropolitan ,NYC , October 4th

Sweet Blue Sky 🩵🩵🩵

Impression KOTQ - USA, 4 October 2023 Metropolitan Club NYC

🎥 theglobaltrip

[p-redux]

Hey guys, for some reason my phone isn't posting full links from Twitter or Instagram. I'm trying to post the new ones out there from last night of Sam Heughan at The Keepers of the Quaich. But I'm not able to. Also, I stayed up way too late last night and now I'm cross eyed. Sooooo, sorry to be a drag, but I won't be posting more Sam stuff from last night---you can find everything on Instagram from Outlander accounts. I'll be back on today or tomorrow if there's any scoops, but not to repost stuff that's already out there. Hope you understand.

PS. For the inevitable mean girl comments mocking my "eye issues," you try posting practically daily for the last 9 years in this Godforsaken fandom and see if you aren't half blind too. The struggle is real, folks.

Sending much love to the Team, you guys are awesome!

[transparentdreamruins]

📷 samheughan IG

[thetruthwilloutsworld]

Credit kotqusa.org

Keepers of the Quaich N.Y. 4 October 2023

[contemplatingoutlander]

Sam Again Goes to an Important Event Without Cait (because they are #somarried 🙄)

I continue to be amazed that some SamCait extreme shippers (ES) are continuing to believe that Sam and Cait are “secretly married” even though Cait married Tony in a Roman Catholic ceremony. As I’ve said before, there is no legal way TPTB could force Sam and Cait to pretend to be with other people. So if they were a “secret couple” they would have had to decide to put themselves through this charade! 🤦‍♀️

But honestly, why on earth would Cait want to miss all the incredible things that Sam experienced this year if she were really his wife? He went to Buckingham Palace, he was awarded honorary doctorates from two universities, and now he has gone to the prestigious Keepers of the Quaich at Blair Castle. 

For each major event in Sam’s life, Cait was not present--not even as Sam’s co-star or friend. What “wife” would pass up Buckingham Palace for goodness’ sake?

Since certain ES always seem to assume that every brunette with short hair in Sam’s vicinity is Cait, I want to point out that the woman sitting next to Sam yesterday evening (Oct. 7, 2019) at Blair Castle wasn’t Cait. 

The photos below of Sam and the woman are from this VIDEO and this VIDEO:

To me this is more proof that Sam and Cait have been telling the truth for years--they are not a couple nor have they been one at least since 2014, when Tony came into the picture. 

[edited]

UPDATE 10.09.19: The mystery woman has been revealed to be Sam P. She was probably not a date but just another guest seated at Sam’s table.

[sgiandubh]

Networking

Remember my Keepers of the Quaich post, last week?

Mordorians laughed and barked for ever about it and Marple told her crowd I was writing ridiculous science fiction scenarios - her constitutional right to be (tragically) wrong, of course.

Funny how all these people never pay attention to pictures not featuring the potential new calendar girl.

Such as this one, where two of the people are top level sales executives at Moët Hennessy USA :

The blonde woman (red arrow) is ...

Recently appointed as Sales Manager for Resorts, Leisure and Bars.

The smiling gentleman with the orange pocket square is Matthew Jobe...

Senior Director Prestige Experiential Retail. I read the guy's job description and rest my case:

'partnering with the brand team and Maison (that's the Paris HQ) on strategies for our whisky portfolio'.

In layman terms, this is one of the people whose jobs are to actively keep an eye on up-and-coming whisky brands, for potential acquisition.

I would like to be very clear, because I read snarls from Mordor. These things do not happen instantly. This is a mid to long term careful expansion strategy. No one is going to add a brand without a sales history and clear market benchmark to a conglomerate portfolio. No matter who pulls the networking strings.

But sure, snarl, idiots. Snarl. The boy is going to laugh all the way to the bank, at the end of the day.

And yes, keep being interested in a nine-second video snippet dropped in the inbox of a troll.

[outlander-online]

Sam Heughan at the Keepers on the Quaich event in NYC last night

📸: alasdairnichol / SprigandSocial / Leonstudionyc / DaveyBarrett on IG