St Andrews Quaich Society

St Andrews’ incredible whisky society, at 26! We host regular tastings, getting any and everyone into whisky. Join us for some great nights, and better drams!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Happy St Patrick’s Day To You All! 🇮🇪

To celebrate we bring you a fantastic lineup of Waterford whiskies, courtesy of of Aedan!

His personal favourite is the Gaia 1.1! It’s a sweet, fruity pour without too much bitterness in the mix!

Sláinte!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Bringing a really interesting dram to you from... Wales?? Yes you heard right!

Penderyn is a wonderful distiller, who we had the pleasure of hosting in 2019, hailing from Brecon Beacons and operating since 2004!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Well today marks a special date in the whisky calendar: Burn’s Night! Celebrating the life of Scotland’s National Poet: Rabbie (That’s Robert to the non Scots 😉) Burns!

“O thou, my muse! guid auld Scotch drink!
Whether thro' wimplin worms thou jink”

from his ‘Scotch Drink’

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

We’re fortunate to have committee members spread far and wide, and Oliver is one of them! Here is a German dram he’s been fortunate enough to get his hands on over the break:

Aged in virgin oak for 4 years, with an interesting use of 85% Beechwood smoke for the Malt to 15% peat!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Patrick had Glenallachie Moscatel Cask with cinnamon biscuits whilst Aedan enjoyed a 2015 Aberlour Sherry bottle-your-own single cask with a ham lovingly prepared with Sloe Gin, Italian Bitters and Bowmore- before it was wood smoked!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Today marks Christmas Day and the last instalment of our calendar! In the spirit of whisky and Christmas, the committee members who produced the calendar came together to virtually celebrate!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Nathan was drinking Ardbeg Blaaack alongside Auchentoshan-spiked gingerbread. Oliver with Lindores’ Aqua Vitae and a selection of German Christmas biscuits!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Today brings a lovely dram courtesy of Oliver!

“Peat’s Beast” is a PX-finished single malt from Islay. Peat fills the room from this advent calendar treat! The nose is heavy on citrus besides the ominent peat. The PX is present, but not too strong, making a lovely pour!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Another Compass Box edition of our calendar! A different peat monster, this time the Arcana. Another one of Patrick’s, paired with oaties & Stilton!

The Arcana is a heavily peated dram, but with a lot of other interesting flavours such as pineapple, honey and a touch of spice!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

@LindoresAbbey Of course! Although everyone is welcome at our tastings, not just the student population! We hope to see you on our side of Fife as soon as we can! 🥃

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

We’d also like to congratulate them on reaching a huge milestone on the 20th! They can now call their produce whisky again after a few centuries! Their initial casks have now matured for long enough to be recognised as such, we look forwards to tasting them!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Another Lindores Abbey post, but who can blame us?! This is their Aqua Vitae, a full-strength liqueur made using their new-make spirit and a blend of herbs and spices!

Yet again more love from us for Lindores!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

3 weeks into our advent calendar and we bring you another St Andrews Whisky Society take on a classic: The Sour!

This is a product of Nathan’s and is made in an unorthodox way as it’s vegan. Instead of egg white it uses aquafaba (the water from a chickpea can) to achieve froth!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Today we have a rather special bottle of Glen Moray that was bottled in front of Patrick’s very eyes! Pre-COVID he could’ve done it himself, but alas!

It’s a 9 year old peated, port cask finish that has an absolutely lovely ruby colour!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Today we have another take on a classic from Aedan!

It’s not always about big flavours. The highball is the most popular way to drink whisky in Japan, and many other hot countries. Light, refreshing and simple to make, it can be a beautiful way to pass the afternoon!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

In the 18th instalment of our advent calendar we make a trip to the Emerald Isle with the poetically- named “Writer’s Tears”. A copper pot Irish Whiskey, it is a vatted blend of single pot still and single malt whiskey. A fantastic whiskey and a great introduction to the spirit!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Day 17 and we have more to share from our near and dear Lindores Abbey! This time a 2 Year Old cask sample Oliver was fortunate enough to get in a virtual tasting earlier this year!

If this is what 2 years does at Lindores, what can a full term’s maturation produce...?

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

@ScrappysBitters As do we! We always love to experiment and try out new things with our whiskies!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

In today’s edition we swing back to another cocktail, this time a classic from Aedan!

Just as the Manhattan is the whisky cousin to the Martini, and the Rob Roy is its Scotch cousin, the Boulevardier is in the same family as the whisky Negroni!

[St Andrews Quaich Society @QuaichStA]

Day 16 brings us more of a favourite: Compass Box!

Compass Box have been long term friends of the Society, with many memorable tastings over the years from the man himself, John Glaser. Former Society President James Saxon now works alongside him as a fellow whiskymaker!