Business & Tech
Elite Scotch Whisky Club Toasts Julio's Liquors Owner
Ryan Maloney was recently inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich.
Until a member nominated him to apply to join that "society put together for the promotion of Scotch whisky and charitable giving," he said.
"There's only less than 2,200 to 2,300 Keepers in the entire world," Maloney said.
"If you're in the whisky industry, you know about being a Keeper. It's one of the things that most guys aspire to be. It's a great honor. But you can't really go and lobby for it. You have to be asked first."
The Keepers inducted Maloney during a recent dinner at Blair Castle in Scotland.
He said he spent part of the event "talking with some of the best people in the industry, which was definitely cool."
"Usually, retailers do not get picked. In the US especially, there's probably a handful of retailers," he said.
Maloney believes about 50 to 60 new members were inducted that night.
And he remains unsure how the Keepers discovered him.
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"I have enough friends in the industry (that) I hope my name just came up a couple of times," he said.
Once nominated, candidates must submit an application noting their credentials "and what you've done for the promotion of Scotch whisky in the United States," Maloney said. A committee then votes on the candidates.
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"You've basically been recognized by your peers at a even higher level than most of your friends are even at, recognize your contributions to whisky, and Scotch whisky," Maloney said.
Julio's does Whisky Wednesdays, which are weekly whisky tastings; offers a Loch and K(e)y Society "Go! Whisk(e)y Weekend"; and also does charity work "using whisky as a tool to raise money for charitable events," Maloney said.
"Our small nights are over 25 people. That's every Wednesday," he said.
Maloney said whisky's appeal is "the taste."
"It's the history behind it. It's the comaraderie that goes along with whisky drinking. And it's pretty open: people wanting other people to get involved with it too."
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