Legendary Scottish Actor James Cosmo Celebrates Highland Heritage At Keepers of the Quaich USA Rare Scotch Event

NEW YORK, NY – Keepers of the Quaich USA Chapter (KOTQUSA.org), the American arm of the Blair Castle-headquartered Scotch whisky society, today announced legendary Scottish actor James Cosmo (Game of Thrones, Braveheart & Highlander among other titles) and now whisky entrepreneur, keynoted its 2024 Banquet at the New York Athletic Club.

The evening was a benefit for the Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation, a Scottish scholarship charity that provides internships opportunities for adult college students, mostly from underprivileged backgrounds. Minister Counsellor for Scottish Affairs Colin Gray, the top Scottish government official in the US also spoke.

"The Scotch whisky industry is a living, breathing thing. It's steeped in history but brimming with innovation, where tradition and craftsmanship meet the future. There’s a vibrancy and excitement here that’s impossible to ignore. Every dram tells a story, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this narrative and this event," said Cosmo, whose new Scotch is called Storyman.

Over Thirty Rare and Unique Scotches From Ten Leading Scotch Companies

A distinguished audience of senior industry leaders—many of whom are Keepers or Masters of the Quaich—media and other influential guests enjoyed over thirty rare and unique whiskies that were offered at the cocktail hour. Among them were:  Dewar’s Double Double 38-Year Blended Malt Whisky; Talisker 30-Year; Macallan Amber Medal from Harmony Collection; Laphroaig 33-Year; Glenfiddich Grand Chateau 31-Year; Ardbeg 19-Year-Old, Batch 6; The Glenlivet 25-Year; Bruichladdich Black Art 11; Torabhaig Cnoc Na Moine; The Dalmore Select Edition 2008; along with Cosmo’s new brand, Storyman. 

US Chapter Cochair, Master of the Quaich, and Diageo North America Chief Marketing Officer Edward Pilkington said: “I’m excited to see the Scotch community in the US gather in New York this week to celebrate this amazing spirit and incredible industry. The US remains the largest market by value for Scotch in the world, and the passionate brand builders in the room tonight plan to keep it that way!”

US Chapter Founder and Cochair Frank Coleman said, “Over 9 million cases of Scotch, nearly 110,000 million bottles, were sold in US last year, worth $2.6 billion to distillers. The US is far and away the most valuable market for this, the ultimate luxury spirit.” He is a Master of the Quaich and president of Frank Coleman Strategies, an industry consultancy.

Keepers of the Quaich is an exclusive international society that recognizes, rewards and celebrates those who have shown outstanding commitment to Scotch whisky, the ultimate luxury spirit.

JAMES COSMO, Scottish Acting Legend

James Cosmo has had a long and illustrious career in film and television, appearing in over 130 films and TV shows, including Highlander, Braveheart, Game of Thrones, Trainspotting, Troy, and His Dark Materials, among others. In 2023, the Scottish acting legend teamed up with Annandale Distillery to create a new whisky, STORYMAN, to add to his repertoire. James says, “It is a smooth, rich and complex whisky that is perfect for sharing with family and friends.”

He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Bristol Old Vic drama school. He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2018 for his services to drama. He is also a patron of the charity, Chance for Childhood.

KOTQUSA officers and directors include, in addition to Pilkington and Coleman: Vice Chairs Marvin Shanken, CEO of Shanken Communications, and Wayne Chaplin, CEO of Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, America’s largest distributor; Treasurer Brian Cox, Bacardi Vice President, Dewars Scotch Whisky; Corporate Secretary Kathleen Dibenedetto, Beam Suntory Senior Director, Marketing; Jonathan Yusen, President of Allied Beverage; Paul Ross, CEO of Edrington America; William Grant & Sons National Brand Ambassador Lorne Cousin; Mahesh Patel, CEO of the Universal Whisky Experience; Melissa Linehan, Northeast Region President, Republic National Distributing Company; Colin Kavanagh, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard NA; and David Blackmore, Global Brand Ambassador, Ardbeg and Glenmorangie.