History of the Quaich – the Scottish Drinking Cup

The Quaich is a shallow drinking cup or bowl originating from Scotland. The word Quaich is attributed to the Gaelic word ‘cuach’, which is itself derived from the Latin word 'caucus' meaning drinking cup. The Quaich hails from medieval times when people were very distrustful of strangers and therefore carried their own cup for fear of either poisoning or watering down of their whisky!

They are wide and shallow in shape with two or three ‘lug’ handles and were traditionally made of wood or wood with silver banding. It is believed that the predecessor of the Quaich was the humble scallop shell which was the perfect size for holding a wee dram! From the seventeenth century the Quaich was generally made of silver or pewter and decorated with Celtic symbols. The centre of the bowl was normally decorated with a silver coin or a coat of arms. Some were made with a glass base so that the drinker could keep an eye on his companions.

The Quaich was traditionally used for drinking whisky or brandy but some larger examples have been found (one and a half pints) which were obviously used for drinking ale.

Nowadays the Quaich is often given to couples when they wed so they can share from the same cup which symbolizes their shared love and trust. The Quaich has also become a popular gift at christening ceremonies. A wooden Quaich was sometimes used as a baptismal font and has become synonymous with Christenings in Scotland as well as to celebrate births and drink to the health of the bairn.