The Quaich history began in the days when people didn't trust folks so therefore didn't drink out of someone else's cup. Each fellow carried his own "stirrup cup" often hanging from the belt or saddle (like a stirrup) and used it to drink from springs, in taverns and inns. Owners of these cups made sure that they were the proper size in order to get "full measure" of spirits. The cups were the equivalent of one finger, two fingers, three fingers, etc.

Ages ago, in some parts of Scotland - Ireland too I understand - barrels of " the cathur" - whiskey - were set up outside inns and "watering holes". A traveler was welcome to take as many "stirrup" cups as he wished - using his own cup of course - as long as he kept tally and paid the innkeeper at the end of his "Quaff." He'd tell the innkeeper that his quaff was four fingers of whiskey - or six or eight or one or twenty. Of course, the word "Quaff" quickly became "Quaich" in Gaelic dialect.

If seated at a table in the inn, the fellow would use his own Quaich, never letting it leave his hand for fear of "poisoning" or "the watering down" of the whiskey in the bar. The whiskey would be carried to the table in a jug and be poured into each individual's Quaich.

The Quaich was a popular item that was given to men when they married, or when they turned "the drinking age".  It was used ceremoniously at weddings to indicate the couple were "quaffing" together - trusted each other enough to drink from the same cup. At christenings, a Quaich was often given to the baby if a boy, or handed around and ceremoniously drunk from to indicate all in the room were trusted friends.   http://www.scottishshop.com/quaich.html    sitemap