Not many indeed, especially of the fortitude and calibre of those Scots who, in 1834, gathered together in Montreal to celebrate not only the festival of St. Andrew but also to discuss the future formation of the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal.

True to the tradition that the Scots have always been "highly convivial folk, with every social occasion centring around either a tappit-hen brimming with claret, a gray-beard of malt whisky, a reeking punch-bowl or a bowie reaming with home-made brew", the meeting, including dinner, was described by its chairman, Adam Ferrie, as a "joyful occasion". An account of the gathering states that there was a profusion of first-rate port and madeira provided, with a bottle of champagne for each person (120) but "yet the wine ran out"! Mr. Ferrie, however, had anticipated the possibility of such a calamity arising and had arranged for two dozen supplementary bottles to be delivered from his private stock. However, by two o'clock in the morning the extra supply which had been greeted by "a great cheer" was also depleted and the company began to "thin out fast" until "only a few choice spirits with hard heads remained and drew near to the chair". At which time, an order for "some fine Highland whisky, boiling water and tumblers" was made and after each of the diehards had drunk three hot toddies apiece, they finally parted company at five o'clock in the morning. As for the chairman, in his own words: "I never left the chair from the time I took it at six o'clock in the evening until the final departure when I danced the Highland Fling with the few who saw it out". In later years he would remark that of all the annual gatherings attended he never saw one of them go off as well as the one in 1834!

While the Scots in Montreal at that time obviously appreciated "a guid dram" at a time of celebration, as they still do in this century at our annual Whisky Tasting event, one should always take into account the well-known Scottish tradition of hospitality and enjoyment, especially when commemorating St. Andrew's Day. Besides, while the liquid consumption may have been high, the cost, compared to the present day, was certainly low. A gallon of whisky (uisge-beatha or "water of life") was only two shillings and sixpence and a bottle of the finest champagne cost even less.

Scotland's poets have long written in praise of the famous national drink. In particular, Robert Burns who often exclaimed that "freedom and whisky gang thegither". He also advocated that its appropriate consumption could be put to good use in doing away with costly and unnecessary legal fees:

In addition, to quote the opinion and obvious wisdom of another well-known Scottish poet and novelist - James Hogg, "the Ettrick Shepherd", it would seem that not only legal fees but other monetary expenses could also be avoided by controlled consumption of the "universal panacea"; described as being an aid to digestion, a reviver for the weary, a nightcap for the sleepless and sometimes a medicine to sustain cardiac and nervous energy:

SLAINTE!

Glossary:

Tappit-hen: A Scottish quart-measure of ale or claret
Gray-beard: A large earthenware jar for holding liquor
Bowie: A small cask
Barley-bree: Malt liquor; whisky
Trow: Believe
Leeve: Live
Kirk-yairds: Cemeteries

Mary Johnston Cox

Historian

During the 19th century "Mountain Dew" was a popular whisky which the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal, from its inception, regularly ordered by the anker (4-gallon cask) from Scotland for use at the earlier annual St. Andrew's Day dinners where quite often up to sixteen toasts or more were proposed and drunk during the evening.

This year's Malt Whisky Tasting and Scottish Fare event will be held at the Officers' Mess, The Black Watch Armoury, 2067 Bleury Street, Montreal on Friday, October 18th. While the whisky will not be poured from a 4-gallon wooden cask but from a variety of well-known brand named bottles, the occasion promises to be as joyful an event, in the true hospitable Scottish tradition, as those earlier ones of the 19th century. For further information please contact the Society's office at (514) 842-2030.