After more than a decade and a half of dedicated service to Dewar’s as North American Brand Ambassador, Cardarella will write the next chapter of his own story as he returns to Scotland to be inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich.

Founded by industry-leading distillers, the Keepers of the Quaich is composed of dedicated people who work, write, or evangelize about the Scotch whisky industry. Candidates need to work for a minimum of seven consecutive years in the industry while being nominated by two existing Keepers. Cardarella will be inducted into the society in a ceremony on October 7 at Blair Castle.

“Being inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich is such an incredible honor and a huge milestone for me,” Cardarella said. “What started as a role with Dewar’s has grown into a real passion for sharing the brand’s story and the craftsmanship behind it. It’s a privilege to be recognized in this way, and I’m proud to represent Dewar’s and continue being part of something so meaningful in the whisky world.”

Cardarella never aspired to be a Scotch whisky aficionado. It wasn’t until a pinch-me moment when he was called by a recruiter while on tour managing a band that everything changed. A few weeks later, he was off to Scotland to begin his new journey. It was love at first sip.

Under the tutelage of Dewar’s master blender Stephanie Macleod, Cardarella’s knowledge of and passion for Scotch whisky continued to age. Over the past decade, he’s hosted an array of tastings and master classes, while being featured in esteemed publications including The Wall Street Journal, Chilled Magazine, Men’s Journal, and American Way.