Canadian whisky
 

Seems a bit mean spirited of the Scotch Whisky Association to be clamping down on this BC business. Anyone tried it?

https://globalnews.ca/video/7715218/vancouver-island-distillery-being-sued-by-scotlands-scotch-protector-association

http://globalnews.ca/video/7715218/v...or-association

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I get companies and organizations need to defend trademarks, but seems this place consulted with this organization and it was only when they started winning awards that this organization had an issue with it?

I guess a judge will have to sort it all out.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

Yeah that seems to be the case. It doesn't seem that the maker is trying to hide its Canadian origin. I suppose it could all be cleared up by putting a maple leaf somewhere on the packaging !

Re: Canadian whisky
 

it's not made in Scotland nor the Scottish isles and should not be called Scotch nor implied that it is made there ... no different to other food and drink items that are protected, such as Caerphilly or Wensleydale Cheese.. or the many others...

Re: Canadian whisky
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...794a009397.jpg

Re: Canadian whisky
 

As far as I know they aren't calling it "Scotch" and it has a map of Vancouver Island on the package. Objecting to "Caledonia" is a bit of a stretch, I don't think that many non-Scot Brits, let alone Canadians associate the word with Scotland.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

A Canadian friend of mine owns a distillery, he has made a "Scotch like whiskey" same ingredients, but he can't mention the word Scotch... he said the rules were very clear, just like white sparkling wine cant be called Champagne as its not made in Chamnpagne.... and to be fair I have found a lot of white sparkling wines to be as good or superior to Champagne.... its snobbery to a certain degree I guess, but also protectionism/copywright for the buisness's that are based in Scotland and Champagne.

My friends "Scotch" is real good too!

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I don't think it's snobbery, I think names like Scotch, Champagne, Parmigannio have a right to be protected, it's kind of intellectual property. But it's definitely fair to say that there are some excellent sparkinling white wines out there, and whiskies ! What's your friend's distillery/whisky?

Re: Canadian whisky
 

Suntory whiskey in Japan isn't called Scotch, but everyone knows. The label on Macalone's booze says where it comes from, and the fact that Scottish distillers didn't make a fuss until it started winning awards speaks volumes. Their indignation is now giving the Vancouver Island business a windfall in free advertising.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

That EU-Canada trade deal included Canada applying the "protected" status to food and drink, which could be another reason this dispute seems late- a few years ago there might not have been much basis for a challenge.

What this will do to food in our local grocers (isn't salami now protected?) Is anyone's guess. Plus brexit but I think the UK replicated the Canada deal pretty early on.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

This behaviour doesn't surprise me. You only have to watch Braveheart for the umpteenth time to see the Scots ****ing over the Scots before the English outsmart them.

That being said during the pandemic I've fostered a love for Bourbon and have started to try more Canadian Rye Whiskies.

Canadian's typically don't make anything well but the Rye Whiskies are quite good.

Bourbon is amazing- I wish we had a better selection the LCBO.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

He's turned!!!

Bourbon is quite interesting, have you tried the Elijah Craig? Quite a different flavour to scotch. And no cheaper.

I found an excellent 100% Rye from Alberta, tall skinny bottle, seemed to be the best of the lot. Guess you know Canadian rye has no minimum % rye content so read the label!

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I don't generally buy rye, but once in awhile Wiser's will come up with a small batch commemorative bottle; not the $80 Small Batch but a limited edition they rattle out for just $3 - $4 more than Wiser's Deluxe (last time I had any), and aged a couple of years longer. They've done it with grain elevator shaped bottles for a prairie theme, done it for Sask Roughriders, and one or two others I've bought into. Definitely a cut above the regular. I took an elevator one with the town name Moose Jaw to my friend in Vancouver (he's from the Jaw). He usually drinks Jameson's and they had this elevator on the shelf for maybe 6 - 7 years, then late one night my phone rang and it was him, pissed as a rat saying he and the wife had just drained the elevator and it was fantastic! I think I told him if it wasn't empty it was worth hundreds on ebay.
https://www.icollector.com/WHISKY-BO...APED_i34335301

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I thought that if it was a true Scotch (made in Scotland) it was a Whisky. If it was from outside Scotland it was a Whiskey.

I remember back in the day one of the Japanese brewing companies produced a scotch which the described as "Made from the Finest Scottish Grapes". Didn't last long

Re: Canadian whisky
 

According to this guy..

• Whisky (no e) refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits.
• Whiskey (with an e) refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States.

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/whisky-vs-whiskey/
https://www.thekitchn.com/whiskey-vs...-the-di-100476

Re: Canadian whisky
 

[QUOTE=JGK;12990573]I thought that if it was a true Scotch (made in Scotland) it was a Whisky. If it was from outside Scotland it was a Whiskey.

A lot of people will argue the toss about this forever, but at the end of the day it's a phonetic translation from Gaelic so there isn't a correct answer. Spell WISK EEE in English, many ways to skin a cat.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I didn't mean snobbery as in the companies protecting their copywright being able to use the name Scotch, Champagne etc, I totally agree with that... I meant more the people drinking it! some would say its not as good if its not a "Scotch" or an "Champagne" which is just not true as you have agreed. I meant more of brand snobbery. by customers.

My friends distillery is called Blacks its based in Peterborough Ontario, he started off with a Vodka and Gin but now does a "Scotch" in about name, a Rye and a Bourbon.... all off them his own recipes. My favourite of his is his gin, its the best I have ever had, its excellent, goes down perfect on a hot summer day.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

Very interesting; I've had clear rye whiskey before (Calvert's Double Distilled) but Black's White Barley appears to be clear Scotch product*. Kudos to him for taking on such a major project, covering so many categories of liquor and liqueur. If I was there I'd try some of his offerings.
https://blacksdistillery.com/

Re: Canadian whisky
 

Yes the white Barley is the "Scotch" product. I have said it to him from the start, I though it was very brave of him to start up a brand new buisness, while still doing his orginal job, he was a tool and die maker, all his distilery knowledge is self taught, so I admire him greatly and hope it works out for him, he richly deserves it. He has given up his tool and die job now, (just before covid of course) talk about timing! , I know he has been struggling, but is surviving. So hope he makes it though.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I had to turn.

It's not that I don't love beer, but the absence of a gym during the pandemic made the weekly intake difficult to wear on the body. I have the whiskey with a lot of rocks so it dilutes the sweetness a little but also provides fewer calories and slightly better hydration which lends itself to lesser hangovers and better sleep.

I'm not sure if I got to Elijah Craig but I've been through 8 or 9 of the Bourbon's. I've not gone over $50 a bottle yet but I have felt that when I've touched the cheaper bottles they've not been quite as good. I know it's on the mainstream but Bulleit is probably my favourite. The last bottle I had was the Wild Turkey that I quite liked.

Non- Bourbon I had the Dillons Rye recently which I also enjoyed immensely.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

The Elijah Craig small batch was like $10 off which is unusual for an LCBO offer, I think it was in the 40s, and I was pretty impressed. Didn't buy again because I wasn't in a sipping whisky mood and if you're mixing I use the regular Wisers etc.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

I've just started with Bourbons and haven't been disappointed yet. I liked Buffalo Trace then upgraded to Eagle Rare (also from BT) which was really smooth. I liked Woodford Reserve as well.

For Canadian Whiskys I'm looking at maybe getting something from Forty Creek.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

Cool, will check it out. I'm always impressed with people who have the gumption to set up a drinks business when the big boys are so dominant.

Re: Canadian whisky
 

:rofl:

Re: Canadian whisky
 

Yes me too, its very brave and very admirable, so I will all I can to support him. My cousin and her husband came over to visit me Christmas before last, I took them to the distillery, they loved it, they were very impressed, and by his infomative warm attitude towards them. They bought quite a bit of stuff to take back to Blighty with them!