In 2021, the Edinburgh-based Scotch Whiskey Association sued Graeme Macaloney, owner of Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery in Saanich, BC.
The association claimed that Macaloney used terms in the name of its whiskey that would make buyers believe that its products were actually from Scotland.
Among the terms challenged was “Caledonian”, an old name for Scotland. along with the “island” and even the Scottish surname of Macaloney himself.
Several of Macaloney whiskeys will change their names as a result of the compromise. (Katie Nicholson / CBC)
“I was not very happy about it,” said Scotland-born Macaloney in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
“I’m a very proud Canadian for the last 30 years or so. And I love the Scottish heritage … And so when that became a controversial name, it was very upsetting.”
But both Macaloney and the union said the dispute ended in a compromise.
The association dropped its lawsuit in exchange for Macaloney changing the name of the distillery to Macaloney Island Distillery, marking its location on Vancouver Island.
“And the win-win in this is that we continue to use ‘Macaloney’ and celebrate the word ‘island,’” Macaloney said. “The distilleries of the island produce special whiskey due to the influences of the sea.”
He also had to change the names of his whiskeys which have Scottish toponyms: Glenloy, Invermallie and Invernahaven. That was a little annoying, he said, as these products had won some awards.
“They get their name from places in Scotland where my family was active hundreds and hundreds of years ago,” he said.
“If you try to reach a compromise, you will have some hard gifts on both sides.”
As part of the deal, he says he will have several months to sell the remaining stock of his products in question.
