Glenora Distillers

Glenora Distillers

The Glenora Distillery
Founded 1989
Founder Bruce Jardine
Website http://www.glenoradistillery.com/
Glen Breton Rare
Type Single Malt
Age(s) 10 or 8
Cask type(s) American oak
Glen Breton Rare Ice
Type Single Malt
Age(s) 10, 15 or 17
Cask type(s) Oak casks used for ice wine

Glenora Distillers is a distiller based in Glenville, Nova Scotia, Canada (on Cape Breton Island). Their most prominent product is Glen Breton Rare, a Scottish-style single malt whisky made in Canada, which has been the subject of a trademark suit over the use of the word glen. They also make several specialty whiskies and rum, and operate the Glenora Inn & Distillery as a tourist attraction and bed and breakfast.

Glen Breton Rare with Collector's Case

Glenora Distillers is one of two single malt Scottish-style distilleries in Canada.[1]


Brands

Glen Breton Rare

Glen Breton Rare is the signature whisky brand of Glenora Distillers. The 10-year-old whisky is aged in American oak casks.[2] It was featured in the book, 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die.[3] In November 2000, an 8-year-old version of the Glen Breton Rare was released.[4] In June 2010, a 15-year-old version of the Glen Breton single malt whisky was released. It was named "Battle of the Glen", commemorating the distillery's legal battle over the use of the word "glen".[5]

Glen Breton Rare Ice

Glenora Distillery produces a single malt whisky aged in oak barrels used for Jost Vineyard's Ortega Ice Wine. The Glen Breton Rare Ice is available in 10, 15 and 17-year-old versions.[6]

Litigation

The "Glen Breton" name was put into question before it had ever sold a bottle. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), a firm representing 57 different Scotch whisky companies from Scotland, claimed that the whisky was misleading potential international buyers by using the term "Glen" in its name—a term used almost exclusively on Scotch whisky labels. The trademark name "Scotch" does not appear on the bottle anywhere, and the label states it is a product of Canada and clearly displays a red maple leaf.

On January 24, 2007, CBC News reported that the Canadian Trade-marks Opposition Board rejected the arguments of the Scotch Whisky Association, clearing the way for the distillery to continue to use the Glen Breton Rare label. The SWA responded that the ruling was inconsistent with international case law, and that it would file an appeal.[7]

On April 3, 2008, the Federal Court of Canada ruled in favour of the SWA's demand that the word Glen be dropped from the product's name.[8][9] On December 18, 2008 Glenora Distillers appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa and on January 22, 2009 the court overturned the lower court’s ruling.[10][11]

An application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, filed by SWA on March 23, 2009, was dismissed with costs on June 11, 2009.[12][13]

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Shelter Point Distillery website (which says "There are only two single malt whisky distilleries in Canada...").
  2. ↑ http://www.glenoradistillery.com/glenbreton.htm
  3. ↑ Buxton, Ian (2010). 101 whiskies to try before you die. Edinburgh: Hachette Scotland. ISBN 0755360834.
  4. ↑ http://www.glenoradistillery.com/glenbreton.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.glenoradistillery.com/glen.html
  6. ↑ http://www.glenoradistillery.com/glenbreton.htm
  7. ↑ Nova Scotia whisky distiller can keep Glen Breton label
  8. ↑ Cape Breton whisky makers lose round, vow figh t
  9. ↑ Scotch Whisky Association v. Glenora Distillers International Ltd. 2008 FC 425 (3 April 2009)
  10. ↑ Glenora Distillers International Ltd. v. Scotch Whisky Association] 2009 FCA 16 (22 January 2009)
  11. ↑ Cape Breton distiller allowed to keep ‘Glen’ in name
  12. ↑ Glenora wins whisky ‘brew-haha’
  13. ↑ Supreme Court of Canada - Judgments in leave applications (June 11, 2009)