Cape Breton whisky makers lose round

[robthehiker]

The Federal Court of Canada has ruled that Glenora Distillers International Ltd. cannot register the trademark Glen Breton, the name of its single-malt whisky. Glenora Distillers has been locked in a battle over the name with the Scotch Whisky Association, which argues the word "Glen" should only apply to whisky made in Scotland.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/200...y.html?ref=rss

On a related note, all Canadians named "Hamish" must hereafter be referred to as "James".

[ccga3359]

I'll side with the distiller on this one. I'll be damned if a foreign entity dictates to a Canadian company's product being sold in Canada. Should it be sold in Scotland then have the name changed over there. And for those that will oppose me quoting the article:

Glenora Distillers has been locked in a battle over the name with the Scotch Whisky Association, which argues the word "Glen" should only apply to whisky made in Scotland.

The association presented menus and advertising it claimed showed that the public was being deceived into thinking Glen Breton was a new Scottish single malt.

Do they thing whisky drinkers are stupid enough or drunk enough to mis-read Canada's only Single Malt Whisky as Scottish Single Malt Whisky?

[Mael Coluim]

Good grief, it's not Scotch, but Canadian whiskey. The court ruling is asinine.

[The Wizard of BC]

And I'm afraid that they will need to remove "Canada's Only" from their label also as the distillery here in BC is now up and running. We are awaiting only the first bottling.

[Oldhiker]

I'll side with the distiller on this one. I'll be damned if a foreign entity dictates to a Canadian company's product being sold in Canada. Should it be sold in Scotland then have the name changed over there. And for those that will oppose me quoting the article:

Do they thing whisky drinkers are stupid enough or drunk enough to mis-read Canada's only Single Malt Whisky as Scottish Single Malt Whisky?

I think I will buy some to support my neighbors to the north... for medicinal purposes of cource.

[northernsky]

Alcohol makers are able to do this under regulations from the EU & GATT. Champagne is another example, as are Bordeaux and Burgundy. There are many other examples. I'm not sure distillers in certain parts of the states would appreciate it if a Scottish company advertised their product as Kentucky bourbon.

[J.B. Simpson]

I'm not sure distillers in certain parts of the states would appreciate it if a Scottish company advertised their product as Kentucky bourbon.

But if they called it Bourbon there wouldn't be a problem. Just like there shouldn't be one with calling it "Single Malt Whisky". I don't see anything on the label stating it is "Scottish Single Malt Whisky".

[Colin]

Alcohol makers are able to do this under regulations from the EU & GATT. Champagne is another example, as are Bordeaux and Burgundy. There are many other examples. I'm not sure distillers in certain parts of the states would appreciate it if a Scottish company advertised their product as Kentucky bourbon.

I can see where that applies to "Scotch", but I don't see how that applies to "Glen" in the name of the whisky.

If they're so proud of being Canadian, why not use a Canadian geographical feature?

They are. We have plenty of "glens" in Canada and as Robthehiker pointed out

the distillery is located in Glenville, next to the community of Glenora Falls in Nova Scotia.

.

[turpin]

It's the use of "Glen" in the name the SMWS was objecting to. They seem to think Glen is synonymous with Scotch. Which, up till now, it most likely has been.

[Jerry]

It's the use of "Glen" in the name the SMWS was objecting to. They seem to think Glen is synonymous with Scotch. Which, up till now, it most likely has been.

But the term Glen is used most everywhere English is spoken, meaning a small wooded valley, usually with a stream. I believe that Canada has some of these, does it not? Perhaps the name should be changed to Breton Glen Single Malt Whiskey.