Macaloney’s renames whiskies after SWA dispute

Trade body the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and Canadian whisky maker Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery have settled a lawsuit over the latter’s name.

In March 2021, the SWA filed a civil lawsuit against MacMhaol-onfhaidh (Macaloney) Brewers & Distillers, the owner of Macaloney’s Calendonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery in British Columbia, Canada.

The SWA accused the producer of breeching Scotch whisky’s geographical indication (GI) by using words associated with Scotland on its bottlings.

The trade body objected to the use of the words ‘Caledonian’, ‘Macaloney’, ‘Island whisky’, ‘Glenloy’ and ‘Invermallie’ on the distiller’s products.

The dispute has now been settled, and Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery has agreed to rename its products.

A joint statement from the SWA and the Canadian producer said: “Macaloney Brewer & Distillers Ltd and the Scotch Whisky Association have resolved their dispute after reaching agreement on the re-labelling of Macaloney Brewer & Distillers’ Canadian whiskies.”

Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery was established in 2016. It produces Canadian single malt and triple-distilled pot still whiskies, made using traditional Scottish and Irish methods.

The distiller originally said it ‘strongly’ disagreed with the SWA’s lawsuit, and claimed to have never used the Scotch GI on its products.

Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery argued the name was a nod to the founder’s surname, Macaloney. Furthermore, it claimed Caledonia was importuned to the brand’s story because of the founder’s heritage and home in British Columbia, which was originally called New Caledonia by settlers in the early 19th century.

In February this year, the Canadian producer contemplated filing a trade complaint against the SWA after it prevented the company from distributing its products in Germany.