[Smevo]

I thought about making this it's own thread, but I decided to tuck it in here instead. I'll move it if requested though.

From Today's CB Post

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Glenora thinks twice about Glen Breton Ice
Demand forces Cape Breton distillery to release second limited bottling of world’s first single malt whisky aged in an ice wine barrel

By Nancy King
the Cape Breton Post

GLENVILLE — The Glenora Distillery is releasing a second limited bottling of its Glen Breton Ice, after an initial release virtually sold out within two weeks.

The product, the world’s first single malt whisky aged in an ice wine barrel, will be available at selected Nova Scotia Liquor Commission retail outlets.

Glenora president Lauchie MacLean said 60 cases have been set aside for sale in Nova Scotia. Some will also be shipped to Poland and Belgium, initially, with orders pending for the United States and Sweden. The Inverness County company also expects to be shipping to Asia by April.

“It’s been phenomenal, we haven’t been able to keep up to it,” MacLean said, of the demand inspired by the initial release at the end of last year. “Jost Wineries, who we’re dealing with, is trying to age more product so we can have access to more casks.”

The strong favourable response within the province caught MacLean a bit off guard. He noted it is an expensive product, retailing for $49.95 for a 250-millimetre bottle.

“The price point is not for the faint of heart,” he said. “It’s expensive but it’s extremely rare . . . The proof will be in the pudding if the buyers who bought it once will buy it a second or third time, then we’ll really know if we have a winning product.”

Once Glen Breton Ice is introduced into a market, the intention is to be able to continue to regularly offer the product in that market, MacLean noted.

While its flagship product Glen Breton Rare is already a unique product by virtue of being the only single malt whisky distilled in the country, Glenora was encouraged to try something uniquely Canadian by an Asian client. Canada is world-renowned for its ice wines.

“The people over there were saying we should come up with something maybe even more unique because Canadian single malt whisky is not known on its own. But what else is Canada known for? We’re known for ice wine, so we said ‘Hey, we’ll try some of this product,’” MacLean said.
“Lo and behold, local markets are soaking it up even before we can get it to overseas markets.”

Glenora is also working on other new products, but isn’t prepared to release any details, he said.

The distillery also recently won the first battle in a trademark dispute, when the Canadian Trademark Commission rejected a challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association of Glasgow, Scotland, against its right to use the term glen in the name of its Glen Breton Rare. The Scotch association has indicated it will appeal the ruling.

The Glenora Distillery is located in Glenville, Inverness County, along Route 19, between the communities of Inverness and Mabou. It also operates an inn and chalets, pub and restaurant and runs tours during the tourism season.

Since price was brought up in the article, for those who don't know, Glen Breton Rare (which is quite successful and very good "on the rocks" ) sells for roughly $80/750ml and is available in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick at least, not sure where else it's shipped (it's relatively new to New Brunswick). Anyway, not trying to sell product, just thought the article might be worth posting since it's business related to Cape Breton.