While many small Canadian businesses are preparing for the worst as President Donald Trump's tariffs loom, some may find a silver lining 91裸聊视频� Macaloney91裸聊视频檚 Island Distillery is one of them.
Since B.C. Premier David Eby announced a halt on sales of liquor from 'red states' within the province, the Vancouver Island distillery has seen a surge in support. Even after that halt was temporarily rescinded.
91裸聊视频淚 think there91裸聊视频檚 been a real Canadian sentiment. We see it on television with the premiers talking about trade barriers, but we91裸聊视频檙e seeing it with consumers too,91裸聊视频� said Graeme Macaloney, founder, president and master whisky maker at Macaloney91裸聊视频檚.
Macaloney was fondly described by one of his employees as a 91裸聊视频渂it of a mad scientist entrepreneur.91裸聊视频� He entered the whisky business as a teenager working at the Black and White Whisky factory in Scottland, and eventually studying fermentation, acquiring a PhD and a degree in biochemical engineering. His engineering career eventually led him into the business world and later to Canada, where he returned to his roots to found McAloney's Island Distiller.
91裸聊视频淵ou know, to be booing at a hockey match against Americans 91裸聊视频� that really says a lot about how Canadians feel about being abused by Donald Trump. That has translated into a lot of interest in buying Canadian,91裸聊视频� he said.
But tariffs aren91裸聊视频檛 the only thing boosting his business. Macaloney91裸聊视频檚 was already celebrating a haul of gold medals and awards at national and international whisky competitions last year. He had been trying to break into the U.S. market, but if a 25 per cent tariff is imposed on his products, he says it won91裸聊视频檛 be worth the effort.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no way I will even attempt that 91裸聊视频� it will not be viable. However, we don91裸聊视频檛 need the Americans,91裸聊视频� he said, explaining that his distillery is turning its focus to other countries and expanding sales within Canada.
91裸聊视频淲hen it comes to whisky made right here in Saanich, guess what? The No. 2 market in the world, and soon to be No. 1, is China.91裸聊视频�
Amid his efforts to get his bottles on shelves worldwide, Macaloney says new opportunities are emerging in Canada as well.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 always been kind of a glass ceiling, if you will, because with the BCL here, we91裸聊视频檝e got five whiskies listed. In Ontario and Quebec, we only have one,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淎ll of a sudden, we91裸聊视频檙e now talking to these other liquor buyers, saying, 91裸聊视频榃hy don91裸聊视频檛 you list more of our whiskies?91裸聊视频� And then Canadians can visibly see there91裸聊视频檚 a bunch of new Canadian products.91裸聊视频�
Macaloney has no trouble keeping up with demand, thanks to his 91裸聊视频減roprietary distilling method,91裸聊视频� which allows his team to produce high-quality whisky in less time. The method is so effective that a four-year-old Irish whisky made using the technique bested a 27-year-old competitor to win a world title.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e got a warehouse full of whisky ready to sell now. I can make a lot more, and I don91裸聊视频檛 have to wait.91裸聊视频�
Overall, Macaloney says the trade war has so far been a net positive for his business, but he knows that91裸聊视频檚 not the case for everyone.
91裸聊视频淢y anxiety, if you will, is just like that of many other small business owners. Thank goodness Canadians are supporting us by buying Canadian. That has been just massive,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭rying to build a business is constantly two steps forward, one step back. COVID was a massive hindrance to small business owners, then post-COVID you91裸聊视频檝e got high inflation, and now you91裸聊视频檝e got this rubbish coming out of Donald Trump. These are the kinds of things that kill small companies.91裸聊视频�
Those looking to replace their usual Jack Daniels or Buffalo Trace with a northern product can learn more about Macaloney91裸聊视频檚 whisky on
