Caledonian

Scottish-born entrepreneur Dr Graeme Macaloney was not deterred by being thousands of kilometres from Scotland: on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, he founded Macaloney's Caledonian in 2016, one of the largest single malt distilleries in North America – equipped with genuine Scottish stills from the renowned manufacturer Forsyths. Over 270 Canadian private investors took part in a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than CAD 2.4 million.

The name "Caledonian" refers not only to Macaloney's Scottish heritage but also to "New Caledonia" – the historic name early settlers gave to the province of British Columbia. Following a legal dispute with the Scotch Whisky Association, the distillery now operates under the name "Macaloney's Island Distillery". With Mac Na Braiche, you will find a Canadian single malt in the island style in our selection.

How did a Scottish-style distillery come to be built in Canada?

Dr Graeme Macaloney, a Scottish-born entrepreneur, set out to prove that world-class single malt whisky could be produced far outside Scotland too. In 2016, he founded the Macaloney's Caledonian distillery on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with financial backing from over 270 Canadian private investors and grants from Canada's agricultural authority. Sustainably grown Canadian barley and copper stills from the renowned Scottish manufacturer Forsyths are used – a combination of Scottish craftsmanship and Canadian raw materials.

Why did the distillery have to change its name?

In 2021, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) sued the company over its use of Scottish-sounding terms such as "Caledonian", "Glenloy", and "Invermallie" on its labels – alleging a breach of the protected geographical indication "Scotch Whisky". Macaloney defended the name by arguing that "Caledonian" honoured both his own surname and "New Caledonia", the historic name of the province of British Columbia. In 2022, the two sides reached an out-of-court settlement: the distillery has since officially operated as "Macaloney's Island Distillery", though some older product names still carrying the "Caledonian" designation can still be found in the trade.

Overview of the most popular bottlings

1. Mac Na Braiche
A Canadian single malt in the Scottish island style.
Taste: Smoky and maritime with fruity depth.
Serving suggestion: An exciting introduction to North American single malt.

2. Darach Poitín
A triple-distilled pot still spirit in the Irish style.
Taste: Soft and fruity with subtle spice.
Serving suggestion: For anyone wanting to discover unusual North American whisky styles.

Facts and figures

Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Founded: 2016 by Dr Graeme Macaloney. Current company name: Macaloney's Island Distillery. Stills: Forsyths, Scotland.