While many small Canadian businesses are preparing for the worst as President Donald Trump's tariffs loom, some may find a silver lining B次元官网网址� MacaloneyB次元官网网址檚 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 Even after that halt was temporarily rescinded.

B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 been a real Canadian sentiment. We see it on television with the premiers talking about trade barriers, but weB次元官网网址檙e seeing it with consumers too,B次元官网网址� said Graeme Macaloney, founder, president and master whisky maker at MacaloneyB次元官网网址檚.  

Macaloney was fondly described by one of his employees as a B次元官网网址渂it of a mad scientist entrepreneur.B次元官网网址� 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 Macaloney's Island Distiller.   

B次元官网网址淵ou know, to be booing at a hockey match against Americans B次元官网网址� 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,B次元官网网址� he said.  

But tariffs arenB次元官网网址檛 the only thing boosting his business. MacaloneyB次元官网网址檚 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 wonB次元官网网址檛 be worth the effort.  

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no way I will even attempt that B次元官网网址� it will not be viable. However, we donB次元官网网址檛 need the Americans,B次元官网网址� he said, explaining that his distillery is turning its focus to other countries and expanding sales within Canada.  

B次元官网网址淲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.B次元官网网址�  

Amid his efforts to get his bottles on shelves worldwide, Macaloney says new opportunities are emerging in Canada as well.  

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always been kind of a glass ceiling, if you will, because with the BCL here, weB次元官网网址檝e got five whiskies listed. In Ontario and Quebec, we only have one,B次元官网网址� he said.  

B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden, weB次元官网网址檙e now talking to these other liquor buyers, saying, B次元官网网址榃hy donB次元官网网址檛 you list more of our whiskies?B次元官网网址� And then Canadians can visibly see thereB次元官网网址檚 a bunch of new Canadian products.B次元官网网址�  

Macaloney has no trouble keeping up with demand, thanks to his B次元官网网址減roprietary distilling method,B次元官网网址� 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.  

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a warehouse full of whisky ready to sell now. I can make a lot more, and I donB次元官网网址檛 have to wait.B次元官网网址�  

Overall, Macaloney says the trade war has so far been a net positive for his business, but he knows thatB次元官网网址檚 not the case for everyone.  

B次元官网网址淢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,B次元官网网址� he said.  

B次元官网网址淭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 youB次元官网网址檝e got high inflation, and now youB次元官网网址檝e got this rubbish coming out of Donald Trump. These are the kinds of things that kill small companies.B次元官网网址�  

Those looking to replace their usual Jack Daniels or Buffalo Trace with a northern product can learn more about MacaloneyB次元官网网址檚 whisky on