While many small Canadian businesses are preparing for the worst as President Donald Trump's tariffs loom, some may find a silver lining 香蕉视频直播� Macaloney香蕉视频直播檚 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 Even after that halt was temporarily rescinded.

香蕉视频直播淚 think there香蕉视频直播檚 been a real Canadian sentiment. We see it on television with the premiers talking about trade barriers, but we香蕉视频直播檙e seeing it with consumers too,香蕉视频直播� said Graeme Macaloney, founder, president and master whisky maker at Macaloney香蕉视频直播檚.  

Macaloney was fondly described by one of his employees as a 香蕉视频直播渂it of a mad scientist entrepreneur.香蕉视频直播� 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.   

香蕉视频直播淵ou know, to be booing at a hockey match against Americans 香蕉视频直播� 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,香蕉视频直播� he said.  

But tariffs aren香蕉视频直播檛 the only thing boosting his business. Macaloney香蕉视频直播檚 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 won香蕉视频直播檛 be worth the effort.  

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no way I will even attempt that 香蕉视频直播� it will not be viable. However, we don香蕉视频直播檛 need the Americans,香蕉视频直播� he said, explaining that his distillery is turning its focus to other countries and expanding sales within Canada.  

香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�  

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

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 always been kind of a glass ceiling, if you will, because with the BCL here, we香蕉视频直播檝e got five whiskies listed. In Ontario and Quebec, we only have one,香蕉视频直播� he said.  

香蕉视频直播淎ll of a sudden, we香蕉视频直播檙e now talking to these other liquor buyers, saying, 香蕉视频直播榃hy don香蕉视频直播檛 you list more of our whiskies?香蕉视频直播� And then Canadians can visibly see there香蕉视频直播檚 a bunch of new Canadian products.香蕉视频直播�  

Macaloney has no trouble keeping up with demand, thanks to his 香蕉视频直播減roprietary distilling method,香蕉视频直播� 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.  

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e got a warehouse full of whisky ready to sell now. I can make a lot more, and I don香蕉视频直播檛 have to wait.香蕉视频直播�  

Overall, Macaloney says the trade war has so far been a net positive for his business, but he knows that香蕉视频直播檚 not the case for everyone.  

香蕉视频直播淢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,香蕉视频直播� he said.  

香蕉视频直播淭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 you香蕉视频直播檝e got high inflation, and now you香蕉视频直播檝e got this rubbish coming out of Donald Trump. These are the kinds of things that kill small companies.香蕉视频直播�  

Those looking to replace their usual Jack Daniels or Buffalo Trace with a northern product can learn more about Macaloney香蕉视频直播檚 whisky on