Bruce Jardine was a local businessman not afraid to think outside the
box. After envisioning the concept for a whisky distillery in Cape
Breton he traveled to Scotland and sourced out the needed equipment.
While in Scotland Jardine acquired a pair of copper pot stills that were
hammered out by A. Forsyth & Sons of Rothes, a mash tun and 3 wooden
washbacks.
As water is a key ingredient in the making of whisky, Bruce and his team
sourced out many water supplies in the area.The site at the base of Glenora falls was a proposed location but
he opted for a site further down MacLellan’s Brook set in an apple
orchard amongst a natural stand of maple trees.
This building, now known as the
Whisky Warehouse, originally housed the first barrels of whisky
produced at Glenora. It was soon realized that the building was too
small.
3 new buildings were built
within the apple orchard on the side of the property and the "Whisky
Warehouse" was converted into a banquet/meeting space.
Shortly after the construction of the distillery, the nine room inn, the
original warehouse, and the erection of the distillation equipment
production began in 1990 yielding a rare 20 barrels.3 years later, after aging in oak barrels, the spirit could
technically be referred to as North America’s first Single Malt Whisky.
Considering single malt whisky typically matures in the warehouse for at
least 8 years, cash flow can become a burden.The company (Glenora) was restructured and led by Gary Widmeyer,
a Bedford, NS businessman.As
Glenora continued to be financially stressed it again was forced into
receivership after 3 more years.
In 1994 Glenora and its maturing whisky was once again saved from its
financial downfall.The new and
present group is led by Lauchie MacLean, another Bedford businessman.
With a growth forecasted in the hospitality business, Glenora built 6
chalets (1, 2, & 3 bedroom) in 1997.The chalets are on the hillside overlooking the main distillery
complex and boast an incredible view of the glens leading into
Glenville.
Production continued and in November, 2000 the first bottling of Glen
Breton Rare was released. The
square, 750ml bottle sported a blue label and was of limited supply.The first 500 bottles filled were numbered, signed, boxed, and
destined to become collector’s items.
Renowned whisky critique and author Michael Jackson and Willie Meikle of
the Glen Ord Distillery observe as Lauchie MacLean noses a sample of
Glenora's 2000 new make.
The following 2 years Glenora bottled a 9 year expression in the same
bottle but with a newly designed black label featuring a red maple leaf
and in 2003 an age statement indicating 10 years of maturation proudly
was added to the label.
Press Release
Glenora continues with pride and determination
It has successfully fought a 9 year legal battle with the Edinburgh
based Scotch Whisky Association attempting to deny Glenora from
using the word “Glen” in its name.
Wine Enthusiast magazine named Glen Breton Rare as one of 50 top
spirits worldwide.
In 2007, Glenora partnered with Nova Scotia’s award wining winery
Jost Vineyards using their Ice Wine barrels as a finish for a new
line of bottlings.
Glenora received a silver medal in San Francisco
In 2009, Glenora President, Lauchie
MacLean, proudly accepted an export achievement award from the
province of Nova Scotia.
June 2010, Glenora Distillers launches the "Battle of the Glen" to
celebrate its victory in retaining the use of the word "Glen"
