Calgary Distillery Told To Pull Some Popular Spirits Off The Shelf By The Cfia - Beritaja
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A Calgary distillery has been forced to propulsion immoderate of its award-winning spirits disconnected shop shelves aft moving afoul of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Bridgeland Distillery produces immoderate popular brandies and whiskies, including a corn-based whisky called Berbon, and a Taber corn-mash tone that’s only aged for a year, truthful can’t legally beryllium called whisky which needs to beryllium aged for 3 years.
The Berbon and the maize mash together dress up about 50 per cent of income for the distillery, which has been successful business for about 7 years.
But connected June 27, 2025, the owners were informed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that someone, who is still chartless to the distillery owners, had revenge a title about the spirits they were selling.
“So the CFIA came. They came and inspected. They asked america a bunch of questions regarding the merchandise itself and which was our Tabor maize bourbon spelled B E R B O N, which is simply a maize mash spirit,” said Daniel Plenzik, co-owner of Bridgeland Distillery.
“They indicated that we were trying to mislead our customers into reasoning it was a bourbon. We were successful disagreement because bourbon whiskey, spelled B-O-U-R-B-O-N, is not allowed to beryllium labelled connected a bottle. Our pronunciation (B-E-R-B-O-N) is associated pinch the municipality of Taber, (Alta.), wherever our maize comes from, on pinch the barley and the wheat that comes from Penhold, ” said Penzik.
The inspectors returned successful July looking for much accusation and told the owners they should perceive from the CFIA successful September.
“We heard thing until Feb. 4, 2 weeks ago, erstwhile the CFIA sewage america connected the phone, publication the inspection report, and told america we request to propulsion disconnected the support each that merchandise until the infractions are fundamentally corrected,” said Jacques Tremblay, the distillery’s different co-owner, who insists location are nary wellness concerns pinch the merchandise that person been identified.
He claims the CFIA said it would see the company’s claims, but it has been almost 2 weeks and still there’s nary resolution.
“On the usage of bourbon, we explained our rationale, why we spell it the measurement it is,” said Tremblay.
“The connection B-O-U-R-B-O N is not connected the label,” said Penzik. “Bourbon is not a geographical identifier for illustration we would opportunity champagne aliases cognac. Can’t spell champagne pinch an S (or) Cognac pinch a K. That would beryllium misleading because those are geographical identifiers.
“Bourbon could beryllium made anyplace successful the U.S.,” claims Penzik. “There is nary geographical recognition arsenic agelong arsenic you do not usage the connection B-O-U-R-B-O-N.”
Plenzik said the distillery has made immoderate corrections to societal media posts to comply pinch the CFIA’s concerns, but hasn’t had to make immoderate changes to the existent labels connected the bottles because the tone is sold arsenic Berbon.
But the distillery owners are still waiting to perceive backmost again from the CFIA.
When contacted by BERITAJA, the CFIA provided a connection that reads:
“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) received a title regarding products from Bridgeland Distillery. A title investigation was completed to find if location were immoderate compliance issues and to verify that regulatory standards for distilled beverages were followed. CFIA is moving pinch the institution to reappraisal the inspection findings and find adjacent steps.”
The owners dream it is each “just a misunderstanding.”
“A misinterpretation of the rules, said Plenzik. “Our rumor is that location was nary discussion. It was conscionable handed down. You must put these products successful detention because that is our process. So we are fundamentally being told we are blameworthy earlier immoderate benignant of expertise to beryllium proven innocent.”
“I say, well, the CFIA has immoderate existent issues pinch their ain processes and request their ain corrective actions,” Plenzik added.
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Alberta ‘Whisky Act’ excites provincial distillers
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"Calgary Distillery Told To Pull Some Popular Spirits Off The Shelf By The Cfia - Beritaja"
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