Family’s whisky success is crystal clear

Feb 10 2010 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge

THE Davidson clan have joined the Canadian Club.

A combined blend of expertise in crystal, design, packaging, with more than a dash of innovative product development, ensured that Glencairn Crystal, run by Airdrie man Raymond Davidson and his sons Paul, Scot and Andy, were first on the list when the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) - the state-controlled and by far the biggest whisky buyer/reseller in Canada, were looking for a company to design the definitive Canadian whisky glass.

The LCBO brought together all the major Canadian brands with the aim of developing a glass to enhance the consumers whisky drinking experience, get them to try the whisky neat and also raise awareness of the premiumisation that is currently happening within Canadian whisky industry to introduce new, high end expressions of their brands.

An order was placed for 100,000 Canadian whisky glasses with more to follow.

Paul Davidson, company managing director, said: “Together, and with the input of all the companies, we were able to develop and engineer a unique glass, from the original Glencairn whisky glass. “That allowed the companies to raise the profile of their spirit and also enhance the drinking experience by allowing people to choose between nosing and tasting the whisky neat but also allow them to enjoy a large, mixed drink with ice that was stylish and comfortable in the hand and wonderful to drink from.”