The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), acting on concerns expressed by Mayor Tim Johnston, moved quickly late last month to temporarily remove Kingsgate Reserve Sherry, at up to20 percent alcohol per volume, from its shelves here at the Thompson Liquor Mart.
Kittling Ridge Estate Wines & Spirits' Kingsgate Reserve Sherry "has been listed in Manitoba since May 2009 and was put into the Thompson Liquor Mart on Oct. 1," said Susan Harrison, internal communications co-ordinator for the MLCC. "It is currently available in 43 Liquor Marts across the province," she added.
Kingsgate Reserve is a premium, medium dry sherry, barrel aged in oak for extra smoothness. Made from a wine base of Ontario Muscat, the wine is fortified with brandy to bring the alcohol content up to 20 per cent alcohol per volume.
Fortified LondonWestminster Sherry, which is also 20 per cent alcohol per volume, remains on the shelves of the Thompson Liquor Mart.
Johnston, however, praised the MLCC for their quick response in removing Kingsgate sherry.
"The City of Thompson forwarded us a concern about thissherry," Harrison said. "Because we have a positive working relationship with the city, we have decided to remove thesherry from our shelves until we have further discussions with the mayor and resolve the concern. Therefore, it is currently unavailable for purchase in Thompson."
Johnston said he contacted Al Roney, acting director of retail sales for the MLCC, who grew up in Thompson, Nov. 16 and "the MLCC responded immediately.I was very pleased with the response by MLCC. The City of Thompsonhas had an excellent working relationship with MLCC over the last few years and I beleive that helpedin addressing this matter."
The MLCC, an arms-length provincial Crown corporation, held its annual general meeting in Thompson at the Mystery Lake Motor Hotel this year on Sept. 1, and Roney said then the agency takes its "social responsibility" obligations to society seriously.
Johnston learned Kingsgate Reserve Sherry was on Thompson Liquor Mart shelves in mid-November, he said, when LouMorissette, a citizen appointee on the public safety committee, and former MLCC liquor inspector in Thompson, sent him an e-mail. Morissette resigned form the MLCCeffective July 3. He retired from the RCMP here as a staff sergeant in August 2007.
Morissette said in his e-mail, "In terms of my prior role with the MLCC and my current public safety committee role, I was approached by a concerned Thompson citizen relative to a new product that is now available at the Thompson MLCC. In retrospect, we all have a debt of gratitude to this citizen.
"It is Kingsgate Sherry priced at the same competitive/entry level as Westminster. The person I spoke with was absolutely shocked. To be quite honest, I did not believe them. I had every confidence that the MLCC was truly aware of all the issues surrounding the history of Westminster. We all live on a daily basis with social fallout from "Wessey." We certainly do not need another liquor distributor making headway into a market that is truly "insatiable" to the community. I bought a bottle; it priced out slightly higher than "Wessey" at $8.91 it is displayed on the lower shelf at the rear of the store. If memory serves me right, this was exactly where "Wessey" was initially stocked."
