Vespero. Scotland’s first ‘tequila’ launched – but there’s a sour twist…
17th April 2024 by Edwina Bones
Many of us remember the Tequila song, assuring us that tequila makes us happy (at least until the hangover arrives). Yet there will be one location where this song will probably not be so welcome.
Andrew Clark Hutchinson, a Scot born in Mexico City, set up a distillery on the Solway shoreline in Scotland. He turned his attention to creating a tequila spirit after successfully developing award winning gins.
Working alongside distiller Gerard Macluskey the pair have recently unveiled their new concoction – ‘Vespero’. Yet whilst apparently it is made like tequila, smells like tequila and tastes like tequila, it cannot be called tequila. Why? Because this is a protected territorial brand name meaning that a drink may only be described as tequila if it is distilled in Mexico.
Tequila is protected in the same way that other drinks such as champagne and cognac are. Why are such names protected? Trade agreements have been set up to ensure that only products that meet a strict set of criteria can be labelled with these protected brands. It helps to ensure that the brand becomes synonymous with a certain quality of product.
This is where brand protection will become imperative. It is good to see that the distillery have taken steps to protect their new brand name with a trade mark. In this way they can at least help to ensure that their name cannot be copied. Who knows, perhaps Vespero will become the new tequila? Just don’t call it that.
If you need any help protecting your branding then please contact Edwina Bones on 01202 377824 or e.bones@laceyssolicitors.co.uk or Tiff Elmer on 01202 377814 or t.elmer@laceyssolicitors.co.uk
Edwina Bones
Senior Associate — Corporate and Commercial
Direct dial: 01202 377824
Edwina has returned to Laceys after working for Womble Bond Dickinson in Southampton and is a Senior Associate within our Corporate and Commercial team. Edwina specialises in commercial contracts, intellectual property and charity law and has experience in drafting, negotiating and advising on a variety of agreements. Since qualifying in 2011, she has advised a range of businesses in various sectors. This includes a secondment working in-house for a well-known multi-national retailer.
Edwina has been listed in the Legal 500 as having an “incredible knowledge and a drive to do things right’. She enjoys getting to know a client’s business in order that she can provide tailored, practical advice.
Outside of work Edwina enjoys practising yoga, walking her energetic Labrador in the beautiful Dorset countryside and generally keeping active as well as spending quality time with her family and friends.
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