The Communique Group, of Toronto, has been named agency-of-record for all United Distillers Canada brands, an account estimated at $9 million annually.

Communique will open a Montreal office to service the business.

bcp and Leo Burnett made it to the short-list of the review conducted by Montreal-based United Distillers.

Blouin Coulombe Dube Thompson, also of Montreal, previously handled the account.

Communique will also handle Johnnie Walker brand, now under worldwide review, until a global agency is chosen.

United Distillers, a division of Guiness PLC, sells brands including Johnnie Walker, Bell’s, Dewar’s, Black & White, and Cardhu Single Malt scotches; Gordon’s and Tanqueray gins; Gibson’s Finest Canadian whiskies; Carioca rums, and Silent Sam and Troika vodkas.

The Communique Group is an operating company of The Incentive Design Group (idg), which is publicly traded on the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

idg has reported the most successful first half in the company’s history.

For the six months ending March 31, net income increased to $271,140 (two cents per share) from a loss of $607,310 (three cents per share) in the same period a year ago.