Sustainable business (from eco-friendly processes to equitable and inclusive practices) can be good for your bottom line. Here are a few things to consider this month, as Earth Day approaches.
Read moreBC Distilled Festival Audience Favourites
Photo Credit Emma K. Young
The 9th BC Distilled Festival was held on April 13th, 2024 in Vancouver. The festival kicked off with two whisky tastings led by Davin de Kergommeaux (April 10th and 11th), followed by a Distillers Dinner with paired cocktails and spirits on April 12 and then the main tasting festival on April 13.
Read moreApril 2024 News
April 2023 distillery news.
Read moreDistiller Spotlight: Nathan Flim and Julie Le, The Fort Distillery
Natham Flim is the founder of The Fort Distillery, the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, distillery behind the Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year 2024, Mountain Pass Whisky. Julie Le is the Master Distiller.
Read moreMarch 2024 News
Some news updates and the return of BC Distilled!
Read more2024 Canadian Whisky Awards Results
On January 18 the results of the annual Canadian Whisky Awards were announced in Victoria, B.C.
This year the Canadian Whisky of the Year Award went to Paradigm Spirits’ 2022 Heritage Collection, and 19-year-old blended whisky.
Read moreFebruary 2024 News
Distilling industry news roundup for February, 2024
Read more2023 ADC Conference & Trade Show
Quality Management for Distillers led by Burwood Distillery’s Jordan Ramey
The 2nd Annual ADC Conference & Trade Show was held on October 23 and 24, and was followed immediately by the 1st annual Canada Whisky Symposium.
Read moreNovember News & Openings
November events, news, and new distillery openings!
Read moreThe 2024 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition: What's New!
Introducing the CASC Community & Business Awards!
We wanted to provide more opportunities for Canada’s artisan distilleries to draw attention to all the great things you’re doing beyond making fantastic spirits. For the 2024 competition, we’re introduced several new awards.
All of these awards are self-nominated by the distilleries themselves. In some cases they are connected to spirit submissions. Additional judges will be brought in to help evaluated the nominations. In each case a single winner will be announced.
Product Innovation Award
This award is for a product which was developed to meet a market, product, or production challenge or opportunity which resulted in an spirit which is unique, innovative, or otherwise different from the spirit typically offered in that category. The distillery must also register and submit the product in our sensory awards.
Product Collaboration Award
This award is for a product which was produced or enhanced by direct collaboration with another business in a way which substantively impacted the product’s development. The award will be given to both the distiller and the collaborating business. The distillery must also register and submit the product in our sensory awards.
Tasting Room Destination of the Year
This is an opportunity for distilleries with tasting rooms to be recognized for an amazing visitor experience.
Artisan Distillery Sustainability Award
This award recognizes business practices related to use of raw materials, energy use, packaging materials, distillation techniques, distribution, etc.
For ADC members there is no cost to submit an entry for this award.
Community Engagement Award
This award recognizes a program where the distillery is directly engaged with the community, either distillery-led or partnered with a community-based organization. Examples include social and/or environmental impact programs, local causes, arts and culture, and promoting diversity or inclusion. he distillery’s engagement can be through fundraising, raising awareness, or direct involvement of staff and owners.
For ADC members there is no cost to submit an entry for this award.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
This award recognizes new or ongoing DEI program or initiative that has demonstrated positive impacts on an equity-deserving group or groups. The program’s impact can either be within the organization, or more broadly supporting DEI in the whisky industry and community.
For ADC members there is no cost to submit an entry for this award.
Artisan Distillers Canada to Feature Grain-to-Glass Pioneers at Upcoming Industry Events in Vancouver
Matt Hofmann (Westland Distillery) and Bill Ashburn (Forty Creek) to Provides Keynote Addresses at this Fall’s ADC Conference & Canada Whisky Symposium
Read moreYeast: Optimizing Spirits Production to Improve Quality, Efficiency and Profitability
Annick Mercier, Business Area Manager for Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, described the products, support and education her team provides to distillers in the Caribbean and North American areas. Chief among these are optimizing production in the mash/cook phase, through and through yeast biology and nutrition.
Read moreBarrel Management: Optimizing Your Maturation and Warehouse Operations
B.C.-born distiller Charisse Woods, logistics and inventory manager for Kentucky Artisan Distillery, defined different types of casks in common use at distilleries and their key parts and materials.
Read moreRetail Best Practices
Paul Rickett of VARketing! gave a presentation on integrating market and business intelligence into your distillery’s strategy, followed by a panel discussion. Moderator Darryl Lamb of Legacy Liquor Store led a conversation with Alayne MacIsaac, co-founder of Sheringham Distillery; Andrew Doyle, CEO Lonetree Cellars agency; and Rickett.
Read moreDiversity & Distilling
Debbie Shing, a co-founder of Vinequity and the drinks-industry inclusion, equity and diversity initiative Drinkclusion hosted a panel discussion around Diversity & Distilling, featuring Jenna Diubaldo (Sons of Vancouver Distillery), Alayne MacIsaac (Sheringham Distillery) and Pheelan Mah (Confluence Distilling). It kicked off with: “We will definitely say things that will make you uncomfortable!”
Read moreDistiller Spotlight: Laura Carbonell, Wayward Distillery
In the latest instalment of our Q&A series, Sons of Vancouver’s Jenna Diubaldo speaks to Laura Carbonell at Wayward Distillery in Courtenay, B.C.
Read moreJune News and Events
A European manifesto for natural booze, new tech for reading palms instead of IDs, a rum-producer survey, and the hot business of craft spirit trails.
Read moreMay News and Openings
A $1,000 reward for return of a distillery mascot, NHL celebrity whisky, plus women distillers and craft gin in the media spotlight.
Read moreDistiller Spotlight: Adam Smith, Strathcona Spirits Distillery
Sons of Vancouver’s Jenna Dibaldo interviews Adam Smith from Edmonton distillery Strathcona Spirits about absinthe, louching and joy of distilling from wheat.
Read moreBC Distilled Announces Audience Favourite Awards
The BC Distilled Festival was held on Saturday, May 13 in Vancouver, with 39 British Columbia distilleries pouring samples from 180 spirits. Attendees voted on their favourite spirits, as well as the BC Distilled Distillery of the Year.
Read more