News
The Vancouver Sun recently published a story on Odd Society Spirits’ experiments with local Burns Bog peat from Delta, B.C., in its spirits.
Real Agriculture recently posted a conversation with Spirits Canada’s CEO, Jan Westcott, about changes in Alberta that allow small-batch distillers to use non-Alberta agricultural products (such as imported NGS) without jeopardizing their preferential mark-up structure with the Alberta government.
CBC Edmonton reported that the number of distilleries in the province grew from seven to 47 in the last five years, according to Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission statistics.
In an innovative partnership, Fort Distillery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, collaborated with local food entrepreneurs at Field Notes to produce Don’t Call Me Sweet Pea, a “garden amaro” distilled from dried peas that celebrates Alberta products, Global News and The Globe and Mail reported.
Travel + Leisure recently mentioned Park Distillery in Banff, Alberta, as one of the highlights of a story on “The Best 12 Small Towns in Canada.”
Lumsden, Saskatchewan-based Last Mountain Distillery is accepting Bitcoin cryptocurrency as payment for private-cask whisky (in the $20,000 to $25,000 range) from his distillery, the Regina Leader Post reported.
In Quebec, the Union québecoise des microdistillerie (UQMD) and its members have banded together to hold open houses, launch a petition and more to convince the provincial government to relax liquor laws, making policies friendlier to small distilleries, CBC reported.
Openings
A sustainability-minded new grain-to-glass distillery in the Ottawa Valley, Ogham Craft Spirits is
sourcing grain from local farmers, gathering seasonal botanicals and using water from the Lanark Highlands in supporting a circular economy. Currently they make a Gin and a Poitín (unaged Irish-style spirit).
Longshot Distilling Company is a farm-based and family-owned distillery, restaurant and dog-friendly patio in Winfield, Alberta, currently offering vodka (plain and lime flavoured), gin and coffee liqueur.