International Women’s Day
Last year we gave a shout out to just a few of the women in key positions at Canadian distilleries, and ADC newsletter editor Charlene Rooke published this list of international women in senior distillery positions.
We encourage you to #supportwomeninspirits year-round through Proof Pitcher, the passion project of Niagara College distilling instructor Andrea Fujarczuk that tells weekly new stories about women in the Canadian spirits industry; follow new posts on Instagram or nominate a woman in spirits to the Molly Pitcher Club.
Distillery News
The Big Bucks: Distillerie du St. Laurent in Rimouski, Quebec, scored almost $400,000 in federal pandemic-related agri-food funding to purchase new equipment that will create jobs and help drive its business. In Kelowna, B.C., the capital pool company Spartan Acquisition Corp. announced completion of $1.35-million in financing for Forbidden Spirits.
Sustainable Partnership: Murphy’s Law Moonshine Distillery in Elmira, Ontario, partnered with the Waterloo Food Bank, which collected 2,000 pounds of food that otherwise would have gone to waste but was instead distilled into Not Wasted Vodka.
Inspired Products: Trench Brewing & Distilling in Prince George, B.C., used the combined force of its operations to create Micro-Distilled Seltzers, from its own artisanal vodka and real fruit puree and extracts. In Bloomfield, Ontario, Kinsip House of Fine Spirits has been getting innovative with not only spirit and cocktail gift sets, but packs like its “Cozy By the Fire” kit with goods including chocolate, a candle, a blanket and branded glasses.
Nominated: The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries by Davin de Kergommeaux and Blair Phillips is shortlisted for a Gourmand Award in the Drink Tourism category of the Drink Culture Awards for 2021.
New Openings
Teaghlach Ross Distillery in Waverly, Nova Scotia, opened in January, with plans to produce rum, vodka and gin with an East Coast flair.
Laneway Distillers, a female-owned luxury gin producer in Niagara Falls, Ontario, makes Boreal-influenced gins and a vodka.