BC Distilled Returns May 13, 2023: after three years of postponed and modified events, BC Distilled brings its annual tasting festival back to full strength, with 40 distilleries and hundreds of locally produced artisan spirits. It takes place in two expansive rooms at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Major industry news outlets like the Spirits Business reported that the federal excise duty on alcohol in Canada has been temporarily capped at 2 per cent, versus a planned 6.3 per cent rise to mirror inflation.
Global News in Alberta reported that Rig Hand Distillery is moving from a smaller space in the Nisku Industrial Park to a much larger, purpose-built facility nearby.
In late March, Strathcona County Economic Development and Tourism held a seminar called “Spirited Beginnings: navigating the art, heart and business of distillation” in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
A Banff food and cocktail festival called Made With Love happens April 10 to 23, 2023, and will include a street-festival tasting, cocktail competitions, happy hours, bartending classes and a cocktail experience with Wild Life Distillery.
Baltic Brothers Crafted Infusions is a line of infusion pouches and kits to add to spirits, from Capital K Distillery in Winnipeg.
A Canadian Press story that ran in several newspapers including the Vancouver Sun chronicled how some resilient B.C. businesses survived the pandemic, including B.C.’s Mad Laboratory Distilling.
CBC News in Saskatchewan reported on the growing non-alcoholic beverages scene, including “free-spirited” botanical cocktails from Wild Folk (owned by a Saskatoon native).