News: What to Read, Sip and Know Now

Pouring it on: a new Canadian beverage alcohol magazine

Earlier this year, the inaugural issue of Poured debuted, billing itself as “the only magazine to target and directly reach the producers of beer, wine and spirits across Canada.” It’s produced by Lester Communications in Winnipeg, in partnership with Beer Canada, Spirits Canada and the Canadian Vintners Association. The latest issue had coverage of the artisan spirits scene, including stories on The Distillery School in North Vancouver and women distillers in Canada.

Other potential good reads for artisan distillers in Canada:

  • Distilled, the Ottawa-based magazine celebrating “the craft and culture of fine spirits.”

  • Artisan Spirit, the publication of the American Craft Spirits Association.

  • SevenFiftyDaily, covering the business of beverage alcohol from a U.S. perspective.

Cocktails by Volume

In October, Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers in Beamsville, Ontario, will publish Craft Cocktails: Seasonally Inspired Drinks & Snacks From Our Sipping Room, by distiller Geoff Dillon and Whitney Rorison, the distillery’s hospitality manager. To be published by Penguin Random House Canada, it includes 100 seasonal recipes inspired by their wine-country location and ingredients. Pre-order a copy now from the publisher, or from online stores including Indigo, Kobo and Amazon.

Vodka 2.0

Following an industry consultation period between January and March of this year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded and revised its Food and Drug Regulations around vodka. It now allows vodka to be made from agricultural products other than potato and cereal grain (including fruits, dairy or honey), in line with other global jurisdictions; those products, however, must be disclosed to consumers on the label. It also permits vodka to be rendered neutral (“without distinctive character, aroma, or taste”) by material or processes other than charcoal. The new rules came into force on June 26, and distillers have until December 13, 2022 to implement new labelling requirements.

Meet Your New Colleagues

Welcome to the fold some of the most recent artisan distillers to open across Canada. We’ve got our eyes on another dozen or so that are almost ready to open their doors: drop us a note if you know about a new distillery opening in your area!