September News

• In B.C., government worker strike action that temporarily halted deliveries to private liquor stores this past summer resulted in a boom for the province's small-batch distillers, Business in Vancouver and Global News reported.

• In an article on tourism to the Gulf Islands off Vancouver's coast, The Seattle Times recommended visiting Salt Spring Shine Craft Distillery, which distills spirits from local honey.

• The Fort Distillery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, is partnering with Rogers Place in Edmonton to offer two of its products, Mountain Pass Whisky and the Tumbler & Rocks Cosmo cocktail, at the concert and event venue, local news site The Record reported.

• Global News Saskatchewan reported that the province's Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority was not keeping pace with regulatory oversight targets, with more than half of craft alcohol products lacking valid test-report certification this past summer.

• Dobrowody Distillery in Rama, Saskatchewan, credited the high quality of municipal water there for its recent Double Gold win for its Small Batch Vodka at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, SaskToday reported. Hudson Bay Distillers in Landis, Saskatchewan, was also profiled by SaskToday.ca this past summer.

• As a post-Covid tax-relief period comes to an end in Ontario, the Ottawa Citizen reported that artisan distillers were struggling to recalibrate the costs of doing business.

• Dixon's Distillery in Guelph, Ontario, was named the top spirit in the Liquor Control Board of Ontario's Best of Ontario category at its Elsie Awards this past summer, the Wellington Advertiser reported.

• Dunrobin Distilleries has a new strategic partner in Swiss company Seven Seals Innovation AG, which is infusing a $5.5 investment into the distillery's Vankleek Hill, Ontario, operations and national and global distribution, Stittsville Central reported.

• Paradigm Spirits Co. is a finalist for the Agribusiness Award of the London Business Achievement Awards to be held in London, Ontario, on September 27, the London Free Press reported.

• Saltwire reported that Steinhart Distillery in Arisaig, Nova Scotia, will receive $700,000 in federal loans, including $500,000 from the Tourism Relief Fund for projects such as an event venue renovation and an outdoor stage, and $200,000 from the Jobs and Growth Fund for equipment to produce ready-to-drink cocktails, which it plans to produce from its gin and vodka.

• In New Brunswick, two new distilleries celebrated this summer: Crooked River Distillery in Memramcook held a grand opening (though it's been operating for more than two years, Huddle reported) and First Light Distillery held its grand opening in Hanwell, outside of Fredericton.

• The Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Brewers Association has launched a Craft Brewery Passport (as part of Come Home 2022 festivities), which includes the Newfoundland Distillery Co. in Clarke's Beach.

News and Openings

News

• Vancouver is Awesome published a guide to North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale craft beverage scene, including craft distillers Sons of Vancouver, Copperpenny Distilling, Deep Cove Distillers, Stealth Craft Distillers and The Woods Spirit Co.

• Coming in at number 42 on the Canada's 50 Best Bars 2022 list, Monashee Spirits in Revelstoke, B.C., became one of the rare distilleries to have its tasting-room bar recognized among the country's best.

• Romero Distilling in Calgary proudly announced some recent awards, from both the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the Frankfurt International Trophy Spirits Competition for its rum.  

• Tumbler & Rocks ready-to-drink cocktails from The Fort Distillery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, is planning an expansion in to the U.S. with its Old Fashioned, Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Margarita, Daiquiri and Shaft drinks, in 750-mL and 1000-mL formats.

• In Edmonton, brewery and distillery tours this summer allow a behind-the-scenes look at local craft spirits production; in Saskatoon, the Star Phoenix recommended Stumbletown Distilling tours for summer fun.

• This recent article argues the importance of craft malting to the beer industry, which applies to the craft distilling industry alike.

• The new Gulping Horse craft beverage tasting festival launches this year, on July 16 at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, featuring local wine, cider, mead spirits and cocktails.

• In Canada's whisky capital of Windsor, Ontario, women winemakers, brewers and distillers (Aislin Henrichson, from Wolfhead Distillery) created a collaboration beer called Shut Up Rose, inspired by International Womens Day.

• Silver Fox Distillery in Arthur, Ontario, was recently named 2022 U.S. Open Spirits' Grand National Champion, the first time a Canadian distillery has won that honour.

• Guelph Today reported on the area’s first craft gin trail, featuring Dixon’s Distilled Spirits, Elora Distilling Company, Junction 56 Distillery, Silver Fox Distillery, Spring Mill Distillery, and Willibald Farm Distillery.

Openings

• First Light Distillery will be opening on June 11 in Fredericton

• Prince Edward County will getting another distillery, as quintenews reported that the planning committee has approved a rezoning application.

News and Openings

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.