Raise a Glass! Exploring 6 Must-Try Canadian Distilleries
Canada’s craft distilling scene is brimming with creativity, producing world-class whiskies, vodkas, gins, and other spirits. From coast to coast, distilleries are winning awards and redefining what Canadian spirits can be. Here are seven standout distilleries you need to know, complete with their signature spirits, awards, and reasons to visit.
Location: Grimsby, Ontario
Awards and Accolades: Named Distillery of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Whisky Awards, Forty Creek has earned a reputation for innovation in whisky making.
Signature Spirit: Forty Creek Barrel Select - A smooth and rich whisky with notes of vanilla, toffee, and toasted oak. It’s perfect for sipping or in a classic Old Fashioned.
Why Visit: Enjoy tours that showcase their unique aging process and sample their award-winning whisky lineup.
2. Victoria Distillers
Location: Sidney, British Columbia
Awards and Accolades: Empress 1908 Gin has earned gold medals at the Global Spirit Awards, thanks to its vibrant colour and exceptional flavour.
Signature Spirit: Empress 1908 Gin
Infused with butterfly pea blossoms, this gin transforms cocktails with its stunning indigo hue and bright citrusy notes.Why Visit: Overlook the harbour while sipping bespoke cocktails at their on-site lounge.
3. Signal Hill Distillery
Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Awards and Accolades: Signal Hill Whisky has earned gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its smooth and complex profile.
Signature Spirit: Signal Hill Whisky
A blend of corn and barley aged in three barrel types, offering layers of caramel, vanilla, and spice.Why Visit: Their Newfoundland location offers an immersive experience that highlights the region’s rich history and connection to whisky.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Awards and Accolades: Badland Seaberry Gin won silver at the 2023 Alberta Beverage Awards and is beloved for its unique use of local ingredients.
Signature Spirit: Badland Seaberry Gin
Crafted with wild seaberries from Alberta’s prairies, this gin is tart and citrusy—perfect for a refreshing G&T.Why Visit: Alberta’s smallest distillery offers an intimate and educational look at the craft of small-batch spirits.
5. Dairy Distillery
Location: Almonte, Ontario
Awards and Accolades: Known for sustainability, Dairy Distillery’s Vodkow has received praise for turning unused milk by-products into a smooth, creamy vodka.
Signature Spirit: Vodkow
This ultra-clean vodka has a touch of natural sweetness and is a hit in both cocktails and on its own.Why Visit: The eco-friendly distillery offers tours and tastings, showcasing how they turn a dairy by-product into a premium spirit while reducing food waste.
Location: Beamsville, Ontario
Awards and Accolades: Unfiltered Gin 22 is a multi-award-winning gin at the Canadian Artisan Spirit Awards for its bold botanical profile.
Signature Spirit: Unfiltered Gin 22
Crafted with 22 botanicals, this gin delivers a complex yet balanced flavour perfect for martinis and Negronis.Why Visit: Located in Niagara wine country, Dillon’s offers tastings and seasonal cocktails that showcase their spirits.
Bonus Cocktail Recipe: Canadian Maple Mule
Celebrate Canada’s craft spirits with this sweet and spicy cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 oz Dairy Distillery Vodkow
1 oz fresh lime juice
0.5 oz maple syrup
Ginger beer
Ice
Lime wedge and mint for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.
Add Vodkow, lime juice, and maple syrup. Stir to combine.
Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge and mint.
Honourable Mention:
Last Straw Distillery - Loose Toque Canadian Rye Whiskey
A Spirit of Canadian Creativity
From eco-friendly vodkas to locally infused gins and award-winning whiskies, these Canadian distilleries prove that our country’s craft spirit scene is one to watch (and sip). Whether you’re visiting or shopping for your next bottle, these distilleries deserve a toast.
Which of these distilleries are you excited to try? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to share your favourite Canadian cocktail recipes!
