Choosing Cozy Canadian Craft Spirits That Are Pandemic-Perfect

A new book highlights Canadian craft spirits - and the cozy distilleries that make them, just in time for the pandemic.

I received a digital copy of The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries at no cost. Note that this post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission. 

Now we're talkin'. Photo by Adam Jaime on Unsplash

What’s your lockdown libation of choice?

In my pre-pandemic life, I often kept things simple -- and alcohol free. My tipple of choice was a mix of cranberry juice and ginger ale. A pretty, refreshing blend, it never failed to remind me of travel. After all, ginger ale is this queasy girl’s best friend! But these days, there’s just something about, well, EVERYTHING that has me reaching for a stronger beverage to imbibe. Drowning sorrows and remembering simpler times? I can get behind that.

I’m craving something tangy, herbaceous, and travel-y. The mix of gin, lemon, and elderflower I had at Sydney’s New South Wales Art Gallery the night I heard Rolling Stone writer Toby Creswell speak about the origins of American rock and roll comes to mind.  Or perhaps I’m really hankering after a generic frothy blender concoction like the one I sipped in a Bangkok infinity pool, where the overpriced slush diluted my fears of ice and waterborne diseases. Heck, maybe a classic Sex And The City-style cosmopolitan would do the trick, so long as I call it a quaran-tini. Ginger ale just doesn’t cut it anymore. And I’m not the only one who feels this way!

I wasn't kidding about those great Montana cocktails.

Canadians love drinking spirits -- and that love is only growing. According to industry group Spirits Canada, Canadians bought 1,195,477 cases of spirits in January of 2020. By August that same year, the monthly volume of cases was 1,745,640. That’s the power of a pandemic, I guess! As a recent convert to the power of creative cocktails myself, I’m beginning to understand this trend (remember how much I loved trying unique combinations across Montana?)

When I saw those sales numbers, I immediately thought about craft spirit producers. Surely these reports represent good news. Alas, I’m guessing you’ll be as shocked as I was to learn that locally owned distilleries account for less than 1% of Canadian spirit sales. I’d love to see that change -- and I have a sneaking suspicion that it might, thanks in part to a new book.

Photo by Dylan de Jonge on Unsplash

Davin De Kergommeux’s and Blair Phillips’ newly released, The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries (2020), is described as “part narrative, part tasting guide and part roadmap to over 250 of Canada's operating distilleries, large and small.” But in my mind, it’s really an inspired travel guide that puts independent spirits on the map, literally and figuratively. (You can find it online at Indigo.)

I had the chance to talk to Davin, whom I first met at a rye tasting dinner back in 2015, about Canada’s coziest independent distilleries and their globally inspired products when I gained a sneak-peak of his new book.

Image provided by authors

Davin is an expert on Canadian spirits and during our interview, he pointed out that many new distilleries are inherently cozy thanks to their small size. In Davin’s words “It’s brilliant how welcoming some have made what could have been cramped quarters."

His personal list of Canada’s coziest distilleries includes Gillespie’s Fine Spirits in Squamish, British Columbia, where owner Kelly Woods’ snug speakeasy serves cocktails in recycled vintage glassware from the Sunshine Coast. He also loves the Newfoundland Distillery in Clarke’s Beach, where the new tasting room looks out onto the pebbled beach of Conception Bay and Atlantic waves lick saucily at the edge of the still room. Rounding out his list of snug spots is North America’s smallest spirits producer, Strathcona Distillery in Edmonton, Alberta. Thesmall space’s tours are nicknamed the “point and spin” and Davin describes it as a “Lilliputian adventure.” ​

Photo by Sara Cervera on Unsplash

​Canada’s independent distilleries don’t just serve up vodka, gin, and whisky in pretty spaces. Davin asserts that many of Canada’s craft spirits have travel inspired flavors -- just the thing I need to reminisce about bygone global adventures while we're all in lockdown. When he talks about travel-minded brews, Davin means places like “Bruinwood Estate Distillery in Roberts Creek, BC, makes an authentic Dutch Avocaat that is just as delectable, rich and creamy as anything you’ll find in Holland, while Sherry Jiang at Dragon Spirits in Surrey, BC, will save you a long flight to Asia if you’re looking for authentic Báijiū.” Doesn’t that sound delicious?

Yep, there's bourbon in there. Photo by Whitney Wright on Unsplash

Many home mixologists struggle to incorporate craft spirits into their drinks. I feel their struggle! I always vow that I’m going to recreate some of my favourite tastes from around the world, only to have a staring contest with my bottles when I get home. Thankfully, The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries is laden with encouraging cocktail recipes to help distillery fans make the most of their purchases. However, I don’t want to leak any of their secrets here! Instead, I spoke to some fellow bloggers for their recommendations and learned that spirits aren’t just for drinking! They also thrive when it comes to baking and cooking.

My friends couldn’t wait to share their best cozy, boozy, delicious recipes - and they’re so great that I’m confident that Davin would approve as much as I do. Simone at Zen Belly recommends a brown butter bourbon pumpkin bread. Kita at Girl Carnivore suggested bourbon braised short ribs with honey and fig macaroni and cheese. Finally, Angelina from Bacon is Magic put forth the idea of an Irish apple cake with whiskey cream. Count me in for a tasting!

Saying cheers to bygone travel places and flavours.

As homey as these recipes are, something even cozier has hit my radar: helping Canada’s independent distilleries earn more business. Small producers face serious struggles. The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered many tasting rooms and community events where craft spirits often find new audiences. Additionally, many have shifted their operations to start producing hand sanitizer at cost for the community.

These distillers deserve a little love - and we all deserve a drink! With Davin’s book and my food blogging friends to help guide your decisions and recipes, finding the perfect distillery to support has never been easier or tastier. ​


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