10 Must-Visit Canadian Whisky Distilleries
If you're planning a trip to Canada, whisky may not be top of mind when you're working on your itinerary. We're here to change that. Canada's whisky scene is a thriving landscape with distilleries that span the length of the country, and there's just as much diversity among the bunch as you'd find in any of the world's whisky capitals.
So, don't overlook the spirits world as you're traipsing across Saskatchewan's prairies or making your way down Vancouver's coastline. Today, we're going to highlight 10 distilleries that produce whisky (often alongside other spirits!) that are worth stopping in when you find yourself in the vicinity. Nearly all of them offer tours and tastings, and some have other remarkable features, like stunning views or standout cocktail bars. No matter what you're looking for in a distillery, at least one spot on this list will likely have it — and it goes without saying that every spot below has great whisky.
Burwood Distillery
First up is Calgary's Burwood Distillery, which is housed in the Currie Barracks stables building. The structure itself was built in 1936 and is currently on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. This alone makes it a fun building to tour, though you should know before heading in that tours are currently only offered on Saturdays. If you also happen to have gin enthusiasts with you, gin and whisky tours are offered back-to-back.
Even more interesting than the tours are the hands-on spirits classes offered at Burwood. Whisky lovers shouldn't hesitate to book the spot's Whisky Cask Blending Class, and yes, this is worth scheduling your trip around the two times per month that it's offered. This experience starts with a distillery tour and progresses to a tasting, from which you'll be able to make a customized bottle of your own whisky blend to take home. And if you get hungry between all that touring and tasting, the restaurant on-site can satisfy a hungry stomach.
+1 (403) 276-8410
2566 Flanders Ave SW Ste 100, Calgary, AB T3E 7H9
Shelter Point Distillery
Shelter Point is persnickety about its whisky — and though any good producer should be, this distillery seems to hold itself to an ever-higher caliber. Incredible single malt whiskies are the name of the game for this spot, and they're made with the best Canadian barley on offer and a slow fermentation process. In other words, whisky aficionados will find exceptional flavors in this distillery's expressions, but there are more reasons to visit than the whisky alone.
For starters, Shelter Point is nestled on an absolutely gorgeous strip of Vancouver's coastline — the view alone is worth making the trip. There's a lounge on-site where you can sit back and enjoy some of Shelter Point's finest fare, and the distillery has two different tour options: a standard distillery tour and a cocktail tour, which also takes you through a bit of the mixing process. Or, if you're short on time, you can always drop in for a quick $10 tasting.
+1 (778) 420-2200
4650 Regent Rd, Campbell River, BC V9H 1E3
Arbutus Distillery
While Arbutus Distillery doesn't offer tours, you can still get an inside look at the distilling process by parking yourself in front of a wide window inside the distillery. Instead of heading to this spot and looking to get a full walk-through, you should grab a seat and get ready to be taken on a spirit or cocktail tour for your taste buds.
At the time of writing this piece, there are two whiskies on offer at Arbutus — a Canadian Single Malt Whisky and a Canadian Rye Whisky — and you can find some of the spirits in the cocktails offered Arbutus' lounge, like the Arbutus Sazerac cocktail. Its lounge is the primary reason we're highlighting Arbutus as a must-visit spot. Patrons have offered ample praise for the cocktails on offer, and they recommend taking a spirit or two home to play with yourself.
+1 (250) 714-0027
1890 Boxwood Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5Y2
Black Fox Farm & Distillery
Should you find yourself meandering throughout the province of Saskatchewan, don't leave without stopping by Black Fox Farm & Distillery. There's a wealth of fun to be had and knowledge to be gained at this spot, especially for a whisky fan — Black Fox has some unique offerings, such as its whisky distilled from triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye.
If all you want is to sip on a spirit and munch on some bites, head into the distillery between Wednesday and Sunday (or even better, reserve a table ahead of time). A more immersive experience can be found in Black Fox's distillery tour, which is also hosted Wednesday through Sunday; or, for a particularly hands-on approach, sign up for a cocktail class to learn the art of drink-making from a bona fide mixologist.
+1 (306) 955-4645
Comp 117 Site, 245 Valley Rd, 319 RR3, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J6
Dillon's Small Batch Distillers
If you're visiting the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, it would be reasonable to assume that tasting some of the region's wine is also on your to-do list. You'd be remiss not to add a visit to Dillon's Small Batch Distillers to your agenda as well. The ingredients Dillon's uses are sourced locally whenever possible, and yes, you can see the production process happen right in front of your eyes when you book a distillery tour — even better, you'll get to enjoy a cocktail and four spirit tastings along the way.
Dillon's also has a cocktail class, a gin mixing class, and an "Exclusive Tasting" experience. In case those offerings don't cover all the bases, you can sign up for what the distillery calls its "Technical Tour," which goes deeper into the scientific processes involved in distillation. And once you have all of that under your belt, we wouldn't be surprised if you took your experience home by signing up for Dillon's Sipping Society, which sends you a box of goodies to mix up on your own every season.
+1 (905) 563-3030
4833 Tufford Rd, Beamsville, ON L3J 1G7
Top Shelf Distillers
You may never have come across a whisky with "Top Shelf Distillers" on its label — that's because its whisky expressions exist under the Lanark Highlands Rideau line, which is also what you'll get to taste if you head into Top Shelf's Perth, Ontario, distillery. From looking at the distillery's events calendar, it seems like there's never a dull moment at Top Shelf.
Top Shelf regularly offers an expansive tour that actually takes you through downtown Perth, which has whisky woven throughout its history. That's not the only tour available at the distillery, though — you can also take the expected distillery tour, as well as a tour that includes a tasting and pairing experience. On the "Whisky Thieving" tour, you can sneak whisky straight from the barrel. You can also learn to distill your own spirit, indulge in the spot's "Wellness & Whisky Retreat," or engage in one of the many seasonal experiences on offer.
+1 (613) 201-3333
14 Warren Cres, Perth, ON K7H 0A8
Patent 5
Here's another distillery housed in what used to be a stable, and this one's accessible to visitors to Manitoba, rather than Alberta. Of course, all the grains used to make Patent 5's whiskies are locally sourced, and the distillery also has a recirculating system in place that helps mitigate its water usage — we love the environmental responsibility!
You'll find an extensive cocktail bar available at Patent 5 that also serves nonalcoholic drinks for any sober guests who stop in (and of course, there's an array of snacks on offer as well). You'll want to book a distillery tour, which includes a tasting, in advance; while you're at it, why not book a cocktail class as well? Just check Patent 5's calendar before heading in. The spot hosts spirit-specific cocktail classes on varying dates.
+1 (204) 808-8614
108 Alexander Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0L2
Stillhead Distillery
If you find yourself in British Columbia, it's worth stopping by Stillhead Distillery, which loves to wax poetic about its whiskies. We think their pride is very justified — after all, the company has clearly put a lot of care into the distillation and aging processes, using a wide and unique collection of barrels to finish the spirits. The distillery also offers a one-of-a-kind experience: the opportunity to own your own cask of whisky at the distillery (called the "Cask Ownership" experience).
The tour experience offered at Stillhead is comprehensive and includes your basic production tour along with the opportunity to tap a cask and taste upcoming releases. Or, if you're just looking for somewhere to relax and unwind during a jam-packed travel itinerary, take a seat in Stillhead's lounge. Flight tastings are offered, happy hour is available Thursday-Saturday, and best of all, your dog is more than welcome to join you as you sip your way to satisfaction.
+1 (250) 748-6874
5301 Chaster Rd #105, Duncan, BC V9L 5J2
Last Mountain Distillery
Another Saskatchewan distillery to make our "must-visit" list is Last Mountain Distillery, located in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Whisky is only one of the spirits distilled at Last Mountain, making this a fantastic spot to visit if you're among a crowd with diverging tastes. As the first micro-distillery to pop up in the province, it has some fun history to share (for example, ask about its famous Dill Pickle Vodka), and whisky lovers will have a great time learning about Last Mountain's Baldur's whisky label.
Tours of the distillery are available on Saturday afternoons, and you have the option between just a tour or a combined tour and tasting flight (and honestly, why wouldn't you choose the latter?). Or, if you want a really intimate and in-depth experience, you can request the "Founders Tour," which goes deeper into the history of the distillery and offers tastings of limited releases. Want something more hands-on? Go ahead and book a cocktail class before you head in.
+1 (306) 731-3930
70, SK-20, Lumsden, SK S0G 3C0
Wild Life Distillery
Last but certainly not least, Alberta's Wild Life Distillery should serve as the final frontier of your Canadian whisky adventures. This distillery calls the Canadian Rockies its home, and it's impossible not to see the landscape infused in every aspect of its character, from the mountainous design on its whisky bottles to its canned spritzes with names like "Problem Bear" and "Let 'R Buck."
Wild Life's Saturday distillery tour isn't to be missed if you find yourself in the vicinity. In addition to a tour of the facility, you'll get a spirits tasting, a nosing glass and a canned cocktail, and 15% off Wild Life's retail collection. If you're all toured out by the time you hit up Wild Life, head instead to its tasting room, which is open seven days a week and offers tasting flights alongside curated cocktails. The tasting room also offers nonalcoholic options, as well as an extensive charcuterie board to curb your appetite.
+1 (403) 678-2800
105 Bow Meadows Crescent #160, Canmore, AB T1W 2W8
Methodology
In order to earn a spot on this must-visit distillery list, a fantastic whisky distillery had to offer tastings and/or tours (which, fortunately, most do). We singled out the picks above based on their stellar customer reviews and interesting experiences — for example, Burwood's blending classes or having an outstanding cocktail bar. Ideally, the places above will appeal to whisky enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike, and stopping in will be a tasty and memorable experience for everyone in your travel party.