Caroline M.
Yelp
A fascinating story of grain farmers who moved to Chili and back excited to try something new. They ending up growing flowers, harvesting honey and starting a distillery. I discovered this place through my Father who ready about their most recent award for best cask gin at the World Gin Awards in London, U.K.
I emailed the company on my way into Saskatoon and they promptly responded about a tour during Easter. Barb was able to accommodate the Saturday tour. For $30 the tour included cocktails, fruit, vegetables, crackers and cheese, a tour and history on the distillery and ended with tasting of all their stock.
Our hostess, Brook, has been with the company since September 2016 and was part of most of the production, distribution and marketing of their products. The distillery was launched in 2015 by John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote. Brook started us off with a delicious honey lime Gin #3 cocktail and walked us through the short history of the company.
The lobby is a large garage tastefully decorated with local artists and mementos of their farm. A large glass garage door separates the lobby from the distillery and elegantly showcases the beautiful copper and steel machines.
Brook walked us through the distillery and explained the process for making Gin, Vodka and Oak Cast Gin. It was fascinating to learn the differences and processes to this art. We then proceeded to sample their current offerings. The owners often play with different plants to create unique Liqueurs and Gins and rely on Gin #3 as their staple.
When you visit you will probably not get the same options as last time. This time around they had three Liqueurs; Honey Ginger, Sour Cherry and Raspberry. They don't use added sugar so the flavor of the fruit and ginger really came out. I absolutely loved the sour cherry. They also use local ingredients first with exception of things like ginger. They are a zero waste facility that composts its by product into the flower gardens.
For their Gin samples during this visit they had Gin #6 infused with pumpkin seeds, Gin #7 which had cucumbers and a wonderful smooth Oak Cast Gin that sits in a burnt oak barrel giving it a smokey smooth texture. They also had one bottle of their Rose Gin left to try but not purchase.
I really enjoyed the tour and would love to visit again when they have new flavors. Hopefully I can meet the owners Barb and John who created a unique experience in the prairies.