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7 Distilleries in Alberta Aficionados Have Been Gatekeeping – REVEALED!
Alberta is home to fun touristy activities, from snowboarding to skiing, hiking, ice-skating, and everything in between. However, one of the unique things to do in the city that deserves the spotlight is visiting distilleries!
The city is home to several of these passionate distilleries, each featuring its own charm and spirit! I don’t particularly call myself an enthusiast for these drinks, but I always make sure to have at least one nice bottle of wine or whiskey in stock for special occasions.
With this, our team is here to share with you some of our go-to distilleries for the past Thanksgiving, birthdays, anniversaries, and so on! We’ve also included some insider tips that’ll get you the best experience ever, so read on!
Eau Claire Distillery
Media credit: eauclairecraft
Address: 113 Sunset Blvd SW
Contact details: +1 403-933-5408
Operating hours:
- Saturday and Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Eau Claire Distillery has been around since 2014 and has since built itself quite a reputation by producing small-batch but high-quality spirits. They offer a wide variety of homemade alcoholic drinks, from whiskeys to canned cocktails, gins, etc.
One of their best attributes is their dedication to doing things the traditional way. We love how they harvest their barley traditionally using Percheron draft horses as well as farming equipment that dates back to as early as the 1920s!
It’s hard to highlight a single drink from their collection, but if you could only buy one, the single malt whiskey is their cream of the crop. It’s not hard to see why it’s touted as the embodiment of the distillery’s craftsmanship, given its unique depth and character.
Pro tip:
If you want to try their products yourself on a lovely night out with your friends, you can head to their speakeasy located right next door!
Wildlife Distillery & Cocktail Bar
Media credit: wldspirits
Address: 105 Bow Meadows Crescent #160
Contact details: +1 403-678-2800
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Visiting Wildlife Distillery & Cocktail Bar is a whole experience in itself, as it sits amidst the breathtaking Canadian Rockies. So, not only will you get to explore their rustic tasting room and distillery, but you’ll also be granted beautiful natural views!
We also recommend opting for their offered tours so you can taste some of their products and bring home one of their nosing glasses and canned cocktails! Furthermore, you can enjoy an extra 15% off on all your purchases during the tour—talk about a steal!
The variety of their products is also highly commendable, as they can cater to enthusiasts with different tastes. For instance, their gin selection alone consists of various flavours, including their bestseller, blackberry (this is so good, we get why it’s a bestseller!).
Pro tip:
Consider checking out their online store if you’re planning on gifting something special to your fellow spirits enthusiast. They offer gift boxes at great prices featuring products from their different lines.
Rig Hand Distillery
Media credit: righanddistillery
Address: 50158 Range Rd 244A, Leduc County
Contact details: +1 780-612-1554
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
One of our favourite things about Rig Hand Distillery is it prioritizes sustainability, which they show through their use of solar and wind-powered equipment. Furthermore, they source all their equipment from a nearby farm, so you can expect their products to be 100% locally made.
Something that immediately sets this distillery apart is its bottle. They’re shaped to look like Leduc #1, a drilling rig that played a big part in Alberta’s agriculture and resource development.
Rig Hand Distillery is also one of the best places to choose for special events, as they have a serene lawn that promotes fun activities. They even add a bonfire so chatting and spirit-tasting can be taken to another level!
Pro tip:
Since this place is remote and it takes quite a long drive to get there, you might as well check out their official Instagram page before embarking. This account posts upcoming events that you may be interested in, as well as temporary closure dates.
Anohka Distillery
Media credit: anokhadistillery
Address: 53124 AB-770, Parkland County
Contact details: +1 780-965-1515
Operating hours:
- Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
If you want your spirit-tasting/shopping session to feel like a nature getaway, then Anohka Distillery should be on your itinerary! Located on the outskirts of Edmonton, this distillery offers one of the most serene spirit-sampling experiences in the country.
It also helps that the building itself features massive windows, so you’ll have stunning views of the lush fields and towering trees from afar while sampling their spirits.
Speaking of, their spirit collection is impressively varied! We could tell how much passion they pour into every single one of their products, from the designs of their bottles down to the sourcing of their ingredients, etc.
Pro tip:
Since you’re most likely to be coming from Edmonton, you can stop by other attractions like Stony Plain & Parkland Pioneer Museum and Rotary Park before visiting the distillery.
Strathcona Spirits
Media credit: strathconaspirits
Address: 10122 81 Ave NW, Edmonton
Contact details: +1 780-965-1515
Strathcona Spirits is among the best when it comes to offering variety, and what’s even better is that they feature unique flavours as well! For instance, their vodka selection consists of your traditional variation as well as distinct ones like espresso, single grain, etc.
However, if you can only bring one product home, it has to be a bottle of their famous velvet cream. Consisting of bourbon and vanilla beans, this delicate spirit can be added to your cup of joe to give it that extra Puerto Rican kick!
Pro tip:
If this place left you wanting to try more artisan products, check out Pablo Cheese Start along the same street! It offers a wide variety of this pastry as well as a variety of homemade smoothies.
Hansen Distillery
Media credit: hansendistillery
Address: 17412 111 Ave NW, Edmonton
Contact details: +1 780-341-0682
Operating hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Hansen Distillery is the product of generational passion. It’s founded and run by Shayna and Kris, but their roots trace back to outlaws and moonshiners, so you can expect their products’ recipes to be nailed down to a tee!
Moreover, we appreciate that they constantly try new flavours, which are showcased on their seasonal menu. For instance, one of their wintertime bestsellers is the peppermint schnapps, which consists of distilled spirits, water sugar, and, of course, peppermint.
If you’re planning on visiting this distillery, however, we highly recommend booking their tasting and tour package. This way, you can explore their traditional facility and try five of their selected spirits!
Pro tip:
If you don’t want to drive all the way to their store, you can shop at their official website! Also, their website features their upcoming events!
Badlands Distillery
Media credit: crafttoursbythor
Address: 3906 82 Ave #108
Contact details: +1 825-823-5263
Operating hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Badlands Distillery differs itself from other distilleries in the city by offering corn-based (and gluten-free) spirits!
Their drinks will also immediately catch your attention because of their vibrant and naturally colourful appearances. These hues are the result of a natural reaction from the gin’s mixture with ingredients like limes, lemon, peppermint, etc.
Pro tip:
Visit their Instagram page before visiting to see their promotions. You can also shop on their official website and spend at least CAD100 to enjoy free shipping!
