Our distillery principles & operating concepts
Superior equipment and technologies
High quality ingredients sourced as close to the distillery as possible
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL Sustainability
The place
After some deliberation, we decided to start on a clean slate and build a modern distillery from scratch. Finally, we found our land – originally a part of a winery that is situated in the ideal hilltop location on the Taste Trail in the County.
A distillery in a desert?
The Water
Although Prince Edward County is surrounded by lakes, the area ironically has some great problems with water access and site servicing. The reason for the water shortage is that the County sits on a limestone rock.
Our distillery is supplied with water from our 100-feet deep artesian well, similar to the water which made Kentucky bourbon so famous. It is filtered by limestone and has a perfect mineral profile for making good spirits.
Off the grid distillery. Green by choice.
Sustainability
By nature, distillation is an energy-intensive process. It involves heating and cooling off a lot of liquid. Located on a former corn field, we are literally off-the-grid and limited to the resources which we can obtain and use. We run on a septic, water well and a single phase hydro supply, which means no power-hungry equipment.
To minimize the use of resources and to be able to run the business with what we have, we need to be inventive and shrewd. This is a challenge that we like – it fits our philosophy.
Our distillery is meant to produce minimal waste. We only use water, grain or fruits, and a small quantity of yeast in production. The major leftover of the distillation process is spent grain, which is a great cattle food supplement.
Designed by a great architect. Built by local tradesmen
The venue
We wanted our building to be a reflection of our philosophy – simple, unpretentious, modern and functional. In order to achieve our vision we engaged a reputable Forest Hill architect, Lorne Rose (http://lornerose.com), who was excited about the opportunity to design a distillery
By adhering to the principles of supporting the local economy, we decided to build our distillery with Canadian-sourced lumber instead of an American-made prefab steel structure. We hired local tradesmen. It was an interesting and inspiring process to see our dream taking shape!
One of a kind beauty from Tuscany
The still
We contacted all major copper still manufacturers in Europe, USA and even Tasmania. After thorough considerations, we decided to go with Frilli SRL – an old still manufacturer from Tuscany, Italy (https://www.frillisrl.com).
Frilli is one of the five premium copper still manufacturers in the world and possibly one of the most innovative and versatile.
For more than 100 years, Frilli has been making various distillation plants that range from small “toy stills” to large industrial distilleries. Their equipment is used in 58 countries; including Scotland, Ireland and the USA. Our still is custom tailored to our requirements and shop configuration. It is truly one of a kind, made from quality copper for a nice smooth taste.
From grain to glass. From farm to table
The ingredients
Many things are essential to making a good spirit – the still, the distiller’s skills, and the casks (in case of aged products). However, possibly nothing is as important as the ingredients and a good mash.
Canada is blessed with rich, fertile lands which produce some of the world’s best grains. We support local farmers and source our ingredients as close to our distillery as possible without compromising the quality. We grow grains on our lands, caringly farmed by local farmers from Reynolds Bros Farms Ltd. We also plan to run a small-batch production for various spirits from grapes, apples and other local fruits.
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