Photo: Michal Urbanek Photography/Odd Society Spirits
After changes to local liquor laws a decade ago, the craft spirit scene in Vancouver has swelled. Our city’s distilleries focus on local ingredients and small-batch production to create premium vodkas, gins, and whiskeys in both traditional and innovative flavours. Whether you are into cozy scenes around an antique bar or a sun-drenched patio, you’ll find a craft distillery in Vancouver that matches your vibe.
Odd Society Spirits
Photo: Odd Society Spirits
Odd Society Spirits is one of Vancouver’s oldest distilleries. They make small-batch craft spirits in the old-world tradition using new-world ingredients. Gordon Glanz, Odd Society’s founder and distillery, has a Master’s of Science in brewing in distilling and likes to create both classic and experimental flavours. Odd Society is known for its signature Wallflower Gin, which uses BC-grown barley and local botanicals. Or try their Salal Gin, made with wild harvested salal berries instead of traditional blackthorn berries.
You can taste a variety of spirits by ordering a flight at the Cocktail Lounge. Housed in a converted motorcycle garage, the lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows so you can look into the distillery while you enjoy your beverage. In the warmer months, they also have a great patio where you can enjoy some of their signature tropical cocktails.
Resurrection Spirits
The patio at Resurrection Spirits. Photo: Resurrection Spirits/Instagram
Find Resurrection Spirits near the north end of Commercial Drive. They keep it local by using rye grain from the Peace River region of northern British Columbia to make their whiskeys, gins, and vodkas. They also make some unusual infused spirits like their Garlic Rye Vodka, which is ideal for making caesars.
Pull up a stool at their moody cocktail bar or park yourself at the picnic tables on the patio, then order one of their signature craft cocktails. If you want to try their spirits straight-up, they also offer tasting flights. Pair your drinks with one of their delicious charcuterie boards.
Long Table Distillery
Photo: Long Table Distillery
Opened in 2013, Long Table Distillery was Vancouver’s first modern distillery. Run by a husband and wife team from the UK, their focus is on handcrafted gins and botanical spirits.
Their downtown distillery boasts an 18-foot-long live edge Redwood table that encourages socializing. Pull up a chair and sample their gins, vodkas and liqueurs. In the summer, grab a seat on their sunny patio. You can also sign up for fun cocktail-making classes.
The Liberty Distillery
The antique bar at The Liberty Distillery. Photo: The Liberty Distillery
Based on Granville Island, The Liberty Distillery makes artisanal spirits using organic BC grain. Every step of their distilling process, from grain to glass, is done at their Granville Island distillery.
If you want to try their whiskeys, gins, and vodkas, head to their cocktail lounge. The centrepiece is their 125-year-old antique bar. You can order tasting flights or sip their signature cocktails.
Sons of Vancouver Distillery
Photo: Sons of Vancouver Distillery
Head over the bridge to North Vancouver to visit the Sons of Vancouver Distillery. They focus on high-rye, cask-strength whiskeys that deliver bold flavour. In 2023, they became the first craft distillery to win ‘Canadian Whiskey of the Year’ at the Canadian Whiskey Awards. In addition to whiskey, they also make a popular amaretto, gin, and flavoured vodkas. Their chili vodka is a great way to add heat to caesars.
Their tasting room serves up creative cocktails with lots of weekly features. They also have an extensive whiskey menu that includes dozens of varieties of single-malt whiskey, bourbon, and rye. If you’re hungry, they offer freshly made burritos from their neighbour, Don Chendo Mexican Market.
Copperpenny Distilling
Enjoy Fanny Bay oysters and gin at Copperpenny Distilling. Photo: Copperpenny Distilling/Instagram
Although Copperpenny Distilling has only been open since 2022, they’ve already made a splash on the Vancouver craft spirits scene. Their gins have won several awards including the #1 Oyster Shell Gin in the World at the 2023 Global Gin Masters, made with freshly shucked Fanny Bay oyster shells.
Their cocktail lounge and distillery are located in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood, just a few blocks from the Seabus. Stop in to sip some of their signature drinks on the patio. Or make a reservation for one of their signature Fanny Bay Oysters pop-up events where you can enjoy fresh oysters and Oyster Shell Gin.
