Like beer and cider, craft distilleries are experiencing a boom in British Columbia. Here on the Sunshine Coast, artisanal spirits can be found from Gibsons to Powell River, with each distillery offering their own spin on classic favourites. Local botanicals make their way into gins, vodkas, and liqueurs while other spirits carry on the traditions and flavours of global staples like limoncello and Advocaat. Read on to learn about the Sunshine Coast’s craft distilleries.
Please consume responsibly and plan ahead with a designated driver.
Bruinwood Estate Distillery, Roberts Creek
As the longest-running distillery on the Sunshine Coast, Bruinwood has been offering premium spirits since 2018. Set on a five-acre apiary farm in Roberts Creek, this craft distillery produces a wide range of European-style spirits, including the always-popular Advocaat, a Dutch liqueur with a rich, eggnog-like consistency that can be sipped or drizzled over desserts like ice cream and pies. You'll also find a kirsch (a colourless, German brandy), raki (the national spirit of Turkiye), along with a dry vermouth, rye whiskey, and an array of gins and vodkas, and liqueurs.
Flavours pull influence from across the world, from an ube-flavoured liqueur with Filipino flair to a liqueur featuring the local and humble haskap berry. You can sample all these in their cedar-shingled building which serves as both the distillery and tasting room, or pop by the Sechelt Farmers' and Artisans' Market to find their booth (while there, we recommend picking up a pie or local ice cream for the aforementioned Advocaat).
Tip: Take the taste of Bruinwood home with you! Pick up a copy of their recipe guide at the distillery, which breaks down Bruinwood favourites, including the "Fluffy Duck," which uses their award-winning Advocaat, and the "Creeker Mule," a vodka version of the classic. The vodka cream pasta is also a must-make!
The 101 Brewhouse & Distillery, Gibsons
This popular eatery doubles as makers of craft beer and spirits. Their large and lively tasting room, located along the main drag in upper Gibsons, is the perfect spot to meet up with friends. Try a range of beer and spirits, grab lunch or dinner, and be sure to head outside and enjoy the patio on a sunny day.
They serve up a delicious gin and vodka, respectively: their London-style dry gin is made with a blend of BC-botanicals, while the vodka is crafted entirely from BC-grown malted barley in a German-style still. New on the menu is a fan favourite: limoncello. Made with fresh lemon peel, it's perfect served on its own, added into your favourite cocktail, or served as a spritz.
Tip: Come for the libations, stay for the good times. The 101 Brewhouse & Distillery hosts popular weekly trivia and bingo nights where you can test your wit and taste in music.
Salish Sea Distillery, Powell River
This family-run craft distillery embodies a deep respect for the local environment. Their lineup of small-batch gins and vodkas reflect their natural surroundings. They use 100% organic BC botanicals and distill their spirits from wild honey and fresh mountain water. They currently offer three gins, including a silky, triple-distilled option and another that's infused with local blackberries, along with two vodkas—both made with a spirit base of honey instead of grain, making them completely gluten-free.
Swing by the Salish Sea Distillery’s tasting room, located next to the Beach Gardens Resort & Marina, to sample a small flight. This cozy, welcoming space has nods to Powell River's coastal charm, with ship-wheel inspired chandeliers, warm woods, leather couches, and a mural that captures the spirit of this craft distillery. Finish off your visit with a walk along the shoreline overlooking the Salish Sea.
Tip: Located next to the distillery, The Seasider Bistro + Wine Bar + Patio features an extensive cocktail menu crafted with Salish Sea Spirits. These include the Salish Mule, a ginger-forward gin cocktail; a classic Negroni; and a Caesar, made with Salish Spirits Vodka and garnished with a salted celery rim and celery stick. Complement your drink with a menu that highlights the best of the Salish Sea, from humboldt squid to ceviche to wild sockeye salmon.
One Foot Crow Distillery, Gibsons
Tucked away in upper Gibsons in an unassuming building is One Foot Crow Distillery. This uniquely-named distillery gets its moniker from a one-footed crow that befriended the owners. This small, family-run operation produces a handful of spirits, made in homage to the long history of distilling.
The mineral-infused, dark coloured Gunpowder Gin takes its name from a maritime tradition where sailors—in order to test the proof of liquor in barrels—would light it on fire with gunpowder. Other spirits play with flavour, like the rhubarb, cranberry, and pumpkin spice vodkas. For whiskey fans, they offer a small-batch version with caramel notes that, while not aged long, finishes smooth.
Tip: They offer the occasional "Movies and Martinis" night in partnership with the Gibsons Cinema movie theatre, where you can show your ticket stub for discounts on cocktails.
