Explore Toronto’s Craft Distilleries

Locally produced spirits are gaining popularity in the city. With numerous breweries emerging, it’s becoming increasingly easy to find craft beers. Ciders crafted in and around Toronto are also on the rise. In addition, the trend of locally made spirits such as gin, vodka, whiskey, and rum is catching on. Below are seven craft distilleries to discover in Toronto and its vicinity.

01. Toronto Distillery Company

This distillery in Toronto’s Junction neighborhood distills spirits from locally sourced grains and produce, making it a certified organic grain-to-glass operation. Founded in 2012, it was Toronto’s first new distillery licensed since 1933. The Toronto Distillery Co. offers Organic Single Grain Whiskies, JR’s Dry Organic Canadian Gin (a winner at the 2016 Toronto Ginapalooza), Organic Applejack, and the earthy Organic Beet Spirit, which is crafted from fermented sugar beets.

02. Yongehurst Distillery

Harbour Rum, the flagship product of Toronto’s Yongehurst Distillery, is celebrated as the first small-batch rum produced in Toronto, possibly in the city’s history. This rum is created by fermenting South American certified organic molasses with an Ontario apple wild yeast strain. Every item from Yongehurst is processed with meticulous attention to detail right in the distillery. Besides Harbour Rum, limited edition offerings include Limoncello and varied gins and spiced rums.

03. Last Straw Distillery

Located just outside Toronto in Vaughan, Last Straw Distillery opened its doors in August 2016. It specializes in unique spirits such as lightly aged moonshine, blackstrap molasses rum, and different styles of gin, with plans for further expansion.

04. Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers

Situated in Beamsville, Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers is centrally located in Niagara wine country, ensuring access to essential ingredients like grapes, fruits, and botanicals. Their portfolio features signature spirits including rye whiskey, white rye, and various gins (dry, unfiltered, rose, cherry, and strawberry). Dillon’s also creates fruit spirits, flavored bitters, and absinthe. Daily tours run from Victoria Day weekend to November 1, providing insight into their operations for a small fee.

05. Junction 56

Visit Stratford, Ontario to experience Junction 56 Distillery, which opened in 2015. They craft gin, vodka, and moonshine while maturing whiskey in barrels. You can purchase moonshine at select LCBO locations, while gin and vodka are available at the distillery. Tours are offered to provide a comprehensive look at the distillation process, complete with samples.

06. Still Waters Distillery

Award-winning for small-batch whiskey, Still Waters Distillery, established in 2009 as Ontario’s first micro-distillery, has garnered numerous accolades. Their processes involve hand-mashing, fermenting, and distilling to produce whiskey, including single malt made from Canadian malted barley, rye whiskey, and blends.

07. Sixty-Six Gilead Distillery

On an 80-acre farm in Prince Edward County, Sixty-Six Gilead Distillery produces a variety of hand-crafted spirits using a custom-made copper still. Their offerings include three types of vodka (Canadian Rye, Whole Wheat, and Canadian Pine), two whiskeys (Crimson Rye and Wild Oak), and others like Loyalist Gin and Duck Island Rum. While Loyalist Gin is available at LCBO, the rest can be found at their on-site retail store.