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This guide to craft spririts has been curated to invite locals and visitors into the creatively crafty distilleries where some of the best spirits are made. This itinerary is designed to take you on a journey – imbibe, learn, and celebrate another piece of what makes BC, and Vancouver Island such a spectacular place to explore and experience. The beauty of being located on an Island in the Pacific Northwest means that this adventure will always take you close to the salty ocean air and ever-changing shorelines.

North to South and East to West, Vancouver Island is brimming with distilleries whose products, processes and philosophies are as diverse as the individuals and companies who own and manage them. The distilleries on the route have created spaces for visitors and residents to imbibe, learn, and celebrate Island spirits. Fermented and distilled BC honey? Yup, we have Canada’s first. The World’s Greatest Gin? Check. Sunsets and sea air as unofficial ingredients in single malt whiskey? On Vancouver Island. Van Gogh and Hemingway’s favourite spirit Absinthe? You can find it here.

Invite your friends, gather up your family, and explore Vancouver Island’s guide to craft spirits!

Distilleries produce alcohol that is between 20% and 75.5% ABV (alcohol by volume), so wherever your spirit path takes you, plan ahead with a designated driver and be responsible about how spirited you get on your journey!

Part 1

Comox Valley Distilleries

Shelter Point, Wayward Distillery, and Island Spirits are all located in close proximity (or within) the Comox Valley, which is well-known for its abundant agriculture, wide-open views, and the Island’s only commercial ski resort.

Shelter Point

The first stop on the Path: the 300 acre former UBC farm bordered by the Salish Sea to the east and the oyster river to the south, now home to Shelter Point. It’s difficult not to be blown away by how expansive and gorgeous this place is. And Shelter Point Whiskey is good. Really good.

Wayward Distillery

Travelling ‘down island’ (as the locals say) brings you to Wayward Distillery in Courtenay. 100% BC honey is fermented and distilled into decadently sippable and unruly spirits. As the first distillery in Canada to use honey as the ferment in all of their spirits, Wayward hosts two demonstration hives on-site to help visitors make the connection between pollinating honey bees and conscientious alcohol consumption.

Island Spirits

The path then leads you across two ferries to Island spirits on Hornby Island. If you’re making more than a day trip (advisable as Hornby truly is an experience unto itself), plan ahead and settle into spirits distilled by a former icebreaker captain and an organic chemistry professor.


Must Stop Spots

Part 2

Central Island Distilleries

Bespoke Spirits House

Starting the list of Central Island Distilleries is Bespoke Spirits House. Launched in 2020, the craft distillery makes gin and vodka spirits that can be picked up from their store or enjoyed in their tasting room.

Misguided Spirits Distillery

Another new addition to the Spirit Path is Misguided Spirits Distillery. Stop by to try their Brother XII vodka – which was recently awarded a silver medal in this year’s national Artisanal Spirits competition. Their Spectral Gin has become popular among their customers, and they have newly launched a Rhubarb Ginger Gin Liqueur that is considered best in its class.

Arbutus Distillery

While Arbutus Distillery crafts much more than absinthe in its stills, it is well worth a stop on The Spirit Path to learn and taste this tasty and often mysterious spirit.

Ampersand Distilling

In Canada’s most temperate growing valley, Ampersand is a family-owned distillery on a five-acre farm. Evidenced in the artistic & Scientific approach to crafting spirits, This family is dedicated to leading visitors through their stories and their creations.

Stillhead Distillery

Also in Duncan, The Spirit Path brings you to Stillhead Distillery – infused spirits and creative expressions of local produce are how Stillhead’s distillers will bring you in.

Merridale Craft Spirits

While Merridale is well known for its scrumptious ciders, some of BC’s oldest craft spirits were made and are housed at Merridale, as it was the first craft distillery in the province.


Must Stop Spots

Part 3

Pacific Rim Distilleries

This section of The Spirit Path brings wanderers to the West Coast of Vancouver Island. As the Foodie culture explodes in Tofino and Ucluelet, Tofino Distillery and Pacific Rim Distilling are each drawing inspiration from the world-class chefs who are foraging and feasting on the bounty of the local waters. Let The Spirit Path take you to both of these communities and take the time to explore the wide-open beaches and famed Wild Pacific Trail.


Must Stop Spots

Part 4

Victoria Craft Distilleries

The City of Victoria is overflowing with places to eat and drink, so The Spirit Path will take you to the distillers who are working hard (and smart) to keep alcoholic spirits relevant in the restaurant and home entertainment scene. 

Fermentorium Distilling Co

Fermentorium is an extension of the Phillips Brewing creators so you know they are dialled into what makes a delicious drink.

Moon Brewery & Distillery

As Moon Brewery & Distillery also offers both beer and spirits, they are aligned with bringing their guests a variety of tastes to satisfy any palette.

Victoria Caledonian Brewery & Distillery

If you’re on The Spirit Path for whisky, Victoria Caledonian wants you to experience their single malt three-year-old whisky. Some things have to be tasted to be believed.

Sheringham Distillery

Located about 30 minutes from Victoria in the beautiful community of Sooke is Sheringham Distillery, featuring an award-winning selection of vodkas, gins, and occasionally whisky. Their Seaside Gin won multiple awards, including the World’s Best Contemporary Gin in 2019 from the World Gin Awards.

Spinnakers

Canada’s oldest brewpub is now offering handcrafted spirits alongside their traditional ales and ciders!


Must Stop Spots

Part 5

Saanich & Gulf Islands Distilleries

DeVine Sprits

The rural/urban boundaries blend on the southeast coast of the Vancouver Island Spirit Path, so take advantage of venturing out the Saanichton Peninsula to try DeVine Spirits, who grow their own fruit, barley, and botanicals for their wines and spirits. These distillers make it and they live it.

Victoria Distillers

Victoria Distillers in Sidney is both an onsite distillery and a community gathering space, so sampling their spirits is as much about taste as it is revelling in its waterfront location.

Salt Spring Shine Distillery

Across the water on Salt Spring Island, lifestyle drives Salt Spring Shine Distillery to embed sustainability into every piece of their operation. Made with 100% BC honey, Salt Spring Shine’s spirits are a welcome stop on the Spirit Path.

*To achieve the Craft designation from the Provincial Government a BC distillery must produce no more than 50,000 litres of spirit per year, the distillery must use 100% BC agricultural products to produce the alcohol from fermentation and fermentation must be completed onsite at the Distillery.


Must Stop Spots

Shelter Point

4650 Regent Rd, Campbell River, BC V9H 1E3

Wayward Distillation House

2931 Moray Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 7S7

Island Spirits

4605 Roburn Rd, Hornby Island, BC V0R 1Z0

Bespoke Spirits House

425 Stanford Ave E #105, Parksville, BC V9P 2N4

Misguided Spirits

18-1343 Alberni Hwy, Parksville, BC V9P 2B9

Arbutus Distillery

1890 Boxwood Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5Y2

Ampersand Distilling

4077 Lanchaster Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6G2

Stillhead Distillery

5301 Chaster Rd #105, Duncan, BC V9L 0G4

Merridale Craft Sprits

1230 Merridale Rd, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L0

Pacific Rim Distilling

317 Forbes Rd #2, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0

Tofino Distillery

681-G Industrial Way, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0

Sheringham Distillery

252 - 6731 W Coast Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0S9

Victoria Caledonian Brewery and Distillery

761 Enterprise Crescent, Victoria, BC V8Z 6P7

Fermentorium Distilling Co

2010 Government St, Victoria, BC V8T 4P1

Moon Under Water Brewery Pub & Distillery

350 Bay St, Victoria, BC V8T 1P7

Spinnakers

308 Catherine St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S8

DeVine Spirits

6181B Old West Saanich Rd, Saanichton, BC V8M 1W8

Victoria Distillers

9891 Seaport Pl, Sidney, BC V8L 4X3

Salt Spring Shine Distillery

194 Kitchen Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2B3