Georgian Bay Distillery

Tim and Denzil founded Georgian Bay Spirit Company in 2013. It took 48 recipes before they got to the final mix on their Gin. They have definitely gotten in on the ground floor with the craft movement that we can safely say is not a craze. I had to speak to them because given the way the laws stand right now Spirits are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to producing alcohol locally. Beer and Wine fall into different categories than Spirits in the eyes of the law. Even with the number of craft breweries and wineries opening up in the province making alcohol of any kind can be a challenge.

What was interesting was speaking with them about their relationship with the LCBO. For many small scale producers dealing with the LCBO can be a double edged sword for many reasons. For Tim and Denzil dealing with the LCBO is seen as positive. It has given them access to a large market and given the way the market has responded to their craft product one challenge they are facing is keeping up with demand.

When I spoke with Tim and Denzil they didn’t even seem to realize the challenges in place. They set out to create a product that they like and bring it to market. Their Gin and Vodka are made with Malted Barley and Corn. My favorite thing about the Vodka is that it has a nice bready and subtly floral note to it. I love clean tasting spirits but you need to have some flavour to them and the vodka has that in spades. The gin is a little rough around the edges and was made to pair with tonic or in a dirty martini.

I will be honest, when I reached out to Georgian Bay Spirit Co. I was expecting to get a story about the challenges of being a craft distiller in the province. But instead I got a pure success story. A couple of guys making great spirits and working within the framework to get these bottles to the market. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what they bring to market next.

Georgian Bay Vodka – LCBO 446559 – $39.95
Georgian Bay Gin – LCBO 448597 – $39.95