By now, any boozehound who bellies up to the bar can choose from dozens, if not hundreds, of beers brewed locally in small batches. The microbrewery trend caught on in the GTA in the 1990s and -- despite such industry innovators such as
Sleeman's and
Upper Canada being swallowed by big corporations -- the small-is-beautiful ethos has solidified among discerning beer drinkers.
But until now, Ontario has not had a micro-distiller making spirits in small batches.
Still Waters, based in Vaughan, changed that late last year when it launched a single-malt vodka at the LCBO, the company's (and the province's) first micro-distilled product to reach the market.
According to Barry Bernstein, Still Waters' co-founder and one of its two employees, the vodka, which retails for $36.95, is selling well. Still Waters was founded in 2005 as an importer, bottler and distributor of single-malt scotches. But last year the company was reborn with the purchase of a custom-made (and
beautiful) pot still from Germany.
The vodka is made by hand in small batches ("600 litres, rather than 6,000 or 20,000 litres" as big distillers do, says Bernstein), and every bottle is packed by hand by the company's creators.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Barry Bernstein, Founder, Still Waters