Distilleries in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland Distillery Company

Clarke's Beach, Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland's untamed coast is the only place to get your whisky fix where the sea stills the barley. The Newfoundland Distillery Co., on Clarke's Beach, has produced the world’s first proper Newfoundland whisky, and they’re not messing around. They use locally grown barley, sea spray for flavour, and run it through three copper stills because quality demands triple-distillation. The result tastes of oak, butter-scotch, and a green apple that refuses to stay green. Every drop is made in custom copper pots that look as if they’re still being invented.

• Distillery shop is conveniently located.
• Unique and flavorful locally crafted spirits.

Dungeons Distillery Ltd

Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador

• Offers unique local twists on traditional dishes.
• Spicy blueberry sauce is a standout feature.

Wooden Walls Distilling

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Wooden Walls Distilling, on St. John’s spikey coastline, is the city’s first craft distillery. It occupies Templeton’s Building, a hulking relic of 19th-century shipbuilding turned barometer of maritime grit. The place produces tiny batches of vodka, gin, and a coffee liqueur that tastes like a mocha that never got the sugar treatment. Locally sourced grain and fresh sea-sprayed water give the spirits a punchy, unpretentious edge. Inside the gin-filled room, the walls are literally wooden, echoing the old merchant ships that once hugged the harbour. It’s a place where the staff will brag about the exact yeast strain they use, and the cocktails are as cheeky as the city’s sardine-rich history. The coffee liqueur is a fine choice for when you need a bitter reminder that you’re not sipping from a champagne flute. Tours are short, but the conversations — over a proper glass — last a long time for the discerning no pretence.

• Handcrafted cocktails using local ingredients
• Unique ship-like atmosphere inside distillery

Rock Spirits

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Rock Spirits in St John’s, Newfoundland, has been pushing the limits of what rum can do since 1958. The plant isn’t some dusty old haunt – it’s a modern laboratory where 15 brands are blended and co-packed for anyone who cares that their spirit is made with care, not just for marketing buzz. Demerara rums dominate the catalogue, a homage to the original 1797 mash, while gingerbread and honey-infused varieties prove they’re willing to experiment. The pot-still process is as British as a stiff cup of tea, with copper vessels maintained so well the whole thing reads like a museum exhibit, not a run-of-the-mill distillery. Each batch is small enough that the rye in the mash gives it a noticeable, almost spicy bite, keeping things from slipping into blandness. Awards follow, as they should; quality, not hype. Their crew’s swagger makes the place impressive, and the barrels age like wine, not wine.

• I love their unique pot still distillation method.
• Variety of grains used in mash bill.