The terms handcrafted and local are thrown around a lot
these days. When you hear them now, you probably don’t pause to think about the
values these words are intended to reflect. At Still Waters Distillery,
these are respected qualities, not just buzzwords. Established in 2009 by Barry
Bernstein and Barry Stein, the distillery has since been producing some of the
most distinctive Canadian Whisky, Vodka, and Rye, garnering both national and
international acclaim.
And their first bottle of whiskey was only opened in 2011.
Canadian liquor laws require that a whiskey be aged for a minimum of 3 years,
and that means that their hallmark single malt whiskey Stalk and Barrel was in
the works for quite a while before we were able to get our hands on it.
Patience, know-how, and confidence in their method has evidently paid off for
the two co-founders, because Stalk and Barrel is every bit as good as the
numerous awards it has won suggest, which, it should be noted, include the
Canadian Whiskey Awards’ 2013 Distillery of the Year and 2015 Best New Whiskey
awards.
Based out of Concord, ON,
the two Barry’s work together on creating products that showcase their
dedication to the craft of micro-distillation. They’re practically obsessed
with ensuring that every batch meets its potential and then some. Their
business mantra – From Grain to Glass – says it all. They are involved with
every step of the process, from sourcing the grains to distilling the alcohol
in their traditional (and custom made) copper pot still to carefully filling
the ex-bourbon barrels their whiskey will age in. The two-row barely they use
is grown exclusively in Canada (no exceptions), and as much of the grain as
possible is farmed within 100km of the distillery itself.
Every individual barrel imparts unique characteristics to
the final product, and so either Barry or Barry closely monitors every single
one, ensuring that conditions are ideal, and that the spirit receives the exact
treatment it needs to reach proper maturity. Then they taste, make notes, and
taste some more. There is no outsourcing, no automation. Don’t even ask if they
add artificial colouring. It’s a process that benefits from their direct and
continuous involvement, from their devotion, and from their expertise. And then
we all benefit in turn. That works out well, no?
As though any more was required of these guys to prove that
they’re completely on the level and all-around awesome Ontarians, they offer
ways for whiskey snobs and whiskey newbies alike to become more involved, more
knowledgeable, and more engaged with their drink of choice. Their website
boasts a barrel-tracking
service, where you can delve into the world of small-batch tasting
notes and other intricacies like barrel types, age, and bottling information.
They want to open their world to you, not just sell you a product off a shelf.
These spirits are as local as local gets, and as crafty as
handcrafted gets. These men are as dedicated as men come. Now a prominent
member of the OCDA, Still Waters Distillery was Ontario’s first small-batch,
independent distillery, and continues to set the standard. Click HERE to SHOP ONLINE.
Note: Article written by Dylan Nassr.
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The Ontario Craft Distillers Association
(OCDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the success of Craft
Distilleries in the Province of Ontario, Canada. For more information on
the OCDA or our constituents please contact us directly. You
can also get social with OCDA on Facebook and Twitter.
