Three Greater Victoria distilleries win big at the Canadian Artisan Spirits Awards

Distilling is an art form requiring time, patience, and dedication to a practice that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. The goal of an exceptional spirit is to create a sensory experience, bottle it, and be able to take it with you wherever you are.Vancouver Island is lucky to have dozens of distilleries dedicated to providing exactly that for its residents, and at this year’s Canadian Artisan Spirits awards, three local distilleries (and five more distilleries on Vancouver Island) took home a variety of distinctions—from best in class to gold, silver, or bronze medals.Here’s who won in Greater Victoria.

Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery—Victoria

Not only is Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, but now it’s celebrating its White Moon Vodka winning gold with distinction in the Contemporary Vodka category. Distinction means the spirit performed the same or better than last year.Along with the big win, in the liqueur category, the Moon Shaft liqueur claimed silver, the Antifogmatic Bliss Single Malt Whisky took bronze with distinction in the Single Malt Whisky category, and its Citrus Gin won bronze in the Contemporary Gin category.“We love to support our local farmers, and it’s awesome to see the spirits that use local ingredients get recognition,” Clayton Potter, co-owner, brewmaster, and master distiller at Moon Under Water, said in a press release.

DEVINE Distillery—Central Saanich

This year, Central Saanich’s DEVINE Distillery took home the best in class award for the Young Whisky category with its Ancient Grains whisky, and best in class in the Rum Alternative category with its Black Bear Spiced Honey Shine.

It’s not the first time DEVINE’s Ancient Grains whisky was recognized by the CAS. Last year, the same whisky took home the overall Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year award.Devine Distillery also recently took home the Award of Excellence for Innovation of the Year as well as Whisky Spirit of the Year and a gold medal for its Ancient Grains young whisky at the Canadian Whisky Awards.

Sheringham Distillery—Sooke

Beginning in Shirley in 2015, Sheringham moved to Sooke, and began honing in on some award-winning gin. In over seven years, Sheringham has become an award-winning boutique distillery. This year it took home four awards, including three in the Infused or Flavoured Vodka category. Sheringham’s cucumber, mint, and lime gin, as well as grapefruit, lychee, and rose each won silver; and its seville orange and bergamot gin took home bronze in the category. The big win came with its London Dry Gin, when it won gold in the Classic Gin category.

To see the full list of winners, which includes five more Vancouver Island Distilleries, check out the list here.