Still Waters Distillery

History

Still Waters Distillery is an Ontario-based distillery, described as one of the province's early micro-distilleries. According to the site, production began in March 2009 when Barry Stein and Barry Bernstein founded Ontario's first micro-distillery and worked with craft in small-batch production. Since then the distillery has come under new management: Kelly and Lucas bought Still Waters and committed to honoring the legacy while steering the distillery in an innovative direction. Shortly after the takeover, a number of improvements were introduced focusing on quality, reliability and creative innovation, including new finish techniques, improved cask storage and an aging program for other distilleries. In addition, offerings were expanded with premium bulk whisky for distilleries across Canada, and co-packaging activities have increased capacity and output. The site also describes that collaboration is central to the philosophy and that the distillery is ready to continue growing by producing innovative spirits for today's demanding market.

Production/Manufacturing

Still Waters Distillery describes production as craft in small batches, with distillation carried out in copper pot stills for most products. Several products mention the use of Ontario-grown grains and natural methods:

• Whisky-Single Malt uses 100% Canadian two-row malted barley and matures in ex-bourbon casks on site, with a single-cask edition and no chill filtration or artificial colorants.

• Whisky-Single Malt Cask Strength and Whisky-Rye Cask Strength are also described as handcrafted in small batches, with malted barley and 100% Ontario rye as the raw material for the Rye edition, and with notes of single-cask and no chill filtration.

• Buck 8 Straight Corn Whisky is made from about 99% corn with 1% malted barley, all aging takes place in Ontario in ex-Wild Turkey bourbon casks; ABV sits around cask strength.

• 9 Year Old Single Malt Cognac Finish Cask Strength is described as a 9-year-old single malt that finishes aging in Cognac casks for about 9 months after an initial aging in ex-bourbon casks, and there is no chill filtration and no artificial colorants.
  In addition to whisky, Vodka-Princi and the Gin lines (Gin-Junio, Gin-Peria, Gin-Ziato) are also produced as products from the distillery.

Products / Whisky Series

• Whisky-Single Malt: 100% Canadian two-row malted barley; hand-selected, small batches in copper pot stills; matures in ex-bourbon casks; single-cask edition; no chill filtration or artificial colorants.

• Whisky-Single Malt Cask Strength: 7.8 years old (63.4% in some versions) or up to around 12 years (61.0%), all as single cask and without chill filtration/artificial colorants.

• Whisky-Rye Cask Strength: 7.8 years old, 61.8% ABV; made from 100% Ontario rye, aged in ex-bourbon casks, single-cask and without chill filtration/artificial colorants.

• 9 Year Old Single Malt Cognac Finish Cask Strength 62%: 9-year-old malt, aged in ex-bourbon casks, finishing in Cognac casks for about 9 months; single-cask and without chill filtration/artificial colorants.

• Buck 8 Straight Corn Whisky: 8 years old, 59.5% ABV; made from about 99% corn and 1% malted barley; fully aged in Ontario in ex-Wild Turkey bourbon barrels; single-origin corn and natural fermentation; typically cask strength.

• In addition, Vodka-Princi and the Gin range (Gin-Junio, Gin-Peria, Gin-Ziato) are produced as part of the distillery's broad range.

Visits / Experiences

The site mainly provides information about the products and production methods, but does not include details about visitor activities or experiences such as tours or tastings.

Philosophy

According to ownership and statements about the company, Still Waters Distillery was steered forward by Kelly and Lucas after the takeover, with a focus on quality, reliability, and creative innovation. They are working with new finish techniques and better cask storage, as well as an aging program for other distilleries, and the distillery is also pursuing the distribution of premium bulk whisky to distilleries across Canada. Collaboration with industry leaders is described as central, and co-packaging has already doubled capacity and output. The original history highlights the founders' role in Ontario's first micro-distillery and the long-term vision to produce innovative spirits for a contemporary market's needs.