Quebec Distiller

At Cirka Distilleries, located in the Côte-Saint-Paul district of Montreal, Isabelle Rochette works the stills to bottle the enchanting flavour of Quebec barley, rye and corn. We had the opportunity to talk to her about her great passion for whisky.

When you arrive on Île d’Orléans, take a left at the first intersection and you’ll reach Cassis Monna et Filles in no time. Anne Monna, one of the sister-owners, welcomes me like an old friend. “We’re girls who love to celebrate and host parties. We created a place that reflects who we are.”

Did you know that rum was already being distilled here in Quebec when it was known as New France? Clearly, the modern history of Quebec rums is much more recent, but its star is on the rise. Here’s a look at a trend that’s about to take off.

Set a course for the magnificent Ubald Distillery, located on Route 363 in—you guessed it—Saint-Ubalde, in the area around Portneuf. A unique place where terroir and tradition combine to produce Ubald’s famous potato vodka as well as their Vallée gins, available in herbaceous and zesty varieties.

Distillerie La Manufacture is tucked away in the heart of the Laurentians, in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. Laurent and his father welcomed me into their hideaway to share the story behind their products—from the famous Panacée gin and Narval vodka to all the new eaux de vie bursting with local flavour.

In June, Distillerie Grand Dérangement founder and CEO Marcel Mailhot invited us to his new distillery, inaugurated in the spring of 2020. It’s there, in Saint-Jacques in the Lanaudière region, that it all happens—with the smallest carbon footprint and the largest circular economy, from ground to glass.

After meeting Madeleine Dufour from La Famille Migneron in Baie-Saint-Paul, I finally understood what she meant by “In Charlevoix, there’s something you can’t explain.” I went there to learn about what they make and was able to see the world through their eyes by discovering their inimitable products

Mariana is derived from the scientific name of the black spruce: Picea mariana. Emblematic of the North American boreal forest, the tree also gives Canopée forest gin—the very first spirit created by Distillerie Mariana—its distinctive essence.

Housed in one of Granby’s historic buildings, La Chaufferie microdistillery is masterfully led by a very small team of passionate artisans who painstakingly craft their spirits, from grain to glass.

There’s no cutting corners at Menaud. Driven by authenticity, local craftspeople develop products that don’t skimp on quality.

Inspired by the quality of homegrown products from across the province, Cirka became the first Québec microdistillery to produce spirits from grain to glass.

Take a couple of roommates who like beer and chemistry, add a new neighbour with a few business ideas and you get a distillery that loves colourful products.