Distilleries in Calgary

Alberta is rich with fresh glacier water and vast fields of grain, giving Calgary-based distilleries a delicious advantage when it comes to making farm-to-glass craft spirits. Calgary’s local craft distilleries range from upstarts like Confluence Distilling and Burwood Distillery that push boundaries when it comes to flavour and experimentation to award-winners like Eau Claire Distillery, constantly striving to create that perfect dram of whisky. Stop by these tasting rooms for a drink or to stock up your liquor cabinet — with so much to taste and explore, whether you’re a serious enthusiast or new to the world of craft beverages, you’re bound to find a spirit or cocktail that will suit your taste.

Burwood Distillery

Located in a historic building that was once part of Currie Barracks, Burwood Distillery  is co-owned and operated by two brothers looking to share the craft spirit traditions that they grew up with in Eastern Europe and an experienced master distiller with a background in microbiology. As a result, Burwood pushes the boundaries with its limited-edition whisky releases, seasonal flavoured gins, ready-to-drink cocktails and unique offerings like medica and honey eau de vie, made with honey from the distillery's own hives. Burwood also shares the cool casual Veranda restaurant with its co-tenant Vaycay Brewing Brew Co., showcasing products from both businesses.

Address: 2566 Flanders Ave SW

Bridgeland Distillery

Named after a historic neighbourhood on the north banks of the Bow River, Bridgeland Distillery is a bold business specializing in brandy and grappa-like wine-based spirits and whiskies, including a fully Canadian “berbon” made with Alberta Taber corn. Sticking to its surrounding neighbourhood’s Italian-Canadian roots, Bridgeland also offers some fun tipples like a refreshing limoncello and an Amaro originally commissioned by the legendary Spolumbo’s deli. See it all firsthand with a tour of the inner-city distillery, which also serves as an events space.

Address: 77 Edmonton Trail

Confluence Distilling

Confluence Distilling  came together as a passion project for some friends who love the combination of cocktails and community. Visit the distillery’s hip little tasting room to get a taste for the label’s laidback artisanal vibe, as well as its much beloved vodkas and gins, including a popular pink gin and a colour-changing amethyst version. Confluence also has some fun with products like its herbal Vinland aquavit, a line of vermouth, and a selection of canned cocktails, including, in the true spirit of inclusivity, a non-alcoholic gin and tonic.

Address: 507 36 Ave SE

Last Best Brewing and Distilling

Calgarians most likely know Last Best Brewing and Distilling  as one of the city’s best brew pubs, but in addition to its very solid line of beers, the company quietly makes some fantastic spirits. After some experimentation with different gin formulas, Last Best now offers up three different gins with very distinctive tasting notes. Pop into the bustling Beltline pub for some drinks and tasty food and grab a few cans of ready-to-drink cocktails to go — each one is designed to make the most of the gins’ intrinsic flavours.

Address: 607 11 Ave SW

Eau Claire Distillery

Launching in 2014 after Alberta tweaked its liquor regulations to allow for small-batch spirits, this award-winning business bills itself as the province’s first craft distillery. Located in the town of Diamond Valley just a half hour from Calgary, Eau Claire Distillery pioneered the local grain-to-glass movement with a strong lineup of spirits that reflect the taste of Alberta’s terroir. Master Distiller Caitlin Quinn uses locally grown barley to create premium gins, vodkas, and whiskies (including a much-coveted single malt) as well as quirky blends like the prickly pear “EquinOx” vodka and a series of thirst-quenching canned cocktails. After a picturesque country drive out to the Western-themed distillery site for a tour or to enjoy some cocktails and bites in the Speakeasy bar next to the distillery.

Address: 113 Sunset Blvd SW, Turner Valley

Romero Distilling Co.

It’s rare to find rum distilleries in these parts since sugar cane isn’t grown in Alberta (or anywhere in Canada), but Romero Distilling Co.  keeps its local flair by tying its luxury rum to the story of Alberta’s Prohibition-era rum runners. Hear the story of bootlegger Emilio Picariello on a tour of the distillery, complete with archival photos and dramatic flourishes. The rum here, made with Canadian molasses, is rich and perfect for sipping neat, but you’d be missing out of you skipped out on one of the tasting room’s expertly prepared cocktails, made with local ingredients and designed to pay homage to Emilio and his crew.

Address: 688 Heritage Dr SE Unit 300

Skunkworks Distillery

While whisky is the gold standard for many craft distilleries, Skunkworks Distillery  takes a different approach, focusing on what it calls “the smoothest moonshine on any known planet.” Take a sip and you won’t believe that this premium moonshine is made from sugar beets, grown in Taber, Alberta. The Manchester tasting room is also a cool place to hang out in, with an eclectic vibe and an onsite music studio. More importantly, you’ll have a chance to truly appreciate an often-misunderstood spirit by sampling Skunkworks’ flagship moonshine, either straight-up or with flavours like hibiscus or Middle Eastern spice.

Address: 4009 4 St SE

Starr Distilling

Starr Distilling rebranded itself as a new distillery the spring of 2022, but its signature Love Summer vodkas have been on the market since 2016. Available in flavours like peach and raspberry, the eye-catching bottles have long been local favourites and are perfect in a fresh and fruity cocktail or as a flavour enhancer for sparkling wine. The distillery also makes a line of freshly flavoured gins Try them out for yourself at Starr’s cozy tasting room, which is also home to the excellent Thai Siam restaurant.

Address: 4127 6 St NE #15

True Wild Distilling

Located in a beautiful historic electrical substation, True Wild is an extremely well-appointed distillery, fit with enormous gleaming copper stills. It opened in 2024 but its signature whisky — overseen by respected Alberta distillery Bryce Parsons — isn’t due to hit shelve until about 2030. In the meantime, True Wild is creating gin and vodka under its Breaker Box label, creating blended whiskies under the Roper’s Hold brand, and running an excellent restaurant and cocktail bar.

Address: 3115 11 St SE

Two Rivers Distillery

Internationally awarded spirits are the cornerstone of this local distillery. Products include single-cask whiskies, gins, vodkas, rum and liqueurs made by founder and master distiller Mark Freehand. Stop into the 60-seat cocktail lounge for a flight or book a tour and tasting guided by the owner himself. Focusing on Canada’s signature drink, there are 19 different flavoured Caesar vodkas on offer, as well as whisky cocktails and drinks made from Two Rivers’ Spruce Grouse alcohol-free spirit.

Address: 453 42 Ave SE

About the author:

Elizabeth Chorney-Booth is a local food writer, cookbook author, radio columnist and a lifelong Calgarian.