Terms like “history” and “tradition” get thrown around a lot in the world of craft brewing, winemaking, and distilling, but rarely do they hold as much weight as they do now in Cawston, B.C.
Launched just this year, Sharpe Distillery is the product of many years of hard work, fueled by a desire to honour the Sharpe family's rich tradition and… legally ambiguous but ultimately awesome legacy in the surrounding area.
With a family history in Cawston that stretches back three generations, head distiller Tracy Sharpe, her husband CEJ Mussell, and Amy Jo Sharpe, who runs the bar and makes all the cocktails, founded Sharpe Distillery as a tribute to their Grandpa Jack Sharpe; a local legend who, in addition to being an all-around community character, was a tried-and-true old-timey bootlegger during prohibition in B.C.
And when it comes to alcohol, it doesn’t get much more historic than that.
Despite being steeped in this history, Sharpe Distillery is far from stuck in the past. With head distiller Tracy Sharpe at the helm, this female and indigenous-owned family distillery crafts unique spirits using tried-and-true methods and an eye toward innovation and experimentation. This includes a vast array of smooth-drinking high-quality spirits ranging from unaged rye whiskeys to botanical gins, and cherry vodkas – quite literally something for everyone.
The aforementioned unaged whiskey is distilled using B.C.-grown rye and water from the Similkameen River Valley. It’s bold, sharp, and peppery, with notes of wet leather, vanilla, dried grasses, sagebrush, and a hint of sweetness from the grain. Alternatively, their Pisqu is a single distillation of Similkameen grape juice ferment. Aged in stainless for three months, it's full of flavour with hints of honey while still remaining fruity and earthy. You can shop the distillery’s entire collection of premium spirits online HERE.
You can also enjoy these spirits at the distillery’s welcoming tasting room, also located in Cawston, where you can surround yourself with breathtaking views of Similkameen Valley. Of course, you won’t just see the surrounding landscape, you’ll taste it too, as their diverse cocktail menu is heavily inspired by the local growing season and ingredient availability.
It’s a great place to sit at the bar, share a drink with friends, or chat with someone new. Whatever the case, you’re sure to feel like part of the family while you’re there. The welcoming atmosphere is exactly why less than a year into operating, Sharpe Distillery has already been named Best Distillery, Best Happy Hour, and Best New Business by the 18th annual Best of the South Okanagan awards. Located just outside Keremeos, it’s a great place to visit during your fall travels and a fantastic travel destination in its own right too.
More than just another faceless whiskey brand, Sharpe Distillery invites you to belly up and become part of the family as you learn about an authentic history that runs as deep in the distilling industry as it does in the area where the product was made.
To learn more, visit sharpedistillery.com.
