Eau Claire Distillery is a young distillery Turner Valley, Alberta. Their biggest claim to fame is that they had pre-sold the entire first run of its single-malt whisky. This was even before it was put in bottles.
Also, Eau Claire Distillery was mentioned a in New York Times article. The article was discussing the comeback of Canadian whisky, which no doubt helped promote the brand.
Their spirits are sold at various locations around Calgary, but we wanted to checkout their distillery and see it for ourselves. It is only about 60 km from downtown Calgary. So, an easy drive on a beautiful day.
Distillery Visit
They offer distillery tours but, after spending some time touring the area, we made it there too late to take advantage of it. Typically, they are held at 1 pm and 3 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the school year. During the summer months, they have tours up to 3 times per day. For the latest information it’s best to check their website.
Their retail and seating area isn’t very big. They have a few tables inside to sit and enjoy a cocktail or two. And, on a nice day, they do have quite a bit of outdoor seating that you can take advantage of.
If you aren’t into whisky, they do have plenty of other options, including the very unique Dill Pickle Vodka. It’s the perfect addition to Caesars! If don’t want to commit to a purchasing a full bottle, the distillery is a prefect place to give it a taste. Not familiar with the Caesar? It’s a uniquely Canadian cocktail similarly to the Bloody Mary, but made with Clamato juice.
They don’t offer much for food options but if you are looking for a snack, we highly recommend the charcuterie board. The cheeses on the board were particularly good.
If you are looking for something more substantial to eat, the Chuckwagon Café is right next door. Their hamburger is pretty darn good! And, the blueberry pie is one of the best around.
Wary Travelers Tip
Before leaving, be sure to pick up some of their spirit to enjoy at home! Some of the seasonal bottles are only available at the distillery.
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