Crafting a Legacy — A Custom Whisky Story of Remembrance, Maple Casks, and Classic Cars

At Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, we have always believed that spirits are more than just a drink; they are vessels for storytelling, milestones, and shared moments. Through our Private Label Custom Cask Program, we often get the privilege of stepping inside some of the most meaningful chapters of our community's lives. But every so often, a story comes along that touches our distilling family deeply.

Recently, we had the honour of working with Ian Jeffreys, who approached us with a unique and heartfelt goal. He wanted to design a custom, one-of-a-kind whisky to celebrate and commemorate the life of his late father-in-law, Jim. Jim was a man who loved the simpler, truer things in life: he was a passionate mechanic who loved nothing more than to spend an afternoon tinkering on his classic car, and he held a deep affection for his home neighbourhood.

To honour Jim's legacy, Ian didn't just want any bottle off the shelf; he wanted the spirit inside to tell a genuine story. Our team collaborated closely with Ian to build a flavour and visual profile that mirrored Jim's passions. For the spirit itself, we settled on an exquisite Double Wood Rye Whisky finished in a maple syrup cask. Crucially, the maple flavouring was sourced directly from Jim’s old neighborhood, embedding a physical piece of his history into every single drop.

For the label, Ian worked with our graphics team to bring Jim's prized classic car to life alongside stylized mechanic wrenches, autumn leaves, and Jim's own portrait on the back, ensuring that every time a bottle was poured, Jim's spirit of craftsmanship and adventure was front and center.

"Our experience with the private label program was truly outstanding! We were looking to craft a special whisky in honour of a parent who passed away, and the team at Okanagan made the experience fun, easy, and memorable. From a virtual tour and tasting, to suggestions on how to craft our whisky, to unbelievable support with label graphics, the experience is one we will never forget! The maple cask whisky tastes fantastic, the cask looks amazing and makes for a great end table. Brian and the entire Okanagan team made our whisky and the journey to make it, unforgettable!!"
— Ian Jeffreys

Jim's family and friends gathered for his Celebration of Life. It was a day dedicated to sharing stories, recalling fond memories, and honouring his journey. At the heart of the gathering, Ian gifted these highly personalized bottles to family members and close friends—a token of remembrance that everyone could take home to toast to Jim's memory in their own quiet moments.

And as a beautiful bonus? The empty custom wooden barrel used to age the whisky didn’t go to waste. It now sits proudly in Ian’s home as a beautifully rustic end table, serving as a daily visual reminder of Jim's enduring legacy.

Thank you, Ian, for allowing Okanagan Spirits to be part of this incredible tribute. To see a family toast with a spirit that contains the flavour of a loved one's home neighbourhood, wrapped in an emblem of his favourite car, is exactly why we do what we do.