Okanagan whisky brand is a world-beater. So why isn't it on B.C. store shelves? -Vancouver Sun

As posted in the VANCOUVER SUN on March 27, 2025 by jruttle@postmedia.com READ HERE "It's a great time to be making Canadian spirits, and this Okanagan company just swept the whisky categories at a world competition! There’s no question Canadian-made everything is having a moment, as Trump’s tariffs and trash talk have set off a wave of patriotic buying across the country. But one burgeoning B.C. industry has been left out of the (cocktail) party. Walk into your local B.C. government liquor store and look around for the Canadian craft distillers’ aisle. See any boutique Canadian-produced whisky or vodka? Not a drop. That’s something that has to change “last week,” says Tyler Dyck, CEO of Vernon and Kelowna-based Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery.

Dyck’s family-run company is fresh off a virtual sweep of the awards at the 2025 World Spirits Awards in Germany.

In a blind tasting of spirits from over 300 of the world’s best craft distillers from 50 countries, the B.C. maker of whisky, gin, vodka, brandy and fruit liqueurs picked up an unprecedented 11 gold and five silver medals and earned the “world-class distillery in worldwide whisky” designation.

The awards celebrate local, independent, terroir-driven spirits rather than big multinational producers, so Dyck likens them to the Cannes Film Festival rather than the big-industry Academy Awards. A bourbon like Maker’s Mark wouldn’t even qualify because it’s got added colours and flavours and is mass-produced for consistency — whereas craft distilleries create their product from “farm to bottle,” including using only local fruits and grains and fermenting and distilling the product in house. Each vintage is a unique experience with its own flavour profile, and that’s the point.

Dyck, who’s still in Europe touring craft distillers in places like Czechia, said it’s “really fantastic, just amazing to be able to come over here with some of the world’s best distillers” and win.

He says business is indeed booming in his Canadian sector thanks to Trump. Dyck is also president of both the Craft Distillers Guild of B.C. and the Canadian Craft Distillers Alliance. They represent over 370 Canadian distillers, 85 in B.C. alone, in an industry that barely even existed two decades ago.“It’s had a major effect. As soon as the tariffs were being threatened, we saw an uptick. All our members said, ‘This is great, this is normally a slow time of year,'” says Dyck.“When Donald Trump started insulting Canadians … the spike in interest all across Canada was massive, a resurgence in Canadian pride.”

Okanagan Spirits products have seen an astronomical jump of 2,100 per cent in sales in recent weeks, he says. But there’s a catch. Dyck has spent over a decade talking to the B.C. government about liquor reform, trying to create a level playing field for spirits with the well-supported local wine industry.

“It won gold at the worlds, and it’s not on the shelf. We’re really hoping that this is going to force the government to look at those policies. They’ve excluded us from having the same success the wineries have had.”

Dyck says, for now, direct-to-customer sales are 90 per cent of his family’s business, along with private stores that are increasingly coming on board. But the majority of the booze bought in B.C. is sold at government stores.“It’s well past due,” says Dyck. “They say they’re working on it, they’re working quickly on it, but it had to happen last week.”

The invisibility of craft product is a huge disadvantage, he argues. “If customers don’t see it (on the shelves), they think it’s not good enough quality to be in a government liquor store. It’s just not the case.

“The big players didn’t start as big players,” he argues. “They had support that allowed them to grow. (B.C. distillers) won’t get to the size of Jack Daniels, but do they need to? No.”

He has a message for Premier David Eby and his ministers: Open the door to craft distilling and watch the whole industry blossom. “What a great win that would be politically. It will create a situation that’s hugely advantageous to economic development.“But we need this done in weeks, not months.”Postmedia News reached out to Eby and and the B.C. government to find out where talks are at regarding reform to liquor regulations but has not yet heard back.

Okanagan Spirits has private stores offering tastings and experiences in Vernon and Kelowna, and all its products can be bought online at oks.ca. "

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