Island Spirits Distillery - Producing The World's Purest Gin & Vodka
Island Spirits Distillery is my favorite excuse to visit Hornby Island. They are an artisan distillery that produces some of the highest quality Vodka and Gin in the world. In fact their vodka has been tested by the University of Toronto and nothing other than ethanol (the good stuff) and water were detected. The equipment’s testing capabilities are limited to parts per ten million (0.000,000,01).
The owners of Island Spirits Distillery think they are making the world’s purest vodka and after sampling it (thoroughly), I believe it. The chemical compounds commonly found in main stream gin and vodka, that are known to intensify your hang over have been removed. This means you can drink significantly more without sacrificing the next morning. It takes meticulous attention to detail and dedication to quality to achieve this degree of purity. The end result are two amazing products that go by the name of Phrog Gin and Phrog Vodka.
The Goods - Phrog Gin & Phrog Vodka
Their most popular product is their Phrog gin, which was developed through many trials to end up at a final recipe. This recipe is so precise it is measured using the same device used to load gun powder very accurately. The unit of measure they use is called a grain. For reference, a grain is so fine that it takes 437.5 grains to make a single ounce.
Another reason to visit this distillery is to try all of their products that can only be tried and purchased on site. The owners Pete Kimmerly, a former ice breaker captain, and Dr. Naz Abdurahman, an organic chemistry professor, are regularly experimenting with new recipes and flavor combinations. Their newest addition to their line up is the very flavorful Holunderbluten, made of elder flowers, lemon and a hint of sugar. They hand pick their elder flowers from two trees found in Nanaimo and three trees on Hornby Island. Definitely a one of a kind product you won’t find anywhere else.
Finding Your Way to Island Spirits Distillery
If you are coming from the mainland/Vancouver the trip is not as long or expensive as you may think. On your way you can get a ferry experience card. This card will give you a 40% discount off of the two smaller ferries to Denman and Hornby island (thanks for the tip Verna), and they are very short rides. Although it will be a long day from Vancouver, we proved it is possible to get there and back in one day (as long as you leave early enough).
The directions on their web site are accurate, but if you feel like you have reached a dead end where you think the distillery should be, look for the little frog signs. You will find them on the right down an inconspicuous dirt road. It doesn’t hurt to pack a GPS either!
Once you get to Island Spirits Distillery you will likely be greeted by MopTop; he is a reggae rooster with a rockin’ hairdo and cooler than you attitude. We were warned he won’t turn down a fight. You will also be met by the friendly and knowledgeable staff of Phrog Gin and Vodka. Pete Kimmerly will most likely be there to enlighten you and blow your mind with his purer than pure alcohol. During our visit he took the time to answer all of our questions no matter how uninformed we were.
Because of the quality of their products I wouldn't be surprised to see Island Spirits Distillery on a popular TV show like Drinking Made Easy. At 8000 bottles per year the owners of this distillery are comfortable with the amount of product they currently produce and are not willing to compromise quality for quantity.
Unfortunately companies producing this level of quality in BC are subjected to archaic laws introduced after prohibition that result in 75% of the price of a bottle going to taxes. The end result is limited profits for distilleries, making it difficult to stay in business when producing this level of quality. These high taxes keep many of Island Spirits Distillery’s products out of liquor stores.
It is not everyday that you get to experience a combination of extremely friendly service, an amazing product and a beautiful quaint location away from the everyday hussel and bussel. Anyone that appreciates premium spirits should visit Island Spirits Distillery; the trip from Vancouver takes about five hours, but is more than worth the commute. Their premium Vodka and Gin is available in select Liquor stores around British Columbia and Alberta. To find a list of liquor stores that carry their products go to their website www.islandspirits.ca.
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