By Ronald Quaroni

Local liquor

Prairies brewing with opportunity; Saskatchewan family proud of local product

Feb 20, 2019 | 10:51 AM

Across Saskatchewan, microbreweries and disterillies are popping up in smaller communities.

More and more prairie residents are crafting alcohol as brewing and distilling become viable business options, including Cavrin Karchut and his dad, Tim, who got tired of working away from home in the oil and gas industry and decided to try something new.

In 2017, Karchut and his parents applied and received their permit to start Hudson Bay Distillers. Two years later, they are selling Aurora Vodka in liquor stores around the province.

Tim, Kim and Cavrin Karchut (submitted photo/Cavrin Karchut)

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The family is among other locally-based small business owners selling their products around the province. Deuce Vodka out of Big River and Provincial Vodka from Blaine Lake are two other Saskatchewan-based distilleries on the market.

Growing up in Hudson Bay, Karchut hoped the distillery could be built there, but due to size constraints, the family decided to use Cavrin’s great-grandfather’s property in Landis, Sask. The property is a nice size and also boasted another important feature.

“It had the best barley in Saskatchewan,” Karchut said. “Most of our grain, the field malt-barley, comes from our neighbour and he lives just down the road.”

Karchut said their locally-grown grain is what makes the product special.

The first step in the distilling process is grinding the grain. (submitted photo/ Cavrin Karchut)

Hudson Bay Distillers has been in operation since they received their permit, but were approved to start selling in the fall, distributing their first bottles in the fall. Currently, Hudson Bay Distillers sells Aurora Vodka in about 17 stores throughout the province, including Lake Country Co-op Liquor store in Prince Albert.

Ian Litzenberger, wine spirits beer manager with the Co-op said businesses like Hudson Bay Distillers are making it easier to support local products.

“The micro-distilleries and micro-breweries that are evolving through Saskatchewan and other provinces are giving us new avenues to approach,” Litzenberger said.

(Top photo: Hudson Bay Distillers is stocking provincial liquor store shelves with their vodka. submitted photo/ Cavrin Karchut)

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni