Antidote Distilling Company

On Johnston Road in the heart of Port Alberni, Antidote Distilling Company has quickly become one of Vancouver Island's most intriguing craft distilleries. The team ferments and distills from locally sourced grains and fruit, and they've built a reputation on gin in particular – an award-winning London dry alongside a genuinely one-of-a-kind black gin made with foraged Island black truffles and wild mushrooms including morel, shiitake and chanterelle. That adventurous, forage-forward approach has earned recognition on the international stage, including at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition. Antidote leans into its location, championing local producers and weaving the flavours of the Alberni Valley into both its spirits and its kitchen. A visit pairs locally inspired cocktails with food, making it as much a gathering place as a tasting room. One of the standout experiences is the Gin Academy: a hands-on session where you learn about the distillation process, enjoy a cocktail, then blend and bottle your own custom gin to take home – a memorable souvenir of your trip through the valley. The distillery has also been expanding its hospitality, working toward a fuller gastro-lounge and patio experience to give visitors more room to linger. Set in a working forestry-and-fishing town surrounded by some of the Island's most dramatic scenery, Antidote makes a perfect stop on the drive between the east coast and the surf towns of the west. Whether you come for the truffle gin, the cocktails, the food or the chance to distill your own bottle, this is a distillery with a real sense of curiosity and place. Check ahead for current hours and Gin Academy availability before you go.