Dubh Glas Distillery

The Dubh Glas Distillery brings a taste of Scotland to the heart of British Columbia wine country. Located just outside Oliver in the South Okanagan, a town better known as the Wine Capital of Canada, this small craft distillery was opened in the spring of 2015 by founder Grant Stevely, whose stated ambition is to develop world-class single malt whisky. The name Dubh Glas is Scottish Gaelic for 'from the dark water,' a nod to the importance Stevely places on the water he draws from a well on his own land. Success came remarkably fast: only a week after opening, his Noteworthy Gin was named best gin in British Columbia at the annual BC Distilled event, and the gin has gone on to collect multiple awards since. Today the distillery's range includes single malt whisky, the multi-award-winning Noteworthy Gin, VSOP brandy and other premium small-batch spirits, all made on site in wine country. For visitors touring the Oliver and Osoyoos stretch of the Okanagan Valley, Dubh Glas makes a refreshing change of pace from a day of vineyard tasting rooms. Guests can stop in to sample the spirits, browse current releases and often chat with the people behind the stills; reviewers frequently mention meeting the man behind Noteworthy Gin himself. The distillery has historically welcomed guests year-round on a Friday-to-Sunday schedule, though hours can change with the seasons, so checking the website before visiting is wise. Whisky enthusiasts will appreciate watching a patient single malt program mature in one of Canada's warmest grape-growing regions, while gin drinkers can taste why Noteworthy earned its name. It is a worthwhile detour for anyone building a South Okanagan touring route that mixes wineries with craft producers of a different kind.