Route 1 Distillery

Named with a nod to the open road, Route 1 Distillery sits on Dallas Drive on the eastern edge of Kamloops, where it turns out precisely handcrafted spirits prized for their clean, crisp character. The core range is built around Mile 0 vodka and 1962 Gin, joined by a colourful family of liqueurs – blueberry, raspberry, limoncello, limecello and a creamy Irish Loop creamer – that show off the distillery's playful side. These are spirits made to mix as much as to sip, equally suited to a Negroni, a mule or a dirty martini. The best way to get to know the place is on a distillery tour, where you'll walk through the working production space and see how the spirits are made before settling in for a tasting of the lineup. It's a hands-on, conversational experience that suits curious first-timers and seasoned spirits fans alike, and tours can be booked ahead through the distillery. You can also pick up bottles and branded merch on your way out. Set in the sun-soaked Thompson Valley, Route 1 is an easy pairing with the region's other craft-beverage stops, slotting neatly into a day of tasting across Kamloops. The setting is straightforward and welcoming – a small, local distillery where the focus stays firmly on what's in the glass. Whether you're after a smooth vodka for your home bar, a bright liqueur for summer cocktails or simply a friendly look behind the scenes of small-batch distilling, Route 1 makes a rewarding detour. Check ahead for current tasting and tour availability, then come ready to taste your way through a genuinely local Kamloops range.