Sharpe Distillery

Sharpe Distillery is a craft distillery set on Beecroft River Road in Cawston, in the heart of the Similkameen Valley, on the unceded territory of the Syilx, Nlaka'pamux and Secwepemc Peoples. It is a family-minded operation with a real sense of story, paying tribute to Grandpa Jack Sharpe, a larger-than-life character whose decades of family involvement in distilling helped shape what the distillery is today.

The range here is impressively broad for a small producer. Whisky is the flagship, aged a minimum of three years, and the standout is a bold cask-strength expression built from a mash of rye, wheat and corn that opens with spice and settles into rich caramel, toasted almond and a subtle floral note. Beyond whisky you will find botanical and classic gins, a versatile vodka lineup that includes old-world, vanilla-infused and espelette-pepper versions, an unaged whisky, and pisqu, a brandy-style spirit that adds something genuinely unusual to the tasting menu.

Visiting is a seasonal affair, with weekend tasting hours through the warmer months and year-round visits available by appointment, so it is worth calling ahead to lock in a time. That smaller, by-arrangement feel is part of the charm, giving you a closer, more personal look at how the spirits are made and the chance to taste across an unusually wide range in one sitting.

The Similkameen setting is a major draw in its own right, a quiet, scenic valley of organic farms and orchards that rewards unhurried exploring. For travellers who appreciate serious craft spirits with family heart behind them, Sharpe Distillery offers depth, variety and a memorable tasting, from cask-strength whisky to that intriguing pisqu. Plan ahead, then come ready to sip your way through the lineup.