Victoria Distillers

Set on the Sidney waterfront on the Saanich Peninsula, Victoria Distillers is one of British Columbia's most celebrated craft distilleries and the birthplace of the famous Empress 1908 Gin. For more than a decade this distillery has been producing some of Canada's finest handmade spirits using traditional copper pot stills, and its flagship Empress 1908 Indigo Gin has become a global sensation thanks to its striking natural indigo colour, which shifts to soft pink with a splash of citrus or tonic. The Empress family has since grown into a full line of gins, all rooted in the same careful, small-batch approach. The waterfront tasting room and retail shop is the place to experience it firsthand. Step in for complimentary tastings, learn the story behind that colour-changing gin, and browse the spirits to take a bottle home, all with the working harbour and ocean air just outside the door. The setting alone makes it worth the trip, with views over the water and the easygoing seaside town of Sidney-by-the-Sea at your doorstep, known for its bookshops, cafes and oceanfront strolls. While the distillery isn't currently offering full production tours, the welcoming tasting room and knowledgeable staff make it easy to dive into the world of Empress and the rest of the range. Its location on the Saanich Peninsula puts it within easy reach of the Victoria airport, the Swartz Bay ferries and the peninsula's wineries and cideries, making it a natural anchor for a day of island tasting. Whether you're a gin enthusiast eager to see the legendary colour change in person or simply looking for a scenic, spirited stop near Victoria, Victoria Distillers delivers craft, history and harbourfront charm in equal measure.