Wayward Distillery

In the heart of the Comox Valley in Courtenay, Wayward Distillery has carved out a niche all its own by making every one of its spirits from sustainable BC honey. Founded in 2014 and still run by its original trio - founder Dave Brimacombe, general manager Sara Unrau and head distiller Laura Carbonell - this distillery has built an entire portfolio around the humble honeybee. The lineup includes Unruly Vodka and Unruly Gin, a pollinator-friendly BC Craft Gin, a Raspberry Gin Liqueur, the spiced Krupnik honey liqueur, Drunken Hive Rum and the Depth Charge infused vodka, all distilled from honey rather than grain. That honey-first philosophy isn't just a flavour choice - it's a mission. Wayward donates one percent of sales to Pollinator Partnership Canada, contributing well over $60,000 to date, and its honey-sourcing partnership has grown from a few hundred hives to well over a thousand. The distillery is also a certified Living Wage Employer and Rainbow Registered business. A visit brings all of this to life. Drop by the tasting room to sample the full range and learn how honey becomes spirit, then step out to see the demonstration hives that showcase healthy honeybee and pollinator populations up close - a genuinely memorable and family-friendly touch. Several of Wayward's spirits, including its rum and gin, have earned medals at national competitions, so you'll be tasting award-winning work. The Comox Valley setting adds to the draw, surrounded by mountains, ocean and farmland on Vancouver Island's central coast, with skiing, beaches and trails all close by. Whether you're a spirits lover chasing something genuinely different or a traveller who appreciates a business with purpose, Wayward offers a warm, buzzing welcome worth seeking out.