There's often a familiar problem with distilleries that serve food: the drinks shine, the kitchen exists. Copperpenny Distillery on North Vancouver's Esplanade has solved that equation entirely, emerging as a destination where food and cocktails rise together in perfect harmony.
Head chef Michael Tiefenboeck leads the food program, bringing thirteen years of West Coast experience to dishes that blend modern technique with old-world influences and a relaxed Vancouver sensibility. Originally from Toronto, Tiefenboeck's cooking reflects both journeys—seasonal, fresh, and layered with unexpected pleasures.
The house-smoked burrata exemplifies the approach: smoke and creaminess lead the way, followed by the gentle bitterness of endive, crunch from toasted walnuts, and bursts of sweetness from pomegranate. The duck breast, cooked to perfection, arrives with a peppercorn sauce typically found alongside steak—a twist that feels like welcome innovation rather than novelty.
But it's the Figgy de Bourgogne that stops tables cold. Triple-cream brie topped with fig liqueur honey lands somewhere between dessert and cheese course, satisfying both instincts simultaneously. The fig liqueur isn't merely a garnish but a defining note that lingers.
The cocktails deserve their own warning. The Pomona is dangerously drinkable—bright, refreshing, and so easygoing that three might disappear before you realize you should slow down. Other offerings, like the Reverie, combine premium vodka with red wine berry cordial, lemon juice, and bitters for cocktails that rival any downtown bar.
Copperpenny participated in Dine Out Vancouver Festival for the first time this year, introducing its winning formula to a broader audience. The response confirmed what North Shore residents already knew: this is more than a distillery with food.
Many distilleries do one thing exceptionally well and treat everything else as supporting cast. At Copperpenny, the kitchen and bar feel like equals. The result is a place that works just as well for date night as it does for cocktail enthusiasts or a group planning to linger well into the evening.