North Vancouver's Sons of Vancouver has cemented its position as an industry leader after a triumphant showing at the 2026 Canadian Whisky Awards in Victoria, taking home four major honors including the prestigious Canadian Whisky Producer of the Year award.
The distillery's sweep included Best Cask Strength Whisky for their inventively named 'The First Crack of a Crème Brûlée' wheated rye, Best New Whisky for their Wheated Rye, and the Blending Team of the Year recognition for the talented crew behind the scenes.
The Canadian Whisky Awards, traditionally held during the Victoria Whisky Festival, sees an independent panel of experts conduct blind tastings to determine winners across over two dozen categories. The 16th annual edition of the awards showcased British Columbia's growing prominence in the Canadian whisky landscape.
Sons of Vancouver wasn't the only B.C. success story at this year's ceremony. Victoria's Macaloney's Distillery received the Award of Excellence in Product Innovation for The Peat Project, while Bearface's Triple Oak was named Corn Whisky of the Year.
For Sons of Vancouver, the recognition validates years of experimental work and a commitment to pushing boundaries in Canadian whisky production. The 'First Crack of a Crème Brûlée' wheated rye—a name that hints at the distillery's playful approach—represents the kind of innovative thinking that judges found compelling.
The multiple wins also highlight the depth of talent at the distillery, with the Blending Team of the Year award recognizing the collective expertise required to produce award-winning spirits consistently.
As B.C. distilleries continue to make their mark on the national stage, Sons of Vancouver's achievement serves as proof that craft producers can compete with—and beat—more established operations. The awards arrive at an exciting time for Canadian whisky, with consumers increasingly seeking out distinctive local producers over traditional mass-market brands.
For whisky enthusiasts in Vancouver, a trip across the Lions Gate Bridge to visit the North Vancouver distillery has never been more worthwhile.