Spirit Of York Aquavit
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Spirit of York Aquavit, produced by Spirit of York Distillery in Toronto, Ontario, is a Canadian interpretation of the Scandinavian spirit, built around a rye-based spirit and the two traditional aquavit botanicals, caraway and dill. The distillery combines them with its own botanical blend and a citrus component, giving the spirit a profile that differs from a more traditional caraway-forward aquavit.
The distillery describes the aquavit as having a citrus twist, while its current tasting menu lists dill, green herbs, spices and hints of grapefruit. Earlier descriptions from Spirit of York also mention a pumpernickel-like rye finish.
Spirit of York Aquavit was developed in response to demand from Toronto bartenders for more variety in the aquavit category. The spirit was launched in 2018 and is based on the distillery’s own rye spirit rather than a neutral grain or potato base.
It can be served neat or chilled, and the distillery also uses it in cocktails. Among the published recipes is the Dala Horse, made with Spirit of York Aquavit, honey-ginger syrup, lemon juice and soda water. The distillery has also published recipes using the aquavit with tonic and in cocktails such as the Crimson and Clover.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Spirit of York Distillery Co.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Spirit of York Distillery is located at 12 Trinity Street in Toronto’s historic Distillery District. The distillery opened in 2017 after approximately two years of research and product development. It was founded by Rob Cudney and Maryke Ballard; Mike Leskovec is the CEO, and Simon Ho joined the company as president and COO in 2022.
Spirit of York follows a grain-to-glass approach, producing its spirits on site. The distillery sources its Ontario rye from Scotland, Ontario, and its water from Springwater, Ontario. Grain is milled and mashed on site, the spirits are distilled in copper stills, and bottles are filled and sealed by hand.
The distillery occupies a production space in the Distillery District and includes a retail shop, tasting room and cocktail bar. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls allow visitors to observe parts of the production process.
Its core range consists of vodka, gin, whisky and aquavit, supplemented by seasonal and specialty releases. The aquavit is based on rye and was developed in response to interest from Toronto’s bar and restaurant community.
Matt Driscoll is the master distiller. He holds a master’s degree in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and has been involved in developing Spirit of York’s core and experimental spirits.
Alongside its main range, Spirit of York produces products including coffee liqueur, aperitivo and Citruscello, as well as other seasonal releases. The distillery also offers tastings and cocktail experiences at its Toronto location.