About ADC 2023

From October 23-25, we hosted our second annual conference & trade show for Canada’s small scale distillers

Our inaugural event lay the foundation for the continued growth of this event, with representatives from 40 distilleries from across Canada in attendance. Over 100 distillery staff, owners, suppliers, and service providers to the domestic spirits sector joined an expert line-up of speakers for two full days of networking and learning—bringing new connections and ideas back home with them.

Master distillers and distillery owners, operators and suppliers from across North America came back to Vancouver for Year 2, for more networking, sharing of expertise and ideas, and discussion of today’s most pressing business challenges for the artisan spirits sector.

The 2nd Annual ADC Conference & Trade Show also marked the launch of a new event, Canada Whisky Symposium.

 

Conference Program

 

THE MAIN conference PROGRAM includeD A Keynote PRESENTATION, PANEL DISCUSSIONS & business and technical SEMINARS

Led by experts in the field, the ADC conference program was once again divided up into two tracks—in-depth, technical topics related to spirits production, and business-related topics such as branding, distribution, retail and marketing strategies.

OPENING keynote

Terroir Spirits: Crafting a Distinct Regional Style

Featured
Matt Hofmann
Matt Hofmann

Legendary distiller Matt Hofmann is founder of Seattle’s Westland Distillery and co-founder of the American Single Malt Whisky Commission. He has a passion for creating spirits with a sense of place, and has been exploring regional water, grain, malt styles and oak for his entire career. He speaks about his passion for regionality in spirits and its inspiration, how he built the Westland brand (eventually selling it to Rémy Cointreau) and what regionality in North American whisky can mean for the commercial and future prospects of the spirits industry.

Presentation

Rebranding Revisited: A Case Study in Design and Distilling

From its inception in 2014, Vancouver Island distillery Wayward Distillery has staked its reputation on distilling from local honey, creating vital community connections through local-food and pollinator networks and charities. Seven years later, it was time for a brand refresh—which coincided with a choice to begin distilling from grain. Founder and distiller Dave Brimacombe is joined by Leif Miltenberger of Hired Guns Creative to revisit the naming, branding and package design of its core lineup and small-batch releases.

Presentation

Quality Management for Distilleries

Save money and improve your final products using quality management planning and execution. An often-overlooked area for new and growing distilleries, it involves data-gathering to prevent production errors and avoid recalls—saving your distillery’s money and reputation. In this talk, co-founder of Calgary’s Burwood Distillery Jordan Ramey covers the basics of starting a quality management program at your distillery to gain valuable, data-driven insights into your operations. Using case studies from the beverage alcohol industry, he’ll make the case for using quality management to grow your business.

Featured
Jordan Ramey
Jordan Ramey

Panel

Getting Spirits to Market: Distribution, Retail and Marketing Best Practices

As artisan spirit brands continue to proliferate and competition for retail listings increase, the distilleries with the best chance for success are those making next year’s go-to-market plans today. Moderated by alcohol beverage marketing and sales strategist David Clarke of Craft CRM, members of this expert panel of artisan spirit buyers and retailers speak from experience on how to get your product on shelves and in the hands of consumers. Learn how to improve your sales and marketing prospects by understanding consumer demographics, building loyalty with on-/off-premise staff and customers, managing sales channels, and getting your distillery's products market-ready. This panel considers current marketplace issues.

Presentation

Increasing Distillery Yields

Learn from common mistakes … someone else’s mistakes! Drawing from his experience from Canadian and U.S. distilleries, plus his expertise as a distilling educator and author, Matt Strickland delivers a session packed with learnings to put into operation now. From raw materials to packaging, he looks at every stage of the distilling process and suggests ways to run a better, more efficient and higher-yielding distillery. This talk will look at how to assess raw material fermentables, processing and fermentation efficiencies, distillate management strategies, maturation programs, and more. Topics are designed to give ideas on areas where the distillery can better save valuable time and money while increasing overall plant efficiency, bettering their bottom line.

Workshop

Meaningful Inclusion: Strategies to widen your brand’s audience & appeal in a diverse world

Building on the engagement work around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) topics that began at last year’s conference, Vinequity co-founder Debbie Shing again leads this important discussion, which will include an audience Q&A session. She will provide context with current market statistics on accessibility of the drinks industry, and the session will also spotlight case studies of businesses with successful DEI strategies—including Vancouver Island’s Wayward Distillery, whose founder Dave Brimacombe will also speak to a case study on this topic.

Presentation

Understanding Your Local Consumer

Niagara College Artisan Distilling professor Andrea Fujarczuk delivers insight on discovering the people and values that make up your community, identifying target markets and their preferences, plus honing in on your unique points of differentiation (and those of your competitors!) to find a local niche. She will identify ways to connect with your customers beyond point of sale and creative means of increasing overall revenue—from value-adds to behind-the-scenes experiences and to leveraging your team's unique talents and community connections.

Presentation

Still Design for Efficient Growth & Expansion

Custom still-makers Darcy Lane, Brandon Fry, and Mike Lewis of Sidney, BC-based Revival Stillworks examine the essential role of still design in allowing for efficient distillery growth. They explore a number of real-world case studies, highlighting the unique needs of artisan distillers at various stages of growth, and emphasize best practices for designing and building expansion-friendly distillation systems. Gain a strong understanding of the significance of a flexible and scalable distillation system, and practical strategies for adapting your system to achieve efficient distillery growth.

Presentation

Cooperative Production

With small staff operations and rising costs, it’s difficult for craft distillers to remain competitive and sustain margins. Organizing as a cooperative enterprise allows individual distilleries to create new opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, while maintaining individual brand identities and independence. BC Cooperative Association Director of Cooperative & Government Relations Elvezio Del Bianco will walk through the co-op enterprise model, provide examples of craft distilling co-ops and describe the co-op development process in this seminar for artisan producers from across Canada.

Presentation

Calling Technical Support: Case Studies in Collaboration

The BC Beverage Technology Access Centre at Okanagan College in Penticton is one of 60 NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres across Canada. Since 2020, BCBTAC has provided lab analysis, sensory, research, educational and commercial services to the beverage alcohol industry. In this session, General Manager Wesley Peterson and Chemistry Department professor and researcher Dr. Leonard Lermer, share highlights from some case studies of recent projects, to showcase when and how expert consults can be engaged to help distillers in every aspect of operations.

 

Conference Workshops

 

Deep-Dive, Hands-on learning guided by Industry practice leaders

This year, all workshops were held at the conference venue, UBC Robson Square.

All three workshops took place on Monday, October 23rd—one in the morning, and two in the afternoon.

 
 

Cooperage, Demystified

Cal Craik, Okanagan Barrel Works

Morning: 9am - 12pm

Oliver, B.C.-based Cal Craik of Okanagan Barrel Works, one of Canada’s only working coopers, instructed distillers on taking care of valuable barrel stocks. From necessary maintenance to basic tools and simple repairs over multiple usage cycles, he gave a primer on how to ensure your liquid assets remain safe and secure over time. Craik also addressed types of oak, construction, char and toast levels and the potential of custom commissions.

Featured
Cal Craik
Cal Craik
 
 

Fermentations for Flavor, Throughput and Sustainability

Haley Churchill, Mitch Codd & Annick Mercier
Lallemand DistillING

Afternoon: 1pm - 5pm (Lunch provided, starting at 12pm)

Can distillers manipulate yeast flavours to their advantage? Can you increase throughput in a cost-effective manner, while simultaneously preparing raw materials and fermenting sustainably? Yeast biology was at the centre of this workshop, as having a deeper understanding of yeast allows distillers to better use the microorganism to their benefit. During this half-day session, the Lallemand Distilling team guided participants on a journey into yeast, flavour development and how to increase throughput, while taking sustainability into account. The workshop also showcased various whisk(e)ys from around the world in a tasting and evaluation session. 

 
 

Whisky R&D Workshop: Production and Innovation

Matt Strickland, Iron City Distilling

Afternoon: 1pm - 5pm (Lunch provided, starting at 12pm)

Designing new whiskies can be a challenging endeavor for any distillery, big or small. Iron City Distilling master distiller Matt Strickland has established distilleries across North America, and brought his expertise to this deep dive on creating individual bottlings, and a long-term whisky program, with intention. From mashbill/recipe to maturation and blending, this workshop covered methods and techniques to make whisky product development flow naturally in your distillery. A hands-on group blending exercise included the creation of unique flavour profiles, and closed with advice on sparking innovation and opportunities in the whisky space.

 
 
 

ADC 2023 Speakers

Keynote Presentation

 
Featured
Matt Hofmann
Matt Hofmann

Co-Founder, Westland Distillery

Matt Hofmann is one of the pioneers of American artisan distilling, and has been an instrumental player in establishing the new American Single Malt Whiskey category. Until recently he was the co-founder, master distiller and managing director of Seattle-based Westland Distillery. Over the last 15 years, he has explored the regionality Pacific Northwest spirits through everything from local grain and maltings to the use of Garryana oak maturation barrels. He completed a postgraduate program in brewing and distilling science at Herriot-Watt University in Scotland. He was named American Master Distiller of the Year in 2018 at the World Whiskies Awards, which also named Westland 2016 Global Craft Distillery of the Year. It was also named Sustainable Distillery of the Year in 2022 and received many international awards for its American Single Malt whiskeys.

 
 
 
 

SPEAKERS

Featured
Adam Bradshaw
Adam Bradshaw

Digital & Premium Experience Manager, The Sticky Wicket & The Strath

With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Adam Bradshaw has worked in a variety of whisky-centric roles, including as a bartender in Edinburgh and in single malt distillation in Melbourne. He is currently the whisky curator at The Strathcona Hotel (“The Strath”) in Victoria, BC, where he is also the founder of The Dram Association and the local ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Bradshaw is known for his deep knowledge and passion for whisky, as well as his finely tuned palate and often eccentric tasting notes. He has a keen sense of quality, and his cask picks have won a multitude of awards. He is highly active in the Canadian whisky community and is a sought-after speaker and educator for festivals and private events. He delights in guiding both novice and experienced drinkers through the complex and fascinating world of whisky.

Dave Brimacombe
Dave Brimacombe

Founder & CEO, Wayward Distillery

Brimacombe’s first career was in the Canadian Armed Forces and Air Force and after leaving the service, he opened Wayward Distillery, a certified craft distillery in Courtenay. Wayward pioneered crafting spirits with B.C. honey, and uses B.C. grain, fruit and botanicals, supporting local agriculture. Four Homegrown Bee demonstration hives operate onsite at the distillery, and one per cent of spirits sales are directed to supporting pollinators and food security via Pollinator Partnership Canada.

Haley Churchill
Haley Churchill

Technical Sales Manager, Lallemand Distilling

Holding a biology degree, Churchill became a laboratory analyst at a large-scale craft brewery. During 10 years in the industry, she worked on brewing systems at every scale, developed and implemented quality systems, built sensory programs and optimized operations. Now a Technical Sales Manager for the Lallemand Distilling team, focused on distilled spirits in the U.S., she brings expertise in operations and fermentation to help customers gain a deeper understanding of their processes and optimize their procedures.

David Clarke
David Clarke

Founder/Consultant, Craft CRM

Clarke created created Craft CRM to support marketing, sales and operations of craft breweries, distilleries, cideries and wineries. Clarke previously worked with several start-ups including QuickMobile, Kontexto and Fusa Capital, as well as beverage alcohol companies. From 1995-2000, he worked with J. Wray & Nephew Ltd. and helped build Appleton into a leading rum brand in Canada.

Mitch Codd
Mitch Codd

Technical Sales Manager, Lallemand Distilling

A microbiologist by training, Codd started his career in biotech, as a bio-engineer working on yeast strains and processes for in the sugarcane fuel ethanol industry in Brazil. In 2019, he moved to the Lallemand Distilling team, as Technical Sales Manager for the Distilling Industry in the U.S. He uses a deep understanding of yeast metabolism and fermentation science to improve and optimize the production of spirits distillery customers.

Cal Craik
Cal Craik

Okanagan Barrel Works

Cal Craik’s 25 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry has covered practically all facets of the business. Craik was founder, co-owner and general manager of Okanagan Barrel Works, Canada’s largest commercial cooperage and the country’s last full-service cooperage, for 16 years. He was responsible for making new oak barrels and tanks and providing repair services to wineries and distilleries in BC, Ontario, Washington and Oregon.

Elvezio Del Bianco
Elvezio Del Bianco

Co-Executive Director, British Columbia Cooperative Association

Elvezio (“Elvy”) Del Bianco works on developing partnerships with co-ops and with governments, allied trade unions, post-secondary institutions and other civil society organizations to realize a strong enabling environment for the development and growth of cooperative enterprises. He has 20 years’ experience in the cooperative sector as a consultant and co-op developer. Previously, as Vancity Credit Union’s Cooperative Portfolio Manager, he led numerous study tours exploring the cooperative economy of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region

Jenna Diubaldo
Jenna Diubaldo

Partner & Distiller, Sons of Vancouver Distillery

Jenna developed a love for craft alcohol through homebrewing, which led her to Chicago’s renowned Siebel Institute where she received her brewing technology certificate. In 2017, she attended the Distillery School offered through Sons of Vancouver; in early 2021, Jenna moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver to join the team at Sons of Vancouver, where she now manages spirit production, including Sons’ whisky program. Jenna is Indigenous from the Red River Metis nation, and a member of the LGBT community.

Seleighne Forsythe
Seleighne Forsythe

General Manager, High Point Beer Wine Spirits

Forsythe has been a High Point Beer Wine Spirits team member since 2012 and became the store’s General Manager in 2019. With a previous background in bartending, she brings a passion for the industry to curating the selection at High Point and is constantly seeking out new and exciting products for customers to discover. She is a certified beer server through Cicerone, has completed WSET Wine Level 2 and is working towards Level 3.

Brandon Fry
Brandon Fry

Director of Engineering, Revival Stillworks

Fry holds a degree in mechanical engineering and has dedicated nearly a decade to specializing in the design and fabrication of distilling systems across North America and the world. In his role as the director of engineering at Revival Stillworks, he relishes the challenge of harmonizing traditional craftsmanship with modern-day technology to craft remarkable showpiece distilleries.

Andrea Fujarczuk
Andrea Fujarczuk

Professor of Artisan Distilling, Niagara College

Andrea has worked in the wine and spirits industry in education, production, media, sales, and marketing for over a decade. A Niagara College graduate (Wine and Viticulture Technician program, 2012), she subsequently moved to the U.K. to pursue an MBA with a focus on wine in the global food industry. Andrea has worked with some of the best in the global wine and spirits sector, from sales and marketing at Moët Hennessy, working with brands like Dom Pérignon and Belvedere, to developing new gins at one of the world’s largest contract distilling firms, Thames Distillery. In 2019, she was hired to teach for Niagara College’s Artisan Distilling program.

Darcy Lane
Darcy Lane

Director of Sales and Business Development, Revival Stillworks

Lane, a professional engineer with a business development background, has diverse industry experience to help craft distillers overcome their unique challenges. As co-founder of Revival Stillworks, Lane believed it was imperative that the company be built on pillars of trust, respect and integrity. Revival takes pride in providing the finest quality of Canadian-made distillery equipment and top customer service.

Dr. Leonard Lermer
Dr. Leonard Lermer

Chemistry Department Chair, Okanagan College

An organic chemistry teacher and researcher for more than 20 years, Dr. Lermer holds a BSc from the University of Lethbridge and a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from UBC, where he also completed postdoctoral work. His skills in synthetic organic chemistry and instrumentation have contributed to many successful collaborations with colleagues ranging from botanists to neuroscientists. Dr. Lermer was involved with the initial application for the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre in Penticton, where he is a researcher supporting the local fermented beverage sector.

Mike Lewis
Mike Lewis

Sales Manager, Revival Stillworks

With a background in mechanical engineering and a passion for innovation, Lewis transitioned to the spirits industry, joining Revival Stillworks as Sales Manager in 2021. With his history of customer-focused, custom-engineered projects, he is committed to delivering innovative distilling solutions and exceptional distilling equipment that meets the unique needs of Revival’s clients.

Annick Mercier
Annick Mercier

Business Area Manager (Caribbean & North America), Distilled Spirits, Lallemand Distilling

A microbiologist with a degree from the Université de Montréal, Mercier worked in the food industry before joining the Lallemand Genetic Identification Laboratory, working on R&D projects and focusing on yeast strain improvement. In 2013 she joined the Lallemand Distilling team as a research associate and in 2017 became Technical Sales Manager for the Distilled Spirits Industry in Canada. In 2021 she became Business Area Manager, covering North America and the Caribbean.

Leif Miltenberger
Leif Miltenberger

Business Director, Hired Guns Creative

While he was a music composition student, Miltenberger began teaching himself to build websites from scratch. The hobby became a career, first as a freelance web designer and developer, then as a full-time digital creative, beginning in 2006. Hired Guns Creative was formed in 2008, and today, he is the business development force driving the Nanaimo, B.C.-based design firm specializing in the beverage alcohol industry. He speaks on branding and packaging design at conferences for craft brewing and other industries across North America. He is a father of three very busy young children.

Wesley Peterson
Wesley Peterson

General Manager, BC Beverage Technology Access Centre

BC BTAC in Penticton, B.C., supports the beverage industry's innovation and growth by providing a comprehensive range of analytical, commercial and sensory services and resources. Peterson leads the Centre to support research, development and innovation for the Canadian beverage sector as part of its joint mandate between Okanagan College and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) in Ottawa. Previously a travel and tourism executive, he oversees the Canadian marketing and distribution portfolio of Odin Brewing Company, which he co-owns.

Jordan Ramey
Jordan Ramey

Co-owner and COO, Burwood Distillery

Ramey earned a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in association with the University of California, Los Angeles, and then developed and ran the first western Canadian teaching brewery at Alberta’s Olds College. He completed distiller training and, in 2016, he and his partners founded Burwood Distillery, located in Calgary’s historic Currie Barracks, where it operates a collaborative restaurant with a partner brewery. Burwood is focused on using ultra-local Alberta ingredients, including malt and honey.

Charlene Rooke
Charlene Rooke

Spirits Journalist and Educator, Distill

Rooke is WSET Certified in both Wine and Spirits, and is a WSET spirits educator, teaching its new Spirits Level 3 course internationally. She also holds the SWE’s Certified Specialist of Spirits, various category-specific certifications and studied small-batch distilling at Moonshine University in Louisville, Kentucky. She's the Drinks Editor of the in-store magazine of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Food & Drink, and a contributor to publications including Taste, The Alchemist and more. Rooke is Lead Judge for the Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition (CASC) and Academy Chair for Western Canada for the World’s 50 Best Bars.

Debbie Shing
Debbie Shing

Founder, Quvé Group and Co-founder, Vinequity

Shing's experience spans nearly 20 years across all major Canadian markets, in senior sales and marketing roles at organizations from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to various wine, beer, spirits and ready-to-drink companies. Based in Toronto, she runs the beverage agency Quvé Group and has been a featured wine expert for CTV Your Morning and guest host for Liquor Control Board of Ontario virtual events. She is a is past board director for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (Ontario) and a WSET Diploma instructor. In 2020, Shing co-founded national nonprofit Vinequity, Canada's largest beverage industry association for people of colour.

 

Thanks to Our 2023 Sponsors

 

Title Sponsor

 
Featured
Glenmore Custom Print & Packaging
 

Silver SponsorS

Featured
Glencairn Crystal
Lallemand Distilling
 

Bronze Sponsors

 
Featured
BC Beverage Technology Access Centre
nwPURE

Social Sponsors

Featured
Great Little Box Company / IDEON Packaging
Summit Labels

Media Sponsor

 
Featured
Poured Canada
 
 
 

Trade Exhibitors

ADC 2023 saw an expansion of both our trade display area and exhibition/networking time throughout the event.

Featured
ACIC Cork and Closures

At ACIC we strive to provide customers in the wine, spirits, and food industries with the highest quality standard closures. This goal is achieved through our dedication to customer service, the technical expertise of our team members, and their ability to impart this information to our customers. We have established partnerships with the world's best producers of natural and technical corks, Vinoseal, bartops, screwcaps, and capsules to provide a full range of closure options. Let us help you with your next bottling!

Bosagrape Winery & Brew Supplies

Bosagrape Winery & Brew Supplies has been in business since 1989, starting as a hobby that went out of control. Our name does not say it all. You've likely heard of us but you may not know our full range of products. We have been supplying Canada's craft distillers since the early 2000's with certified hydrometers, bottles, t-tops, shrinks, barrels, barrel racks, yeast, nutrients, enzymes, cleaners, botanicals, tanks, labware, reagents, filters, fillers, labelers, and anything and everything else you need to make great craft spirits. Call us at 604-473-9463, email us at orders@bosagrape.com, or browse our online catalogue at bosagrape.com

BSG Canada/Gambrinus

BSG Canada has been producing and distributing brewing and distilling products to Canadian markets since the early 1990s. With warehouse locations in Guelph ON, Saint-Laurent QC, Airdrie AB, and Delta BC, we are able to offer customers savings on transportation costs as well as flexibility with scheduling and warehousing space. With distilling malts and grains from Gambrinus Malting®, Rahr Malting Co., Weyermann®, Simpsons, Crisp, and Malting Company of Ireland, as well as a full range of yeasts, yeast nutrients, enzymes, botanicals, and finishing products, we have a wide range of distilling ingredients to help you create innovative spirits.

Country Malt Group

With 13 warehouses across North America, the team at Country Malt Group (CMG), is committed to providing the craft beverage industry with premier brands, highest-quality ingredients, and exceptional service. By making it easy to get what you need, you can focus on what is important, your craft!

CPE Systems

A Canadian-owned and operated company with over 25 years of experience, CPE Systems Inc. is dedicated to providing the distilling industry with quality pumps and products to support their production needs. Sourcing pump parts from trusted manufacturers allows CPE Systems Inc. to provide high quality, customizable pump solutions that will keep your distillery operating at peak efficiency. Our customer service team is dedicated to supporting our clients from purchase to installation, offering exceptional, trusted advice and industry expertise that sets us apart from anyone else. At the end of the day, your success is what matters to us. No question is too simple and no distillery is too small for CPE Systems Inc. Contact us today.

Fermentis

Fermentis works with everyone in the world of beer, wine, spirits and other fermented beverages. Its range of products and services covers almost all professional requirements: from safeguarding production to expressing sensory characteristics. Born in the north of France, Fermentis is a Business Unit of the Lesaffre Group; global key player in yeasts and fermentation solutions.

FIVE x 5 Solutions

FIVE x 5 Solutions believes that software should scale with you. We’re more than a service provider: we’re a committed partner in your distillery’s success and take pride in providing the most complete distillery management solution for your growing operation. We take your business as seriously as you do and leverage our team’s unrivaled industry expertise to support you with tools that will help today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

Glenmore Custom Print & Packaging

Glenmore Custom Print & Packaging provides industry-leading options that will set your brand apart from the competition. With over 40 years of expertise and a drive for constant innovation, Glenmore excels in printing techniques and offer a wide range of packaging solutions tailored for distillers. In-house finishing ensures cost-effective production, faster turnaround times, and superior quality control. As Canada's top custom manufacturer of tubes, labels, shrink sleeves, paper-boxes, and more, Glenmore elevates your brand's packaging with state-of-the-art equipment and unwavering commitment to excellence. Glenmore is the perfect partner to help bring your great idea to life!

Great Little Box Company / Ideon Packaging

Great Little Box Company/Ideon Packaging (GLBC) provides businesses with innovative and creative labels and packaging. Family owned and founded 40 years ago, their 5 divisions enable an innovative and consultative approach to all your label and packaging challenges. Proudly serving Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, we welcome you to experience our mission of Great People Delivering WOW!

Lallemand Distilling

Lallemand Distilling is an industry leader in supplying fermentation products and value-added services for both the fuel ethanol and distilled spirits industries. We specialize in the research, development, production and marketing of yeast, yeast nutrients, enzymes, bacteria and innovative solutions. Lallemand Distilling consists of the team within Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) dedicated to distillers. Lallemand Distilling is committed to providing the distilling market with only the highest quality products: yeast, nutrients, enzymes, and innovative solutions in partnership with expert technical support and education programs, all specific to the needs of distillers.

Niagara College Canada

Niagara College's Artisan Distilling program, at its School of Wine, Beer and Spirits, teaches the scientific, technological and business aspects of distilling and fermentation, and the production cycle of distilled spirits. Renowned with graduates, employers and industry partners for its outstanding reputation, Niagara College gives its students access to the latest technologies available for small batch fermentation and distillation processes. Niagara College of School of Wine, Beer and Spirits is located at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in the heart of Ontario’s thriving distilling industry, and includes a world-class teaching distillery, an on-site 40-acre vineyard, a fruit tree orchard, a hop yard, an apiary, and a Teaching Greenhouse.

Polaris Automazioni

Polaris Automazioni has placed the principles of quality, flexibility and growth at the forefront of the production system. Born in Italy in the 1960s by Alberto Bertani, the first Polaris semi-automatic labeling machines were built in a laboratory under his house. Over the years the company has grown and created ever more complete machines and automations that are appreciated in every corner of the world. Today, Polaris bottling systems are made with maximum flexibility to meet the specific needs of producers who use different types of bottles, including cylindrical, square, conical, amphorae, and even irregular shapes and those with variable capacities. Polaris system formats and production lots can be changed frequently without losing time or adding operational complexity - bottle format changes can often be made in 15 to 30 minutes.

North Stills

At North Stills, it is our mission is to provide artisan distilleries with a local source for the absolute highest quality of distillation equipment available on the market today. Our equipment is as highly functional and efficient as it is aesthetically pleasing. Our large warehouse in Southern Ontario stocks a wide range of pot stills, reflux stills, flute columns, distilling yeast, and just about everything else you’ll need to make world class spirits. We’re proudly Canadian and we ship worldwide.

Poured Canada

Poured Canada is the only magazine to target and directly reach the producers of beer, wine and spirits across Canada. Through strategic partnerships with Beer Canada, Spirits Canada and the Wine Growers Canada, each issue provides readers with policy and advocacy initiatives, trends, statistics, guidance, actionable resources and more. The magazine is committed to providing coverage of the industry geographically across Canada, and to highlighting diversity among the people who work in it. Poured Canada features distribution in all 13 Canadian provinces and territories.

Prospero Equipment

Prospero Equipment offers commercial Column and Pot stills to the North American market. Made and manufactured in Italy the Stills are extremely robust and high quality producing a very high quality end product. The Barison Industry stills that we offer are made to provide a fully automated system for the management of the distillation process, equipped with dedicated software for checking the alcohol content, temperature and working pressure.

Revival Stillworks

Revival Stillworks provides planning, engineering, manufacturing, and support services for craft distillers. Residing in the beautiful city of Sidney BC, Canada, all of our equipment is proudly designed and manufactured locally by our skilled team of copper smiths and fabricators as we combine old world techniques with modern day technology. Our team takes pride in developing products that not only look beautiful but will stand the test of time, and our craftsmen are committed to quality and performance above all else. Our uncompromising approach to quality means our customers are our family, and you can expect to receive the utmost trust, respect, and fairness from each of our employees.

Saverglass

Saverglass manufactures and decorates premium and super premium glass bottles for wines and spirits. Recognized for its mastery of know-how, the quality of its products and the originality of its creations, the Group, the guardian of the great tradition of French master glassmakers, has made a name for itself throughout the world through its capacity for innovation, which has become a true corporate culture. Saverglass is also pleased to offer repacking options.

Summit Labels

Summit Labels is not your typical label printer—they’re pioneers, redefining the custom label industry in Vancouver, BC. They embrace the spirit of innovation, and if there’s one thing you need to know up front, it’s that they’re collaborators. Summit Labels loves to get together with clients over a pint of craft beer or a cup of coffee, and discuss how to make your brand stand out. Summit Labels—they’re more than order-takers, they’re partners.

Tapì Group

Tapì USA is part of Tapì Group, a business established by a young, dynamic, enthusiastic team of professionals in 1999. We position ourselves as a “global boutique” firm that designs closures for the premium and super-premium drinks sectors. Our innovation skills have led us to develop into a multinational group, recognised for our originality, our design flair and our focus on aesthetic appeal. As a business, our main aim is to be a leader in market trends. And this is the primary driver behind our mission – to develop a culture that values beauty, conveyed through our product designs.

Vessel Packaging

Whatever your size and ambitions, Vessel Packaging has an integrated suite of beverage packaging services that can take your business to the next level. We work with drinks companies of all sizes, from all different sectors. From craft breweries to experimental CBD sodas, we're experienced in providing beverage packaging services across the spectrum. From Vancouver to Halifax, our services stretch across the whole of Canada and beyond the border.

ZLC Employee Benefits Solutions

ZLC Employee Benefits Solutions provides a full range of services related to employee benefits and group retirement plans across Canada. Our goal is to provide you with the most affordable plans, as well as the peace of mind that your plans are financially sustainable going forward, and, most importantly, that your plans are relevant to attracting, retaining and engaging the key talent to support your business strategy. ZLC has also developed a proprietary small business solution for employee benefits that allows companies to have full flexibility on plan design while leveraging the cost efficiencies of a national buying consortium.

 
 
 

2023 Location & Venue

 

University of British Columbia (UBC)
Robson Square campus

800 Robson Street, Vancouver

Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver within a short walk of hotels, public transit, restaurants, and retail stores, UBC’s Robson Square conference facility provides a mix
of comfortable and contemporary auditorium, classroom, workshop, and trade exhibit spaces for ADC’s unique needs.

ADC 2023 was a licensed event, which allowed us to hold select workshops and seminars with Canadian spirits forming part of the program.