Maple Leaf Spirits, located on the Naramata Bench near Penticton, is once again a multiple medal winner at several prestigious competitions, and is ready to welcome guests to its refreshed facility, which includes expanded production facilities.
“I am thrilled that our products continue to receive recognition and medals,” says master distiller Jorg Engel. “We are proud to make these spirits with Okanagan ingredients and represent some of the best flavours of our region.”
Most recently, Maple Leaf Spirits won five awards from the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition: gold for the Lady of the Cask brandy, Kirsch, and Cherry Liqueur, silver for the Pear Williams, and bronze for the Maple Liqueur, a popular bottle in the tasting room.
The CASC is Canada’s only national spirit competition reserved exclusively for small distilleries. It has a national panel of independent judges who conduct blind assessments of artisan spirits submitted by distillers across the country. Now in its second year, submissions have grown by 50 per cent.
Aged in premium French oak barrels since 2010, Lady of the Cask is a masterfully aged wine brandy with a golden amber colour, rich butterscotch aromas and extra smooth taste, enjoyed by connoisseurs of fine cognac. The Kirsch is made from tree-ripened cherries from local orchards, hand picked, carefully fermented and distilled using a German copper pot still, while the Cherry Liqueur expresses more tart flavours and is great with chocolate or over ice cream, and in a summertime cocktail or cold bellini.
“We’d like to congratulate the other distilleries in our area, Old Order, Dubh Glas and Tumbleweed for their medal wins, as well as Monashee Spirits in Revelstoke for winning the Spirit of the Year,” says Anette Engel, Jorg’s business partner and wife. “We are excited to be part of a growing group of craft distilleries in BC with high standard of quality, offering a new experience to visitors to explore.”
Maple Leaf Spirits uses a traditional German copper potstill for its products, embracing and celebrating the European tradition of craft distilling. Jorg and Anette moved to Canada from Germany in 2001 and are proud to bring their award-winning skills to the growing spirits culture in British Columbia.
The tasting room is now open daily from 1pm to 5pm, offering a unique experience after a day of “wine-ing”. Visitors can expect a stunning view from the patio over looking Okanagan Lake and Penticton, with Apex Mountain in the distance, and take a peek inside the expanded production area.
ABOUT MAPLE LEAF SPIRITS
Pioneers in craft distilling in Penticton, BC since 2005, Jorg and Anette Engel are proud to offer award winning spirits and liqueurs handcrafted from Okanagan grown fruit, grapes and wine. Maple Leaf Spirits distills fine spirits from wine and lees following the European tradition of making grappa, tresterbrand and marc. Their fruit liqueurs celebrate fresh sun ripened Okanagan fruit, and are great as a lovely sweet treat or to enhance your dessert or cocktail after a day of wine tasting. Visit the tasting room on the Naramata Bench at 948 Naramata Road.
Media release and image provided by All She Wrote Consulting, on behalf of Maple Leaf Spirits.
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