The Woods Spirit Co. Announces Final Barrel-Aged Nocino Vintage and
Celebrates Award-Winning Barrel-Aged Amaro and Hazelnut Cream Liqueur
This fall, The Woods Spirit Co. will bid a bittersweet farewell to its celebrated Barrel-Aged Nocino. Made with green walnuts from the Okanagan, The Woods Spirit Co. Barrel-Aged Nocino Vintage 2025 will be its final release, with bottles available for purchase starting October 1.
The changing climate continues to reshape agriculture in British Columbia, with the 2024 winter frosts resulting in the loss of stone fruit across the Okanagan. For The Woods Spirit Co., the challenge of two years without fruiting trees marks the end of a cherished ritual: harvesting green walnuts in Summerland during the summer solstice. Over the years, the team built a network of contacts in the Okanagan and would harvest the nuts from different places. The quantity of green walnuts required for one batch of Nocino, if purchased commercially, would exceed the practical return.
Picked at the transitory moment before they harden, green walnuts have long defined Woods’ Barrel-Aged Nocino’s signature character. Rich in antioxidants and renowned for their depth, the walnuts impart a vibrant spiced-citrus profile intertwined with notes of pine and bay leaf, balanced by a gentle bitterness and subtle sweetness. This complexity earned The Woods’ Barrel-Aged Nocino national acclaim in 2023, when it was awarded Best Liqueur in Canada at the Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition (CASC) — cementing its place among the country’s most celebrated liqueurs.
“Making Nocino has always been one of Woods’ most meaningful traditions,” said Celia Chiang, owner of The Woods Spirit Co. “Saying goodbye is bittersweet, but it reminds us to adapt, to celebrate the fleeting beauty of what we create, and to savour each moment as it comes.”
Even as The Woods bids farewell to the beloved, three-year-old Barrel-Aged Nocino, the distillery continues to celebrate resilience and innovation with two highly anticipated releases, also available starting October 1:
Vintage 2025 Barrel-Aged Amaro: Recipient of Gold with Distinction at the 2024 CASC Awards, this amaro has been matured for 12 to 18 months in ex-bourbon barrels. Its complex layers reveal vanilla, grapefruit zest, spiced orange peel, dark fruits and soft woody bitterness. Enjoy it as a digestivo over ice and in holiday eggnog or a Boulevardier and other cozy cocktails.
Crema Nocciola (Hazelnut Cream Liqueur): Winner of Gold in the Dessert Liqueurs category at Sip Magazine’s Best of the Northwest Awards 2024, this decadent liqueur offers a modern and sustainable twist on tradition. It is crafted with sustainably grown hazelnuts from Abbotsford, freshly roasted Moja Coffee distillate, and Canadian non-GMO oat milk. Sip chilled or use in dessert cocktails, affogatos, and even tropical drinks such as Coladas and Mai Tais.
Arriving in time for the holiday season, these releases embody the story of The Woods Spirit Co. — a distillery rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to evolve, crafting spirits that capture the essence of time, place, and passion while embracing both the sweet and the bitter along the way.
Each release is produced in small batches, and availability is extremely limited. The final Barrel-Aged Nocino in particular is expected to sell out quickly. Spirits can be purchased directly online at thewoodsspiritco.com for distillery pick-up or convenient delivery.
About The Woods Spirit Co.
Located in North Vancouver, The Woods Spirit Co. uses innovative vacuum distillation and locally sourced ingredients to create award-winning spirits and liqueurs. We are passionate about turning gatherings into experiences, crafting spirits that inspire connection and celebration.
The Woods Spirit Co. is proud to be a female, BIPOC-owned, local small business that embeds the principles of the triple bottom line — people, planet, and prosperity — into every facet of its operations. As of March 2025, The Woods Spirit Co. is BC Green Business Certified.
