Lohin McKinnon: History, Whisky Range and Visitor Guide
Lohin McKinnon is a Canadian single malt whisky brand developed at Central City Brewers & Distillers in British Columbia. It honours two actual makers, brewer Gary Lohin and distiller Stuart McKinnon, rather than identifying an unrelated independent distillery.
The brewery and distillery share expertise in malt fermentation, with brewing followed by distillation and maturation. Its bottles are among the earlier Canadian single malts from the Pacific coast, including later special-cask finishes.
In this guide
Distillery facts
History and key people
How the whisky is made
Verified bottles and historical editions
Awards and visitor information
Reader poll and FAQ
Sources and image credits
Summarise this guide with AI
Lohin McKinnon at a glance
Distillery history
Lohin McKinnon is a Canadian single malt whisky brand developed at Central City Brewers & Distillers in British Columbia. It honours two actual makers, brewer Gary Lohin and distiller Stuart McKinnon, rather than identifying an unrelated independent distillery.
The brewery and distillery share expertise in malt fermentation, with brewing followed by distillation and maturation. Its bottles are among the earlier Canadian single malts from the Pacific coast, including later special-cask finishes.
People and ownership
Master brewer Gary Lohin and master distiller Stuart McKinnon. Ownership and company details may change; historical owners do not automatically mean present-day shareholders.
Whisky production and cask maturation
Gary Lohin created the malt fermentation and Stuart McKinnon distilled the beer-like wash into spirit. The whisky aged in ex-bourbon barrels for at least three years.
The original single malt was offered at 43% ABV, with separate editions finished in different oak casks. A tequila-barrel-finished edition is recorded in the Whiskybase bottle database.
Lohin McKinnon whisky bottle range
The bottles below are genuine examples, including historic releases where noted. Whisky Clan has not personally tasted these whiskies for this guide.
Lohin McKinnon Single Malt Whisky
Canadian single malt, typically 43% ABV, from the Central City production operation.
Lohin McKinnon Tequila Barrel Finish
A documented whisky variation finished in tequila casks and labelled at 43% ABV.
Pictured: Lohin McKinnon Single Malt Canadian Whisky. This is an identifiable whisky release, not a generic tasting glass.
Awards and notable milestones
The creation of an identifiable Canadian single malt under two makers' surnames is a significant milestone. Third-party reviewer scores are not distillery competition medals.
Visiting Lohin McKinnon
Central City Brewers & Distillers operates in Surrey, British Columbia. The visitor programme is brewery and distillery-specific and may change, so check with Central City before travelling.
Tour hours, current owners, release stock and availability can change. Always confirm before planning a visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is it?
Central City Brewers & Distillers, Surrey, British Columbia
When did the whisky operation begin?
Central City craft whisky launched in the 2010s
Who is behind the producer?
Master brewer Gary Lohin and master distiller Stuart McKinnon
Which bottles are associated with it?
Lohin McKinnon Single Malt Whisky, Lohin McKinnon Tequila Barrel Finish. Check historical versus current bottlings.
Can I visit?
Central City Brewers & Distillers operates in Surrey, British Columbia. The visitor programme is brewery and distillery-specific and may change, so check with Central City before travelling.
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Sources and image credits
Research checked 23 October 2026. Outbound sources and photograph credits appear at the bottom of the article.
About the author
Whisky Clan researches whisky histories, production and bottles and welcomes verifiable reader updates.
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