The Liberty Distillery: Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia
Updated: 3 hours ago
The Liberty Distillery is a craft distillery on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia. It opened in late 2013 and was among the first artisanal distilleries in the city.
In this guide
Summarise this guide with AI
The Liberty at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | The Liberty |
Country and region | British Columbia, Canada |
Owner / background | The Liberty Distillery |
Historical context | The Vancouver Courier reported in December 2013 that the distillery had opened its doors the previous Friday. Founders Robert Simpson, who also founded Liberty Wines, and his wife Lisa had… |
Whisky identity | Vancouver craft spirits producer, named whisky range unconfirmed |
Visitor information | Check the official operator's website for currently available tours and visitor access. |
Join the The Liberty whisky community poll
Which whiskies have you tried? What should Whisky Clan review next? Open the highlighted poll below, answer four quick questions and share your preferences with the community.
TAKE THE THE LIBERTY COMMUNITY POLL · 4 QUICK QUESTIONS
Answer four quick questions to see real reader percentages. No account or email is required.
Where it is
The distillery is at 1494 Old Bridge Street on Granville Island, in a heritage building on federal land.
The story so far
The Vancouver Courier reported in December 2013 that the distillery had opened its doors the previous Friday. Founders Robert Simpson, who also founded Liberty Wines, and his wife Lisa had applied about five years earlier. Turning a heritage building on federal land into a distillery, and meeting several city regulations, took longer than they expected. The Courier noted that they were the first to put in an application for an artisanal distillery in the city, though not the first to open.
The Courier described the distillery's stills as Carl stills from Germany, run under master distiller Laurent Lafuente. The mahogany bar in the shop was built in 1890 for a saloon in Texas.
The first spirits
The first run was Truth Vodka. A Railspur #1 White unaged whiskey was due to launch on 15 December 2013, with some barrels put aside for release in 2016, and Endeavour Gin followed in January 2014. The Courier reported that the spirits were thrice distilled and made from organic British Columbia products starting with the mash.
Visiting
Distillery tours were available at opening. The details in this profile come from the 2013 opening report, so check the official website for current tours, products and hours.
Sources
What makes The Liberty distinctive?
Vancouver craft spirits producer, named whisky range unconfirmed
The Liberty whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
No confirmed regular consumer whisky expression | NAS / edition varies | Check producer label | Vancouver craft spirits producer, named whisky range unconfirmed |
Bottles and editions listed above are documented expressions or historical associations, not live stock or guaranteed current distillery production. Confirm dates, strengths and provenance with the producer.
Explore related distilleries
Frequently asked questions about The Liberty
Where is The Liberty based?
British Columbia, Canada.
Who owns or operates The Liberty?
The Liberty Distillery.
What is distinctive about The Liberty?
Vancouver craft spirits producer, named whisky range unconfirmed.
Which whiskies are documented?
No specific regular mature whisky release has been confirmed in this guide.
Can you visit The Liberty?
Check the current official distillery website for tour and visitor arrangements.
Sources and editorial notes
Original research and source links have been preserved. Ownership, production, release schedules and visiting information may change.
Image note: featured whisky photograph is an illustration from the Whisky Clan media library, not a photo of this particular distillery or its products.
Editorial caution: this profile does not establish a verified, regularly available mature whisky bottle. Plans and early spirit releases are not equivalent to consumer whisky stock.
Help us improve this distillery guide
Know something we should add or correct about The Liberty Distillery? Share verified facts, bottle releases, awards or useful sources using the form below. Newsletter subscription is optional.
If the embedded form does not display, Open the contribution form in a new tab.
Cover image: The Liberty Distillery's authentic copper spirit still photographed on Granville Island in Vancouver. Original source: BC Distilled. Reuse rights have not been independently confirmed.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
Comments