Spirit of York Distillery

What Spirit of York Distillery does

Spirit of York Distillery is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2015 and headquartered at 12 Trinity Street in Toronto's Distillery District. The company produces premium spirits using Ontario-grown grains in a grain-to-glass production model, with bottles hand-filled and sealed at a visible floor-to-ceiling glass distillery that doubles as a customer-facing attraction. Its product portfolio spans the flagship Spirit of York line (vodka, gin, whisky, aquavit, plus aperitivo, coffee liqueur, and citruscello), the lower-priced DISTL sub-brand (gin, pink gin, vodka, whisky, and three flavored liqueurs), and curated bundles such as the Canadian Old Fashioned and Espresso Martini Kit.

Revenue is generated across six distinct streams: direct retail and e-commerce sales of spirits, on-site bar and farm-to-table food service, paid experiences (Tour & Tasting at $45/person and Make Your Own Gin Workshop at $100/person), the annual Distiller's Club subscription ($450-$500), private event hosting for up to 150 guests, and wholesale supply to Ontario licensees plus distribution through the LCBO. Pricing for 750ml bottles ranges from roughly $30 to $57 CAD. The company targets premium retail consumers and Ontario licensee establishments as primary segments, with secondary demand from experience seekers, event hosts, and Distiller's Club members.

Distribution is concentrated in Ontario — direct at the Toronto location, through the LCBO retail network, and via Ontario restaurants and bars — with stated but limited expansion into select additional Canadian provinces. Marketing is centered on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter organic social, supported by an email newsletter and a brand blog, with bookings flowing through OpenTable and Tripleseat. Ownership, funding history, and detailed management structure beyond co-founder/CEO Michael G. Leskovec are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Spirit of York Distillery

Legal name

Spirit of York Distillery Co.

Website

https://spiritofyork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spirit of York Distillery is a Toronto-based craft distillery producing premium grain-to-glass spirits under the Spirit of York and DISTL brands, serving retail consumers, Ontario licensees, and on-site experience, bar, and event customers from its Distillery District location.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft distillery
• Premium spirits
• Grain to glass
• Distillery tours
• Cocktail experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct retail sales of craft spirits including vodka, gin, whisky, aquavit, and liqueurs through the distillery store and e-commerce. Additional distribution through LCBO in Ontario.
2. On-site Bar and Food Service: Restaurant and bar operations at the distillery serving cocktails made with in-house spirits, along with farm-to-table food menu.
3. Experiences and Tours: Paid experiences including guided tours and tastings ($45), and Make Your Own Gin workshops ($100), booked through OpenTable.
4. Distiller's Club Subscription: Annual membership subscription ($450-$500) providing three curated spirit releases per year, exclusive tours, VIP access, and discounts on experiences and merchandise.
5. Private Event Hosting: Venue rentals for corporate events, weddings, and special occasions with customizable packages for up to 150 guests standing or 75 seated.
6. Licensee Supply: Supplying spirits to licensee restaurants and bars throughout Ontario.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Spirit of York Distillery crafts premium spirits (vodka, gin, whisky, aquavit, coffee liqueur, aperitivo, citruscello) and operates the DISTL sub-brand of accessible craft spirits, all produced in-house from Ontario-grown grains using a grain-to-glass process. Beyond distilled products, the company runs an on-site bar and farm-to-table restaurant, offers paid tours, tastings, and a Make Your Own Gin workshop, and provides a Distiller's Club annual subscription membership plus private event hosting for up to 150 guests.

Product overview

Spirit of York Distillery is a craft distillery in Toronto's Distillery District producing premium spirits from Ontario-grown grains. The portfolio consists of the Spirit of York core brand (Vodka, Gin, Whisky, Aquavit) and the DISTL sub-brand (Gin, Pink Gin, Vodka, Whisky, and liqueurs including Sweet Tea, Ancho Chili, and Orange). Supporting products include the Spirit of York Coffee Liqueur, Aperitivo, and Citruscello. The company offers curated spirit bundles (Canadian Old Fashioned Bundle, Gin & Tonic Bundle, Gin Lovers Bundle, Classic Spirits Bundle, Espresso Martini Kit), experiential services (Tour & Tasting, Make Your Own Gin Workshop, event hosting), and a Distiller's Club subscription membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DISTL: A sub-brand featuring spirits including gin, pink gin, vodka, whisky, sweet tea liqueur, and ancho chili liqueur. Bright citrus and light juniper characterize the gin offerings.

Products and services

• Spirit of York Vodka Premium vodka from the Spirit of York core spirits lineup, crafted at the Toronto distillery and sold in 750ml bottles for $39.42 CAD.
• Spirit of York Gin Premium gin infused with 15 selected botanicals including juniper, cinnamon, coriander, angelica root, fennel seed, cubeb pepper, and star anise, offering spicy, savoury notes with fresh citrus flavours in a 750ml bottle.
• Spirit of York Whisky 100% rye grain whisky aged in oak barrels with crystal-clear water from Springwater, Ontario, featuring caramel undertones and a smooth, sweet profile in a 750ml bottle priced at $57.50 CAD.
• Spirit of York Aquavit Aquavit crafted with classic caraway and dill botanicals combined with a hand-crafted rye base spirit and a citrus twist, refining traditional Nordic flavours in a 750ml bottle priced at $44.20 CAD.
• Spirit of York Aperitivo Herbal, bittersweet liqueur inspired by Italian Amari and Aperitivi, infused with orange peel, gentian, dried cherries, wild cherry bark, and licorice root, sold in a 750ml bottle for $26.53 CAD.
• Spirit of York Coffee Liqueur Coffee liqueur made with Pilot Coffee Roasters' Catalyst Blend and in-house brown sugar syrup, delivering notes of milk chocolate and brown sugar with a smooth finish.
• Spirit of York Citruscello Citrus liqueur featuring lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, and clementine flavours.
• Spirit of York Cranberry Spiced Vodka Spiced vodka featuring cranberry and cranberry flavours.
• DISTL Gin Bright citrus and faint juniper gin from the DISTL sub-brand, described as a 'new world' gin, sold in a 750ml bottle for $35.38 CAD.
• DISTL Pink Gin Pink gin made with fresh strawberries, raspberries, floral tones, and bright citrus base.
• DISTL Vodka Vodka crafted from multiple distilled wheat, offering a clean, smooth drinking experience, sold in a 750ml bottle for $30.95 CAD.
• DISTL Whisky Canadian whisky crafted from a blend of corn and rye with 100% Canadian-grown grains and Ontario spring water, sold in a 750ml bottle for $39.80 CAD.
• DISTL Sweet Tea Liqueur Sweet tea liqueur with black tea and lemon flavours and a sweet finish.
• DISTL Ancho Chili Liqueur Liqueur featuring ancho chilies, a blend of spices, and natural sweetness.
• DISTL Orange Liqueur Orange liqueur used in cocktail preparations.
• Spirit of York Canadian Old Fashioned Bundle Bundle containing 100% Rye Whisky, pure Canadian maple syrup, and Campfire Bitters for making Canadian Old Fashioned cocktails.
• Spirit of York Gin & Tonic Bundle Bundle featuring Spirit of York premium gin paired with four carefully selected Fever-Tree tonics.
• Spirit of York Gin Lovers Bundle Collector set containing three signature gins: Spirit of York, DISTL, and DISTL Flawless Pink for comparing botanicals and profiles.
• Spirit of York Classic Spirits Bundle Bundle containing three core spirits: 100% Rye Whisky, Premium Vodka, and Premium Gin.
• Spirit of York Espresso Martini Kit Kit containing Spirit of York Vodka, Coffee Liqueur, house-made Demerara Syrup, and Two Bears cold brew for making Espresso Martinis.
• Tour & Tasting Experience Guided distillery tour at $45 per person including a welcome gin & tonic, a tour of the distillery, a tasting flight of core spirits, and a guided spirit tasting.
• Make Your Own Gin Workshop Hands-on gin blending workshop at $100 per person where participants create a custom gin blend with botanicals and take home a 750ml bottle of their custom gin.
• Event Hosting Services Turnkey event hosting including flexible packages, bar customization with in-house spirits, farm-to-table catering, and interactive distillery experiences for up to 150 guests standing or 75 seated, with full access to patio.
• Distiller's Club Membership Annual membership offering three curated spirit releases per year, exclusive distillery tours for up to 5 friends, VIP access to limited drops and experimental batches, and 10% discount on experiences and merchandise, starting at $450 CAD launch special.

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Tamarack FarmsminorOthersLocal farm supplier providing Mangalitsa pork products used in the farm-to-table food menu at the distillery's restaurant.
• GoldfarmminorOthersLocal farm supplier partner providing ingredients for the farm-to-table menu.
• Arva FarmsminorOthersLocal farm supplier partner contributing to the farm-to-table dining philosophy.
• Broadfork SupplyminorOthersLocal supplier partner supporting the farm-to-table sourcing approach.
• Pilot Coffee RoastersminorOthersSupplier of Catalyst Blend coffee used in Spirit of York Coffee Liqueur production.
• Fever-TreeminorOthersPremium tonic brand used for Gin & Tonic offerings and bundled with spirits. Pairs include Fever-Tree Indian, Mediterranean, Elderflower, Lemon, and Cucumber tonics.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Northland Distillery: Ontario-based emerging craft distillery producing gin, vodka, whisky, and specialty spirits — partial overlap with Spirit of York's craft-portfolio approach in the same Canadian provincial market.

Direct peers

• Junction 56 Distillery: Toronto-area craft distillery producing grain spirits with an on-site retail and tasting room; comparable urban craft-distillery profile, LCBO distribution, and direct-to-consumer retail experience.
• Wolfhead Distillery: Amherstburg, Ontario craft distillery making whisky, vodka, gin, and ready-to-drink cocktails with a tasting room; comparable craft positioning, multi-SKU portfolio, and Ontario retail distribution.
• Ironworks Distillery: Atlantic Canada craft distillery producing vodka, gin, rye, and rum with a tasting room and LCBO presence — directly comparable craft-distillery business model and provincial liquor-board channel mix.
• Top of the Hill Distillery: Ontario craft distillery producing small-batch spirits with on-site retail and tasting; comparable size, Ontario LCBO distribution, and craft gin/whisky portfolio.
• Heartwood Distillery: Ontario craft distillery producing gin, vodka, whisky, and liqueurs with an emphasis on local ingredients and on-site tastings — closely overlaps Spirit of York's craft, Ontario-market, and experiential model.
• Last Straw Distillery: Toronto craft distillery making vodka, gin, and whisky with a tasting room on-site — competing in the same local craft-distillery category, overlapping customer base, and Ontario retail footprint.
• Dillon's Distillery: Beamsville, Ontario craft distillery producing small-batch spirits (vodka, gin, whisky, liqueurs) from locally sourced grains, with a tasting room and distribution through LCBO — directly comparable craft-distillery model, geography, and channel mix.
• Kinsip House of Fine Spirits: Prince Edward County craft distillery producing gin, whisky, vodka, and specialty spirits with farm-to-bottle sourcing — directly analogous craft positioning, vertical-input story, and experiential tasting-room strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Crystal Head Vodka: Canadian-founded premium vodka brand with broader national and international distribution; competes in the same Ontario craft/premium Canadian spirits shelf space via LCBO and licensee channels, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/spiritofyork
• Facebookfacebook.com/spiritofyork
• Instagraminstagram.com/spiritofyork/?_ga=2.37458280.997346397.1698079630-172649763.1694114149
• TikToktiktok.com/@spiritofyorkdistilleryco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spirit of York Distillery