Shelter Point Distillery
Shelter Point Distillery is a privately held, farm-to-bottle single malt whisky producer founded in 2011 on a 380-acre Vancouver Island estate, selling seven core expressions plus gin and liqueur through DTC e-commerce, LCBO, on-site retail, and a $200/year Whisky Club.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersCampbell River, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Shelter Point Distillery does
Shelter Point Distillery is a privately held Canadian single malt whisky producer founded in 2011 by third-generation farmer Patrick Evans on a 380-acre oceanfront estate in Campbell River, on the coast of northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The company operates a vertically integrated, farm-to-bottle production model: estate-grown barley, traditional pot distillation using Forsyths copper pot stills, water from an on-site aquifer, and slow coastal maturation in select casks (virgin American oak, bourbon barrels, port-style wine casks, and driftwood-smoked barrels). Its portfolio comprises seven core single malt expressions — 12 Year Single Malt, Classic Single Malt, Ripple Rock Single Malt, Estate Whisky 10 Year, Cask Strength, Smoke Point, and Evans Family Reserve Coruja Cask Finish — plus a Hand Foraged Botanical Gin, a Sunshine Liqueur, and a $200/year Whisky Club subscription delivering three annual 375ml shipments.
The business generates revenue across three streams: one-time bottled whisky sales through Canadian and US Shopify e-commerce storefronts, LCBO retail distribution in Ontario, and on-site distillery retail; a recurring Whisky Club membership ($200/year) with exclusive cask-strength and Unicorn bottlings; and ancillary experiential revenue from paid tours, tastings ($10), lounge services, and a gift shop. The company is currently owned by Nelson Investments, a Vancouver Island private investment firm. Leadership comprises Founder Patrick Evans, General Manager Stephen Goodridge (former VP at Mark Anthony Group, founder of Goodridge & Williams Distilling), Head Distiller James Marinus (35+ years of Vancouver Island farming experience, trained under a retired Scottish master distiller), and Brand Experience Manager Chris Read.
Shelter Point has accumulated a credible award profile including Double Gold at SFWSC 2022, Best Canadian Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2018, Single Malt of the Year at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2022, and 93 Points/Editor's Choice from Whisky Advocate for Ripple Rock. In 2023 it became the first Canadian distillery featured by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (three bottlings), and in 2024 launched the Coruja Cask Finish via a partnership with Burrowing Owl Estate Winery. Customer concentration is moderate, leaning on LCBO as a primary wholesale channel and on consumer pull for the remainder; AI/ML capability is absent, consistent with a traditional craft distillery positioning.
Shelter Point Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shelter Point Distillery
- Legal name
- Shelter Point Distillery
- Website
- https://shelterpoint.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Shelter Point Distillery is a privately held, farm-to-bottle single malt whisky producer founded in 2011 on a 380-acre Vancouver Island estate, selling seven core expressions plus gin and liqueur through DTC e-commerce, LCBO, on-site retail, and a $200/year Whisky Club.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shelter Point Distillery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Single Malt Whisky
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits) (CRANAAAJ), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Shelter Point Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Campbell River
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shelter Point Distillery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Whisky Product Sales: Direct sales of bottled single malt whisky products through e-commerce platforms (Canadian and US storefronts) and retail distribution via LCBO. Products include age-stated expressions (12 Year, 10 Year Estate), cask strength releases, and specialty finishes.
- Whisky Club Membership: Annual membership program ($200/year) providing exclusive access to cask-strength releases, three annual bottle shipments of 375ml bottles, autographed releases, and VIP access benefits.
- Distillery Experiences: Revenue from paid distillery tours ($10 tasting fee applicable to bottle purchases), cocktail tours, and lounge services. Gift shop and retail store sales at the physical distillery location.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Whisky Club Annual Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tasting Experience |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Shelter Point Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shelter Point Distillery produces and sells a portfolio of single malt whisky expressions distilled on a 380-acre oceanfront estate on Vancouver Island using traditional copper pot stills, estate-grown barley, and on-site aquifer water. The company also offers Hand Foraged Botanical Gin, Sunshine Liqueur, a Whisky Club subscription, and on-site tours, tastings, and lounge experiences.
Product overview
Shelter Point Distillery is a single malt whisky producer founded in 2011 on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The company offers a portfolio of seven core single malt whisky expressions (12 Year Single Malt, Classic Single Malt, Ripple Rock Single Malt, Estate Whisky 10 Year, Cask Strength Single Malt, Smoke Point Single Malt, and Evans Family Reserve Coruja Cask Finish) plus two additional spirits (Sunshine Liqueur and Hand Foraged Botanical Gin). The products range from entry-level classic expressions to aged single malts and cask-strength releases, with a premium whisky club membership offering exclusive unicorn bottlings. All spirits are produced using traditional pot distillation, water from an on-site aquifer, and benefit from coastal maturation on Vancouver Island.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 12 Year Single Malt A 12-year-old single malt whisky aged on Vancouver Island's coast showing depth with rich fruit, baking spices, vanilla, caramel sweetness, hint of chocolate, creamy mouthfeel and long smooth finish. Sold to whisky enthusiasts through e-commerce and retail.
- Classic Single Malt Classic expression made in small batches using traditional pot distillation and on-site aquifer water, featuring fruits, caramel, barley, baking spices, honey, seaside whiff, hints of wine, smoke, and sweet leathery mouthfeel. Available via e-commerce and LCBO retail.
- Ripple Rock Single Malt Single malt whisky aged in alligator-charred virgin American oak casks and bourbon barrels, featuring vanilla spice, oak, caramel with raisins, barbeque notes, pepper, clove, toffee and chocolate. Awarded 93 Points and Editor's Choice by Whisky Advocate.
- Estate Whisky (10 Year) 10-year-old whisky distilled from barley grown on Shelter Point Farm, with honey sweetness, apple and orange blossom on the nose, creamy nutty vanilla palate, and buttery salty finish with dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco notes.
- Cask Strength Single Malt Cask strength expression of the Classic Single Malt letting consumers experience the whisky as it comes from the barrel, with balanced fruits, caramel, barley, baking spices, honey, and seaside characteristics.
- Smoke Point Single Malt Proprietary vatting of whisky aged in barrels smoked with driftwood from the shore and native woods around the distillery, featuring campfire, cigar smoke, oak, chocolate, fruit, toffee, creme brûlée, and salty graham cracker notes.
- Evans Family Reserve Coruja Cask Finish Single malt whisky finished in casks used for the port-style fortified wine Coruja from Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in British Columbia, featuring deep rich berries, tropical notes, clove, orange, almond, butterscotch, baking spices, strawberries, black pepper, dark chocolate fudge, salt, sage, and oregano.
- Sunshine Liqueur A liqueur offered at the distillery alongside whiskies, featured in cocktails such as the Rusty Nail. Targeted at consumers and on-premise hospitality.
- Hand Foraged Botanical Gin A hand-foraged botanical gin offered at the distillery for tastings and cocktails. Targeted at gin enthusiasts and on-premise cocktail programs.
- Whisky Club Membership Annual membership ($200/year) providing three 375ml bottle shipments per year, a Shelter Point whisky glencairn, official SPDWC badge for VIP access, and exclusive access to limited Unicorn bottlings including the Ultima series, bottled straight from the cask and autographed.
Quantifiable outcome
- First Canadian distillery to have three bottlings released by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (2023)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Shelter Point Distillery
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shelter Point Distillery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Shelter Point Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Burrowing Owl Estate WinerycorePartnership for the Evans Family Reserve Coruja Cask Finish expression. Shelter Point visited the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in British Columbia in 2024, where they were impressed with the Coruja port-style fortified wine. The Coruja is matured in barrels using a solera system, and Shelter Point decided to finish a whisky in these barrels, creating a unique single malt expression.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shelter Point Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Springbank Distillery: Family-owned Scottish distillery doing everything on-site from malting to bottling on the coast of Campbeltown. Highly comparable vertically integrated, family/heritage-driven craft model producing terroir-distinct single malts.
- Waterford Distillery: Irish single malt producer pioneering terroir-driven whisky with single-farm origin labeling. Shares Shelter Point's focus on provenance storytelling, vintage-specific releases, and craft premium positioning targeting enthusiast collectors.
- Kilchoman Distillery: An independent Islay farm distillery that grows, malts, distills, and matures its own barley on-site. Closest analog to Shelter Point's vertical integration and craft single malt positioning, with similar terroir-driven marketing and DTC/club revenue models.
- Glen Breton Rare: Canada's other major coastal craft single malt whisky, produced in Nova Scotia. Competes with Shelter Point in the small but visible Canadian single malt category and shares similar challenges around provincial distribution and aging-inventory economics.
- Kavalan Distillery: Taiwanese craft single malt producer that rapidly built global award credibility (including World Whiskies Awards) through distinctive terroir-driven expressions. Comparable in its premium craft positioning, awards-led marketing, and growing international recognition.
Emerging players
- Pendragon Distillery: A Pacific Northwest craft distillery producing small-batch whisky with similar terroir-driven branding. Comparable in scale, regional focus, and craft positioning, though significantly less established than Shelter Point.
Broad incumbents
- The Macallan: Premium single malt Scotch and global benchmark for terroir-led, estate-grown, cask-finish whisky releases at the luxury tier. Defines the pricing ceiling Shelter Point's aged expressions aspire to reach with their coastal maturation story.
- Hiram Walker & Sons: Major Canadian whisky producer supplying bulk and branded spirits across Canadian provinces. Sets the competitive backdrop for any craft Canadian distillery attempting to scale beyond provincial LCBO-style distribution.
- Crown Royal: Diageo-owned flagship Canadian whisky dominating Canadian retail and on-premise share. Sets the benchmark for Canadian whisky pricing, distribution, and consumer awareness against which all craft Canadian producers must differentiate.
- Forty Creek Distillery: Major Canadian whisky brand owned by Campari Group with national retail distribution across LCBO and other provinces. Competes for the same Canadian whisky consumer but at significantly larger scale and broader price-point coverage.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shelter Point Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceShelter Point Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shelter Point Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Shelter Point Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shelter Point Distillery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shelter Point Distillery
What does Shelter Point Distillery do?
Shelter Point Distillery produces and sells a portfolio of single malt whisky expressions distilled on a 380-acre oceanfront estate on Vancouver Island using traditional copper pot stills, estate-grown barley, and on-site aquifer water. The company also offers Hand Foraged Botanical Gin, Sunshine Liqueur, a Whisky Club subscription, and on-site tours, tastings, and lounge experiences.
Is Shelter Point Distillery a public or private company?
Shelter Point Distillery is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Shelter Point Distillery founded?
Shelter Point Distillery was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Shelter Point Distillery based?
Shelter Point Distillery is headquartered in Campbell River, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Shelter Point Distillery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Whisky Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are whisky Club Membership and distillery Experiences.
Who are Shelter Point Distillery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Springbank Distillery, Waterford Distillery, Kilchoman Distillery, Glen Breton Rare and Kavalan Distillery. Pendragon Distillery is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are The Macallan, Hiram Walker & Sons, Crown Royal and Forty Creek Distillery.
Does Shelter Point Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shelter Point Distillery.
What industry is Shelter Point Distillery in?
Shelter Point Distillery's product category is Single Malt Whisky. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.