Distillery to build new facility just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre

By Dave Johnson
Courtesy of The Welland Tribune

A vodka found in LCBO stores across Ontario has a Welland connection that’s about to grow.

Tuesday, city council approved selling 2.28 hectares of surplus land just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre to Neeraj Bakshi.

The deal is to close on March 24.

Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green asked if the sale would impact the planned multi-use sports centre to be built by Empire Communities in the same area.

Lina Dechellis, the city’s economic development officer, said the sale and future building on the site would enhance the area.

“Do we know what’s going there?” Green asked.

Dechellis said it will be the permanent home of a distillery temporarily located at 36 Darte Dr., just more than 300 metres away.

Though not named in the report or by city staff, NB Distillers/Liq’D Spirits, formerly known as Canadiana Organic Distillery Corp., moved to Welland last year from Mississauga.

A staff report last October said the company wanted to move into the Darte Drive building for at least a year to get things up and running.

Dechellis said the distiller’s Red Admiral Vodka is on LCBO shelves in Welland and Port Colborne. It’s also found in Niagara Falls and across Ontario.

Mayor Frank Campion said the vodka bottles say Made in Welland on the label.

Green said the distillery, which has a website under construction, will be a great addition to the area.

Last year, city councillors supported an application for a manufacturer’s “by the glass” licence for the company.

The licence, according to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario website, allows wineries, breweries and distilleries to make an application to sell and serve their wine, beer and spirits to patrons for consumption at their manufacturing site.