NB Distillers’ temporary Welland location to open first week of April
March 8, 2021
NB Distillers’ temporary Welland location to open first week of April
NB Distillers’ temporary distillery and retail shop should open the first week of April at 1-36 Darte Drr. in Welland. The company will build a new facility on surplus city-owned land just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR
A bright red band on both sides of its black wings makes the Red Admiral Butterfly stand out and easy to spot, and Neeraj Bakshi hopes the same colouring on a vodka bottle that shares its name with the flying insect catches the eyes of consumers.
The clear bottle features bright red lettering with two Red Admiral butterflies on it — one large, one small. It also has Made in Niagara on the label.
Unlike the aggressive butterfly, Bakshi said the small-batch, handcrafted Red Admiral Vodka produced by his company, NB Distillers, is smooth, sippable and pairs well with a variety of mixes.
“We fine-tuned the original 2015 blend made by the (former) Russian owner and his Polish wife. Our master blender tweaked the recipe,” said Bakshi, adding consultants helped in the process as well.
NB Distillers formed last year after it bought Mississauga-based Canadiana Organic Distillery Corp., which produced Canadiana Premium Red Vodka.
The company is renovating a space at 1-36 Darte Dr. in Welland that will hold both a temporary distillery and retail store.
Last week, city council approved selling 2.28 hectares of surplus land to Bakshi for a new factory just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre.
“It will take us at least a year to build and open the new factory,” he said.
For now, the vodka can be found at LCBO stores in Welland, Port Colborne, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, and eventually Darte Drive.
Bakshi said the City of Welland has been very supportive throughout the process, including Mayor Frank Campion and the planning, economic development and building departments and the fire service, ensuring the temporary location space is safe and conforms with all codes.
“They have been amazing to work with,” he said of city staff.
Moving from Mississauga, Bakshi said NB Distillers worked to make local connections.
It is sourcing grain from Niagara to use in the distilling process, with that grain broken up by another local company before.
“Our bottles are printed in Smithville, and we’re using a local media company to help us with our social media. We’re trying to keep as much local as we can.”
The hope is to bring the company’s products to farmers markets across Niagara, including Welland and Port Colborne.
It is working to establish connections with bars and restaurants in the Rose City and across Niagara.
Bakshi expects the retail space and distilling side of the Welland operation to open the first week of April. He said once permitted, the retail space will offer tastings.
Response to Red Admiral Vodka locally has been good, said Bakshi. It has seven five-star reviews on the LCBO website, and it sold out at the Port Colborne store.
“People are liking it,” he said, adding he selected a price to keep it economical and below other small-batch vodkas.
In addition to vodka, NB Distillers will produce Liquid Gold Whiskey and Chak De Whiskey, and a yet-to-be-named gin. Like many distillers in Ontario, the company switched to making hand sanitizer, offered in two-litre bags, as the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The company has a mixologist creating recipes with its products and lists a few on the website, and more to come every seven to 10 days. It will also be looking to add ready-to-go mixes in the retail location once open.
In addition to its website, nbdistillers.com, the company is on Facebook at NB Distillers and Instagram at Red Admiral Vodka.
