Page 32 - 05_June-2025

Alberta doesn’t
compete with
British Columbia’s
wine tourism
industry, but Wild
Rose Country does
have much to offer
when it comes to
breweries and
distilleries. Many
of these drinking
rooms are bold and
rugged, reflecting
Alberta’s farming
traditions and
western heritage.
With summer upon us
and fewer Canadians
headed to the
U.S. of A, it’s time
for a spirited and
scenic tour of
Alberta’s award-
winning drinks.
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We started our tour in Red Deer, dipping
down Highway 2 to Innisfail before heading
west for the scenic tour on Alberta’s unspoiled
Cowboy Trail. The 350-kilometre stretch of
Highway 22, from Caroline to Lundbreck,
cuts through about a dozen rural communities,
almost every one home to a brewery or distillery.
RED DEER
Some of the best grains in the world are grown 10 minutes
away from Red Deer, so prepare yourself to sip a dram of
the best Canadian whisky here. Diony Distillery has serious
street cred among whisky specialists. Their bestselling
Campfire whisky reveals a mash bill of 67 per cent rye
smoked with spent grain and oak, which gives it a unique
campfire taste. From notes of caramel to dried fruit, this
craft whisky tastes succulently sweet.