Canadian spirits made with Saskatchewan wheat wows at Whisky Awards
by The Canadian Press
The Last Mountain Distillery uses 55,000 kilograms of wheat a year and is in the midst of a $200,000 expansion
LUMSDEN, Sask.—Saskatchewan wheat is being used to make an award-winning whisky northwest of Regina.
Colin Schmidt is an owner of Last Mountain Distillery in Lumsden.
His company’s whisky recently won silver medals at the Canadian Whisky Awards, held in Victoria B.C.
Schmidt says while some Canadian whisky claims to be made out of rye, most is made out of corn.
He says his company uses wheat because it is unique and locally made.
The Last Mountain Distillery uses about 55,000 kilograms of wheat a year, plus other grains, to make whisky, rum and vodka.
“To have something that we put away 3 1/2 years ago into a barrel hoping it would be accepted and then to have it reviewed by experts as being some of the best whisky in Canada is very encouraging for us as a small distillery,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt says business is doing well and is in the midst of a $200,000 expansion.
With files from Regina radio station CKRM
