Last week I wrote that international guests arriving for FIFA will be asking a simple question:
“What’s actually local?”
Bars, restaurants, hotels, and liquor stores across BC have a short window to prepare an answer. The problem is that many back bars aren’t as local as they appear.
A BC story on the label is not the same thing as a BC-owned company.
Empress 1908 Gin, with its iconic blue bottle and Victoria heritage branding, is owned by Milestone Brands in Austin, Texas. It isn’t the only example. Before FIFA visitors arrive, operators should do the ownership homework on every bottle they stock, including the ones that seem obvious.
If a guest asks for something genuinely local, here are four categories worth paying attention to.
Vodka
Vodka remains the most requested spirit among international visitors.
Charm Vodka is our premium expression, distilled on a Hungarian Hagyo still and porcelain-purified for a clean, neutral profile that stands comfortably beside any imported brand. Fighter Vodka is built around BC-grown grain and a distinctly Canadian identity. Flash Bang offers flavoured expressions that deliver real spirit character rather than syrup-driven sweetness.
Beyond our own portfolio, Odd Society in East Vancouver continues to produce excellent craft vodka and deserves a place on any serious Vancouver back bar.
Gin
This is the category where Canada-washing may be most common.
Nookum Gin is our flagship gin and the bottle we’d happily put against any imported brand without hesitation. Rooted in the Métis heritage of co-founder Kyla Lee, it represents a distinctly Canadian approach to gin making.
Independent BC producers such as Odd Society’s Wallflower Gin and Long Table Gin are also strong examples of local distilling done right.
When visitors ask for a Canadian gin, these are the kinds of names they should be hearing.
Liqueurs and Flavoured Spirits
This category is surprisingly thin when it comes to genuine BC-made options.
Sour Goose consistently outperforms larger competitors in taste tests, delivering cleaner flavour and a more balanced profile than many mainstream alternatives. It’s also a true BC original.
Most bartenders don’t realize that Sour Puss is owned by Sazerac, headquartered in New Orleans. While it has strong Canadian brand recognition, it is not a BC product.
At Deep Blue Distillery we’ve invested heavily in this category because we saw the gap. Alongside Sour Goose, products such as Charm Curaçao and Salsa Verde Sour were created to give bars and retailers authentic BC-made alternatives.
Outside our own portfolio, Odd Society’s vermouth program remains one of the strongest examples of local innovation in the category.
Spiced Spirits
Imported spiced rum still dominates Canadian back bars.
Pirate Pete’s Vendetta is our answer. Produced in Richmond, BC, it delivers a balanced spice profile built on a clean base spirit and performs exceptionally well in classic cocktails such as a Dark and Stormy.
For operators looking to replace imported options with something genuinely local, this category offers significant opportunity.
The Question Every Customer Should Ask
As FIFA approaches, guests from around the world will increasingly want to know where their drink comes from.
The answer shouldn’t require a complicated explanation.
For consumers, the question is simple:
“Is this actually made in BC, and who owns the company?”
It takes about eight seconds to ask.
And if enough people ask it, it changes what bars stock.