Hansen Distillery
At Hansen Distillery, the past is never far from the bottle. Founded in 2016 by Shayna Hansen and Kris Sustrik, the family-run distillery draws inspiration from generations of Hansen family members who made moonshine during Alberta’s Prohibition era. What began as a way for the family to get through difficult economic times has been reimagined as a modern craft-spirit business. You can even still buy the traditional moonshine, along with some clever variations such as peppered garlic bacon and mulled cranberry.
Today, Hansen produces a range of spirits in west Edmonton, including whisky, gin, vodka, and cream liqueurs. The distillery’s approach emphasizes experimentation and quality, with an effort to use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. That connection to place is particularly evident in its whisky program.
In February 2020, Hansen made Edmonton distilling history with the release of Northern Eyes Whisky, the city’s first locally produced whisky. Made with 100 per cent Alberta rye and aged for three years in a single American oak barrel, the release marked an important milestone not only for Hansen but for Edmonton’s emerging craft-distilling industry. They’ve since released five- and seven-year versions of the whisky.
Their flavoured spirits, especially the seasonal cream liquors, are part of what makes Hansen stand out — the gingerbread cookie cream liquor is a festive winter favourite, and other limited edition varieties regularly sell out. Earlier this year, Hansen released a small-batch series called Distilled By Her, inspired by women in the male-dominated industry, created by Hansen’s assistant distiller, Cassidy.
A visit to the distillery is a fun experience to sample spirits and enjoy a guided tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the production process. Hansen’s cocktail lounge is a great place to try their spirits in a variety of inventive cocktails that change seasonally, or grab some canned cocktails and spirits to take home.
For Hansen, the goal is ultimately a blend of heritage and experimentation: honouring the family tradition while giving Edmonton-made spirits a place on a much larger stage.
