Long Table Distillery puts Vancouver gin and vodka on the map

With urban wineries and craft breweries popping up in Vancouver, it’s nice to know there’s a place in the city for fans of the hard stuff as well. Long Table Distillery (1451 Hornby Street) opened in February but has kept a surprisingly low profile considering Vancouver’s growing cocktail culture.

I had a chance to check out the distillery last night, when it partnered with the Lazy Gourmet to host a media dinner. The micro-distillery is owned by husband-and-wife team Charles and Rita Tremewen, and they make gin and vodka specifically. While the couple had no previous experience in making spirits (Charles previously worked for Salt Spring Coffee), a visit to other independent, urban, micro-distilleries along the West Coast inspired Charles to learn his craft and open the business.

From the sidewalk, Long Table Distillery is a bit unassuming. The narrow grey building is sandwiched between a gym and residential buildings. Inside, guests are greeted by a bright, open foyer and the company’s namesake long table: a handsome 14-foot Redwood Sequoia table purchased from Vancouver Timber. During store hours—Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 6 p.m.—the public is invited to drop by for free tastings. Behind a large glass window, visitors can check out the giant, 300-litre copper pot that grounds Long Table’s operations.

At the moment, the distillery makes one gin and one vodka—although Charles hinted that variations of both were in the works. The gin’s flavour is unique to the area; its flavour is derived from locally foraged juniper berries. Both spirits are made in small batches and are available for purchase on-site.