You might easily walk by and overlook this treat. Instead be good to yourself and make the effort…read moreto call in. Located on cobbled streets, within the atmospheric Distillery District area (a throw back representing Toronto's unique heritage and industrial development) the authentic facade of SoYD is far from nondescript but is instead faithful to its origins and blends in with the traditional surroundings. However please make time to stop and enter. The interior offers both a modern style juxtaposed with the hard-work brick fabric of a bygone era. Providing you with a comfortable, clean and stylish welcome. As an active distillery it is possible to wall around the interior whilst observing both the ongoing day to day process of liquor production and the wonderful range of in-house distilled and bottled produce. The menu offers a small but temptingly interesting range of starters, light meals and mains, together with beers, wines and spirits) many of which have been produced by SoYD. Our olives were fresh and zesty bringing the sunshine of their origin to a cold May day. The lobster brioche were light and delicious with the sweetness of the meat and wonderful fresh bun balanced by a flavourful slaw. We then enjoyed a vibrantly zingy endive salad with tangy blue cheese and a subtly brilliant honey mustard vinaigrette which brought the dish together beautifully. We ended our dinning experience with freshly fried rhubarb timbits, a bite and a half sized crispy shell encasing a light doughnut and tart but delicious rhubarb filling. SoYD has a great selection of wines, my glamorous partner enjoyed their Almanac White wine and I loved my Avling hazy IPA. We then enjoyed three sample glasses brought to us courtesy of Ray, the gamay was particularly good. To finish my partner had their own pint of Avling and I had a whiskey flight comprised of three in-house distilled glasses; vodka, a whiskey ( very good with warm spices, caramel, and touches of vanilla) and a delicious Ancho liqueur (chilies, blend of spices, a touch of natural sweetness and possessing an aroma reminiscent of liquorice root and tonka bean) Our host Ray was most friendly, welcoming and most generous with his time, taking great interest in us, our experiences in visiting Toronto, SoYD and on life and food and drink in general. By the time we had finished we felt like we had been to a friend's for a meal. A most wonderful and well prepared meal. Definitely an experience worth sharing and repeating. One to remember fondly.

Spirit of York Distillery: An Enchanted Speakeasy Hidden in Plain Sight…read more There exists within the Distillery District a sanctuary so conspicuously underappreciated that it borders on the miraculous--a place that paradoxically announces its excellence through deliberate restraint, drawing a discerning few while the many pass unknowingly. Spirit of York Distillery is precisely such an establishment: a hidden gem not because it obscures itself, but because it permits only those with genuine appreciation to discover its treasures. Upon entering, one is transported to an earlier epoch--the speakeasy lounge aesthetic suffuses every corner with an intoxicating atmosphere of Prohibition-era elegance. The seating arrangements evoke intimate conversations conducted beneath the weight of historical resonance; the bar itself commands attention as a stage for ritualistic craftsmanship. Yet perhaps most mesmerizing is the large glass partition separating patron from machinery--a transparent threshold revealing the intricate dance of distillation itself. One watches spirits transform from raw material to refined essence, a metaphor rendered literal. The "Cocktail Jammiest Jam" arrived as a demonstration of precision: each ingredient orchestrated to achieve perfect equilibrium, neither demanding attention nor withdrawing into oblivion. It was, quite simply, perfection as executed. The Gin and Tonic transcended its humble categorization. What might elsewhere be dismissed as elementary proved itself exquisite in execution--the botanicals dancing in perfect proportion, the quinine providing architectural scaffolding rather than domination. More remarkably, one possesses agency here: the opportunity to compose your own gin and tonic according to personal preference transforms the experience from consumption into collaboration. Here emerges the essential truth of Spirit of York: the spirits themselves, while commendable, become secondary players in a production where theatrical excellence, bartending mastery, and service refinement command the stage. This is not a destination for spirits connoisseurs seeking to dissect distillation notes--though they would not be disappointed. Rather, it is a refuge for those seeking an experience that transcends the strictly gustatory: an atmosphere so carefully curated, bartenders so genuinely attentive, that the act of ordering a drink becomes secondary to the privilege of their counsel. Remarkably, despite its proximity to your residence and its undeniable merit, the establishment maintains a refreshing discretion in its clientele. Quieter than its reputation deserves, it functions as a personal sanctum--a venue perfectly suited to entertaining visiting friends, providing them entry to an experience they would otherwise overlook. The space even accommodates those seeking private events, serving as venue for occasions requiring sophistication. Spirit of York Distillery stands as testament to the proposition that true luxury often dwells in obscurity--not through inadequacy, but through an absence of self-promotion. This is where ambiance, expertise, and grace converge to form something rarer than any spirit: a genuine, unpretentious sanctuary in an increasingly performative world.

Wide variety of tasty spirits. Try them all. I did. Enjoyed them very much. I am already looking…read moreforward to my next trip to the Toronto area.

75% Vodka SkipTheDishes delivery open late and tastes…read moregreat. Several choices of Vodka 6 times distilled with Alkaline water

My husband and I love to visit distilleries in any new city that we go to and this was one of our…read morefavorites! We really enjoyed chatting with Greg and getting to know more about the history of the distillery, as well as learning more about Toronto. We would highly recommend this place to anyone!

Love this place! Great people making great spirits and cocktails in a beautiful space that's…read moreperfrct for evrnts too! Can't wait for my next visit there!

Signed up for a mixology class for some clients and had an incredible evening. Lots of laughter and…read morealso learned a lot of new skills. The drinks were all very tasty! The class being taught amongst the equipment really added to the ambiance of the class. Definitely worth checking out!

Went here for the cocktail class. I learned a lot, was able to practice several tricks and got…read moredrunk. The drinks were very well crafted and alcohol was very high quality. Specially the blue gin was spectacular. Would 100% do again. The class takes place in the place where they actually distill the gin which makes the experience more authentic

Woods Spirit Co. is a distillery located a ten minute walk away from Phibbs Exchange and just a…read moreblock away from Sons of Vancouver. In fact, Fabio, the owner, used to distill his product out of SOV before opening up the distillery in June. At the moment, Woods Spirit Co. produces gin and amaro, although they will soon launch a limoncello. Also opening up soon will be a tasting room and lounge, once all the red tape with the city is sorted out. I had the opportunity to visit Woods Spirit Co. tonight as part of a Yelp event (see my previous review for details), and I'm thrilled to have discovered this local distillery. I can't wait to come back once their lounge is open. I had the privilege of trying their products, and they were tasty! Another thing to note is their gender neutral washrooms were excellent. Clean, with all the necessities you need (such as a hook for your purse). The lights in the washrooms were activated by motion sensors, so environmentally friendly too! [Yelp collections: Wine Time!]

One of my favourite places for spirits in Vancouver (well technically North Vancouver). We got the…read moreSweet Surrender and the Oye Como Va. I am absolutely in love with the Sweet Surrender and the flavour notes of the Woods Amaro that we even got on to go. They also serve food and although we did not get any pasta, it smelled absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back to try more of their drink offerings!!

Stopped by this distillery while walking around the neighborhood, and my bf decided to do a…read moretasting. Cost for a tasting is $5 for three (free if you buy something). One of the owners walked us through the options and was very patient - bf loves to ask a million questions. The bottles are on the pricier end - from high $40s to high $60s. The official tasting room will open in a couple of months. For now you gotta do the tasting in a small area at the entrance.

Stopped by here a couple times and have grabbed a few of their releases. Their Harbour White Rum…read moreand their old cask strength version are both fantastic releases(please bring this cask strength version back). Their products are a bit pricey, but it's sort of expected from any Ontario Distiller given the unfavorable laws we have towards distilleries. They've offered a wide variety of products and hit the mark on whatever I tried. The only true downside to the experience of going there is there limited hours, however I'd rather go to a good distillery that was rarely open rather than a mediocre one that was open all the time.

Finally made it to this place and it didn't disappoint! Friendly and helpful staff, plus quality…read moreproducts. Stopped in during an open house and it was a busy place. It was great to be able to look around, ask questions and of course sample their amazing products. As a fan of their regular vodka, I was excited to try the flavoured options and sweet potato. The strawberry, blueberry lemon grass and peppermint vanilla were all very smooth and flavourful. The sweet potato vodka was excellent! I was also able to try the maple poitin that had a whisky like flavour. Overall, top shelf products that are local - does it get any better?! Definitely check out their distillery store or if you aren't local, pick up a bottle of any of their product. You won't be disappointed!

From the owner: A family run distillery, on the same land we have been farming for over a century. Distilling award…read morewinning potato vodka, sweet potato vodka & poitín.

Really nice sake spot on a cold holiday Toronto night. Definitely a memorable place even though I…read morewas only here for about 20 mins. Sipping that hot apple cider sake is still something I think about and it's been over about a month now. Was definitely a nice way to stay warm through that Toronto winter!!!

Stumbled upon this sake brewery while taking a break from walking, and it turned out to be a gem!…read moreThe staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, patiently explaining each sake in detail. I tried the Complete Tasting Flight, which included seven different kinds of sake -- from the unpasteurized and balanced Nama-Nama, the creamy and slightly sweet Nigori, to the bold and undiluted Genshu at 17.5%. Each one had its own unique character and depth of flavor, making the tasting both fun and educational. Prices are very reasonable considering the experience, and it's definitely a great spot to relax and enjoy authentic Japanese sake in Toronto. Highly recommend! 行到攰，無意中走入呢間清酒廠，竟然有得飲日本酒，真係一個驚喜！店員非常親切，仲詳細解釋每一款清酒嘅特色。我試咗 全套清酒品嚐 (Complete Tasting Flight)，一共有七款：包括口感均衡嘅 Nama-Nama、帶有淡淡甜味嘅 Nigori、仲有酒精度高達17.5%、濃烈又純粹嘅 Genshu。每一款酒都有自己獨特嘅風味，飲落去唔單止開心，仲好有教育性。價錢合理，以呢個體驗嚟講非常抵，係多倫多一個非常值得停落嚟歎返杯日本清酒嘅地方。強烈推薦！