The Distillery Historic District

I visited the Distillery Winter Village recently, and it’s honestly one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit! The whole place feels magical with all the lights, decorations, and festive vibes. What I really enjoyed: • The ambiance is amazing—historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and everything lit up like a winter wonderland. It’s so cozy and perfect for photos. • The food and drinks were a highlight. I tried the mulled wine (so good!) and some holiday treats. There’s also plenty of hot chocolate and other warm drinks if that’s more your thing. • The little shops and stalls are great if you’re looking for unique gifts or handmade items. It’s like a mini European Christmas market. Things to keep in mind: It does get busy, especially on weekends, so try to go on a weekday or earlier in the evening if you can. Overall, it’s such a fun experience, whether you’re out with friends, family, or even just wandering around on your own. Definitely worth checking out if you want to feel like you’re walking through a holiday movie set!

Really nice place to go year round, but especially beautiful during the holidays with the market. All the decorations, small shows and variety of food make it a place people in your group will enjoy going, whether your looking for something to eat or buying gifts for family. It can get very crowded late at night so I recommend going before 4pm, while you still have free entry.

When we arrived, it was around 10:30 in the morning, and there weren’t many people. Parking was convenient in the underground garage here, at about $2.50 for half an hour. I even came back to pay for additional parking time later. I’ve worked on upgrading and transforming cultural industries, turning old factory sites into nostalgic attractions. These spaces are revitalized, bringing new life to old places and creating timeless memories for people. So far, the transformation of old factories in Germany and New York’s High Line Park have been the most inspiring examples to me. Here, from a design perspective, it’s quite well done. The architecture is organically integrated, with a nice balance between separation and connection. The sense of scale is also very well considered. I’m not familiar with how the brewery originally looked, but the way beer culture is expressed here feels quite understated. There’s little evidence of the brewery’s history. I heard there’s a light show in the evening, which is a great idea. That’s why they charge an entry fee at night. Christmas is coming, and the shops are filled with Christmas-themed merchandise. The commercial operation feels a bit monotonous, but as long as it makes money, everyone benefits.

We had a lovely walk around the the distillery district. There were so many cool little shops and lots of different art to check out. We also stopped into Mill St for a beer and enjoyed watching the snow fall outside.

Came here for NYE to feel that Christmas vibe. They had drink stations to order holiday inspired beverages, vendors selling unique merchandise and lovely setups for photos. This place always has a great atmosphere and stores and restaurants to go to. There’s something about walking down the stone walkways that gives you a classic city feel. Definitely check this place out for a must-see spot in TO

The festive atmosphere is simply enchanting, with beautifully decorated streets and a vibrant holiday market. I highly recommend purchasing tickets online if you're planning to visit on weekends after 4 pm, as it tends to get quite busy. Overall, you'll enjoy the visit and create some wonderful memories here!

This is my second year coming to this Distillery. If you want to avoid line ups come before 4 pm so you are not paying for a $15 entrance fee. The shops in here are trendy unique very different forms of art. There are many choices for food, vendors with sausages, poutines, sweets, plenty eatery’s inside, restaurants. There are warming areas to sit to have hot chocolate or even an alcoholic beverage. If you are looking for unique gifts this is the place to come and check out! I highly recommend you look around to make the right choice, there are many shops so do look around for things prices vary everywhere. The shops are just all unique. The Dior Christmas tree is just beautiful and such a picturesque photo! There are many places throughout to capture beautiful photos of yourself or with the family!

A popular spot recommended by locals! Unfortunately, the Christmas tree wasn’t lit when I visited, but I’m sure it would be stunning when it is. 🎄 I suggest spending more time here to stroll through the crowd and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. ❤️ They offer paid photo services, unique shops, and super cool warming fire pits that both kids and adults will love! 🤣 Definitely worth a visit! A message from a visitor from Taiwan.🇹🇼

Pretty cool place to visit if you like gin. They have many different types of gins and you can get flights of their different gins or gins and tonics or just order them by the glass. Really laid back vibes in there and it's a nice place to just relax and hang out and drink some tasty gin. Servers were nice and friendly and really know what they're selling and serving. Our server took the order for our group of 5 people and didn't write anything down and amazingly got the order right, even with all of the different flavors we ordered. That was pretty impressive, in my opinion. Didn't try any food, so can't really comment on that. My buddies all enjoyed their drinks and they also sell some gin for around $40 I think, so that's a pretty good deal.

Always love it here. Located in the Distillery District which is a scene in and off itself. Spirit of York is now a staple along the cobblestone. The drinks are elevated to a level beyond most other bars. The staff is always welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. The re-model opened up the room to allow easier socializing (as much as I miss the center bar with beautiful hanging plants). To me this place can do no wrong. I go every time I'm in Toronto.

Being from the west coast of the states, it's not every day I can hit up a Toronto distillery. I was really looking forward to claiming a bottle of their whisky for my collection. I had no idea the LCBO is on strike, and because of that, they were out of whisky. I did manage to snag a bottle of Citruscello. Their glass bottles are amazing! While I was there I helped myself to some Southern sliders and a Coca Loca. Both were perfect. The space is beautiful with amazing details. Outside had a fun vibe, as well. Can't wait to come back someday!

We came in on a Friday at 4:30. The restaurant wasn't too busy but for tasting we were able to go right up to the bar. After we were ignored for a few minutes, the bartender asked us what we wanted. We ordered two tasting flights and the gin and tonic flight. The pours on the liquor flights were a nice size. The gin tastings were wonderful....an Indian flavor, Mediterranean with orange and a pink gin.....the favorite? The drink with the pink gin. Very flavorful with strong strawberry flavors. Sitting at the bar was entertaining as we could watch the bartenders making the drinks for the whole restaurant. Otherwise it was just a "normal" bar experience with the bartenders busy working and "ignoring" customers actually sitting at the bar. Loved the drinks but once our bartender began interacting with us, we had an amazing experience. Will definitely come again just for the GnT's

I visited the Spirit of York distillery for a quick drink and a snack. The liquor tasting was fairly enjoyable, and my friend liked the seltzers he had. Unfortunately, the Korean BBQ wings were a disappointment--lacking flavor and not that great overall. On the plus side, the distillery had a lively atmosphere and looked nice aesthetically. Service was good to. I'd come back to try more dishes and drinks since others seemed to be having a good time.

If you are in the Distillery District you have to stop by the Spirit of York and I believe they are the only active distillery in the area as well We walked in and wow they really put a lot into this place. It is very nice. Our waitress quickly brought us over water as well. Even their glasses and bottles were also extremely nice. Would waitress was very helpful and answered all the questions we had and trust me we had way too many. I ended up ordering something I never order... a French 75. I don't even like gin. Our drinks came out and my French 75 was great, very refreshing. If you are in the area you have to check out Spirit of York, plus they even sell their alcohol their too so whatever you are drinking and you like it you can then just grab the bottle there.

Great distillery in the distillery quarter! Huge place inside and out. Perfect sunny day called for outdoor seating. Service was kinda slack honestly. But the place was nice so we were fine just being there people watching. I ordered a G&T with the fitch and Leeds grapefruit tonic. Perfect refreshing drink! Loved the pink color! My friend had a brut and loved her dry bubbly. They have a nice snacks food menu. Slightly elevated bar food. From other tables it looked great. We didn't eat here though. It is a great people watching spot as it's in the main distillery drag. Great place to visit while in Toronto! They do tours as well. Or you can just drink !

At Spirit of York Distillery, don't miss out on the Orange You Glad--a standout among their exceptional spirits. This tantalizing concoction embodies the perfect balance of citrusy zest and smooth sophistication, making it a must-try for any cocktail enthusiast.

Came for a tasting flight and a snack midday, so the space was very empty and we got to enjoy the beautiful decore to ourselves. We got a tasting flight and I liked trying the more interesting alcohol choices like the Citruscello and the Aquavit. For food, we got the japanese fries which was a small bowl of pale fries with mayo, ketchup, furikake and some seaweed. It was okay but nothing memorable. In all, the space is beautiful but the food was okay and the drinks were the same.

A must try spot in the distillery district. At Spirit of York, they are distilling their own spirits in a beautiful tasting room. The place is truly gorgeous with great lighting and comfortable seating options. We got a seat at the bar which is always a fun way to watch the bartenders work their magic. We were greeted by a super pleasant bartender who made our drinks and provided us some Toronto recs for the rest of our trip. The drinks were delicious. Husband enjoyed an old fashion while I got the pear drink but with vodka instead. If you wanted to go off menu, they were happy to make what you'd like! They also had some good looking food we didn't try. Great experience!

This is a lovely place, with big open seating and lots of character. The entire back wall is glass, showcasing the distilling equipment. Our server was sweet. She even pulled up a picture on her phone to show me how the bar was formerly set up. My husband had raved about their pink gin when he visited, so I had to try it for myself. It did not disappoint. In fact, it was so good that I bought a bottle to share with my sister-in-law during our visit. You can tell that they really care about their product. Check it out!

Drinks were amazing. Love the variety and attention to detail. Beautiful space. Got a light bite to eat.

Cute distillery at the Winter Village. Staff was beyond friendly. I can't imagine how they feel with the crowds, but they were so friendly and nice. Enjoyed the ambiance with the Guardians of the Galaxy playing behind the bar and then Home Alone: Lost in New York. It was great. Especially enjoyed the Christmas themed cocktails on the menu. I had the Gregory spirit which is a version of an expresso martini but with gingerbread. It was great. My husband had the cosmo which he enjoyed so much he ordered another. I asked for a cocktail with their cranberry spirit which surprisingly had to be crafted as their holiday beverages didn't include it. What they came up with was ginger ale cranberry and the cranberry vodka and it was great. The splash tasting were also great. The spirit of York was very smooth. If I only knew the customs laws, I would have purchased one to bring home. A definite must stop when in Toronto if you like exploring unique cocktails and distilleries.

A very lovely and charming little spot! They serve gorgeous cocktails and drinks. The interior is stunning, and their glass bottles really add to the ambiance! Staff is great as well! I highly recommend this place, especially for intimate and romantic dates

Headed to the Distillery District this weekend and stopped at Spirit of York Distillery to do some tastings. First thing we did was take a self-guided tour. Quite interesting, especially the videos you can access with scanning QR codes. Then we sat down to do tastings of their spirits. We were helped by Jen, and she was fantastic. She spent a lot of time talking us through their offerings and just making sure we had a good experience. They offer 3-spirit tastings for $12.50 each, and it's easy for two people to each share that single tasting, which makes it possible to sample pretty close to their entire catalog with two people who can manage 2-3 shots of alcohol without mixers. (Drink lots of water between samples!) So, of course, that's what we did. Two vodkas, many gins, a whisky, an aquavit, a genever, and at least one liqueur made for a very interesting collection of things to sample. I can't say I loved them all, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an hour or two, and we did pick up two bottles as well as some bitters. Unfortunately for us, our favorite thing was a chili infused gin that we loved, but they aren't selling yet. So if you come for a visit, see if it's available yet because it was a big winner IMHO. Overall a great time learning and tasting. I totally recommend you check this place out.

What a beautiful space! While walking around the Distillery district it started to rain and we were looking for a place to have a drink or two so in comes the spirit of York. Walking in is pretty amazing as you walk right into the bar which is then surrounded by the distillery encased in glass. Its perfect to walk through and see the distilling process then have a bit of learning at the end. I opted for a tasting flight and walked out with a bottle of Geniver.

We came here after dinner for some nightcaps. It was pretty dead for a Saturday night, which we loved because we had a whole couch to ourselves to play some of the fun board games they have. The barmaid was a true mixologist who made some 10/10 drinks. We are actually whiskey drinkers, which they did not have (Sept 2022) although they do say they get whiskey on and off. However, they made us love their liquors that night with what they whipped up for us! Our server was super friendly checking in on us if we needed anything. Prices were fair here as well.

It's meh at best. The amount they charge is ridiculous for what they offer. Their food is mediocre and I expected more from their cocktails, considering they are a distillery. The service is where they lack the most, however. Our waitress was inattentive and on her phone (Erin). I wouldn't go back, and I recommend spending your money elsewhere - there are much better choices around there.

A beautiful, rustic place with INCREDIBLE drinks and TERRIBLY SLOW service. If I were going off of the drinks alone, this review would be 5 stars, but the fact that I had to wait over an hour to get my drinks and 20 minutes to even put in the order was ridiculous and why I wanted to give 2 stars (I added another star cause the waitress gave us a sample of their gin for taking a while to give us the bill). Our waitress was kind but there were probably only 5 tables of people there at the same time and other tables that arrived after my group got their drinks way before us which was also quite frustrating. Regardless the drinks were GREAT but I cannot say I will be back any time soon.

This spot is a VIBE. The decor inside is beautiful, and there are both lounge-type and standard bar/restaurant seating options. My friend and I definitely opted for the lounge area, which happened to be right next to a bookshelf with a bunch of books about cocktails. Speaking of, the menu was full of them! There were also flight options, which were later clarified to us to just be for spirits, not actual cocktail samples. So, we opted for cocktails and WOW, their spirits are indeed high quality! They had elderflower gins for one, one of my top favorites. I forgot the name of my drink but it was so delicious. And while my friend and I drank, we played Jenga! They had quite a few games we could play. And we had great conversation with the person taking care of us all the while! As I said, it was a VIBE. I'd come back to try more, and hopefully even get creative!

Neat drink spot in the Distillery District, where you can learn about the process of making spirits and sip drinks championing them. Staff are fine going off-menu if you don't see what you're looking for, and they can answer questions you may have about the less common liquors and flavors. I loved this place's ambience (music and lighting) which elevated the experience of grabbing drinks.

SOOOO happy to have Lexi back at Spirit! A fabulous spot, made better by the wonderful staff.

Finally a real Distillery in the Distillery District! I stopped by Spirit of York Distillery every time when I am in the area. Love the beautiful converted space. Classy and mystery! Love the tasting area with all the greenhouse plants which is part of the ingredients that used in the process. Flight is the way to go if this is the first time you are here. I don't usually drink my vodka or gin straight but having the flight really give you the taste of the floral and herbal elements in their spirits. The price is a little steep for their products but I do love their concept and packaging. Worth checking out if you are in the Distillery District even if you are a non drinker.

Yes...yes..and yes! So glad I ran across this distillery while exploring the Distillery Distinct (Duh!). I was not expecting a modern, yet hip vibe when walking in as the facade really makes you think you are going to walk into a worn down building. Extremely inviting inside, with a ton of informational items all around. You can really do your "own" tour as placards all around explain the thorough and in depth process that goes into making many of the distilled products offered. There are also a lot of sensory explorations, giving you an idea where and why flavors pop in certain spirits. Of course the main attraction is the bar, a flora flaunting masterpiece. As with most distilleries I have ever been to, its usually a choice of cocktails or tastings. I opted for the tasting, which included a taste of three spirits that they offer. I was offered a choice between; Vodka, Gin, Aquavit, and a Hawthorn Gin. Of course I always go with strange or oddball choices, so double Gin and Aquavit. I was pleasantly surprised by all and really pulled towards the Hawthorn Gin, reminded me a tad of Sloeberry Gin. I will say a couple next to me while tasting were getting cocktails..and I feel ashamed I did not give them a go as they looked delicious (And was told they were too). I guess this gives me another reason to return in the future!

If you don't like gin, this place will help you change your mind. The ambiance is also great for a date night or casual drinks with a group of friends. I would recommend trying the gin flight before asking for any cocktails.

I had hoped to plan a tour and tasting with Spirit of York for my trip to Toronto. However, it seems as though this place is intent on discriminating against me for no valid reason. I had originally called them on June 16th in order to make a booking for a tour and tasting. I was told over the phone that I needed to send in a request via email, which I did on the same day. I did receive a reply back from Simon who had asked some follow up questions that I replied to the same day. I didn't hear anything back, so I waited a couple of days and sent another email in order to follow up so that I could get booked for a tour and tasting. Unfortunately, Simon decided not to follow up with me. As of the posting of this review, I have received no reply via email from Simon or anyone else at Spirit of York. I then decided to wait a few more days before calling them on the 23rd of June. I spoke to a representative who stated that I would be called back because Simon was in a meeting. Nobody took my information because I was told that they had it on file. I did not receive a call back from anyone at Spirit of York for a couple of days and made another call to them on the 25th of June. I received the same reply and confirmed my details with them. As of the posting of this review, nobody has reached out to me. I really wanted to make this tour a centerpiece of my trip; I am very interested in small, local distilleries so I make it a point to visit at least one every time I go on vacation and then make purchases in order to show my appreciation. However, the service from Simon and the rest of the team this far has been terrible and it has only left me wondering why everyone at Spirit of York has decided to ignore me entirely. I've never been there before, so I can only think that it had to do with me being an immigrant and not being Canadian. I would hope that I am not being discriminated against, but I can't shake the feeling that this is the case. My hope is that they change the way they interact with customers and that other people who aren't Canadian do not suffer the same fate as I did. Until then, I do not feel comfortable supporting a business that refuses to treat its customers with kindness.

This place is fabulous. The interior is so chic. We stopped in after visiting the Christmas shops and were not disappointed. I am not a whiskey drinker, so I appreciated the variety of cocktails and liquor options for flights. Our server was also very helpful making recommendations! We each opted for a flight and sat in chatted for a while. I didn't feel rushed one bit even though it was getting crowded throughout the afternoon. Highly recommend if you're looking to change it up from your tradition drink spot!

Food was good but not served hot: drinks were great! Service was TERRIBLE! They took forever to serve us, never checked in on us & changed our server with no notice. Truly a shame - it ruined the experience.

We had an amazing time visiting this Distillery. The spirits here were all so delicious and I wish we had enough luggage space to take a bunch home with us! It is located in the very beautiful Distillery Historic District, so very fitting. Definitely recommend checking this place out! The decor and the seating areas are absolutely gorgeous too.

This is just somewhere we stopped in for refreshments since it was raining. I've been here before but never wrote a review until now. First of all, this is a real working distillery, producing mostly vodka and gin. The drinks offered on the menu are made with booze produced right here. The place is attractively decorated and feels warm and inviting. The bar is in the center of the place, with tables and displays surrounding it. There are also clear views into the distillery. Interesting. My friend and I tried a couple of cocktails. Unfortunately, my poor memory isn't allowing me to remember the names of them but they were good, very good. I'll edit this post if/when I remember...

This place is sexy! The staff was helpful and cool. My partner and I shared a fight sample and is was affordable. The two of us shared the flight of three spirits which was only $10. After tasting we each had a favorite- the hawthorn berry gin was delicious! The ladies behind the bar were great, we decided to stay a while and enjoy drinks made by the mixologist. Of course, the drinks were wonderful. The Distillery District is beautiful with cool energy and a lot to see. If you're in this area you should definitely stop in and state the hawthorn berry gin, we purchased a whole bottle to bring home to the states.

What a beautiful space! From the three layered grow ring above the bar to the exposed industrial elements to the well worn wood floors, this place is absolutely gorgeous. Part steam punk, part industrial, part hyper modern--you have to see it to really appreciate it. We did a sampler of their alcohols. We chose the vodka, the aqua vit, and the whisky. Then we hung around for a few of their fantastic cocktails. The Corpse Reviver#2 was decadent and the Cosmo was spot-on. Lovely bartenders who handled the crowd well.

Based on our experience a few years ago, we liked the interior ambience, decor and distillery equipment. My husband enjoyed the spirit tasting and the whisky, which we purchased to bring home. We just went on a Thursday in August, and the distillery was not open at 11 am per Yelp, and it was not open at 12 pm per Google or their website, but eventually after lunch we stopped by once again and it was finally open. But they did not have whiskeys until November and only had gin. So all in all some disappointed prospective customers here who were somewhat frustrated by the experience of trying to buy some whiskey.

I have finally get to visit this distillery during my Christmas Market trip. I fell in love with the one of a kind bottle design when I first saw it. Yes, I wanted to come check out this place because of their beautiful packaging. The place is just gorgeous. Stunning decoration indeed. I especially love the ceiling lightings made of all their beautiful bottles. How smart an idea! We had tried some tasting on their Vodka and Gin. Their spirits are of equally amazing as their packaging. We bought the Hawthorn Berry Gin which is absolutely smooth and different than regular white gin. They do not offer tasting of their whiskey, so we spent $10 for a hot whiskey festive cocktail to try instead. A bit pricey but it was good. So far so proud to have this amazing Canadian distillery in Toronto!!

Spirit of York Distillery truly has a beautiful space. I mean if you are in the distillery district you have to try a distillery.. right?! I was extremely tempted to try a flight of the liquors that they offer but instead we both went with a gin and tonic. You can pair the spirit of york gin with a ton of different tonics, we tried the aromatic and elderflower. They were both refreshing on the hot day that we visited.

This place is pricey! But the mixologist are so talented! All you received was positive vibes as soon as you walked through the door. Not only by staff but other fellow customers. I ordered their Moscow mule which was so delicious with the perfect amount of ginger beer and a nice hint of lime. Their vodka was so smooth, it made drinking a Moscow mule dangerous! My husband got their old fashion and said that these ladies really knew their stuff! It gets pretty busy and packed every couple of minutes. Which is truly understandable, considering it's in a tourist area. So there's plenty of people who come in to look at the amazing decorations, go to the distillery tour, buy some gear to bring home, or just to buy a drink and hang out on the couch with friends. The atmosphere is so relaxing that my cousins, friends, and I stayed there for a couple of hours on the couch drinking. (Responsibly of course) Their decorations are seriously so cool to look at! If you get a chance to come in here, look up! Their light fixtures are definitely very creative!

This place is absolutely beautiful! As a designer I am thoroughly impressed with the aesthetic. It simple, yet industrial and modern. We stayed a while because: 1) in April it was still chilly and it was raining 2) the already stated beauty of the space, and 3) the staff was so lovely and pleasant. Everyone was knowledgeable and helpful. We had flights first to try the product. I'm not a gin or vodka (although less offensive than the former) girl but when in Rome. I subbed the gin for a special spirit they had called Akvavit (aquavit); it's Scandinavian and none of us had heard of it but all of us loved it! I also really enjoyed the whiskey. We ordered cocktails and chatted among ourselves, other guests and the bartenders. It was so inviting and I would definitely return!

I think this place needs to be rated on two levels i.e. the space itself and the products they sell. I recall this spot being occupied by a humongous clothing store (with hardly any traffic) so this place is a welcome relief for starters as why would one need another clothing store for an area known as distillery. The space is setup very nicely and lends to the ambiance of the space. One can walk around and peak into what goes into the whole process. Nice center bar area which is inviting and good for tasting. 5 Stars Now for the product itself hmm I am not a big fan of spirits anymore and enjoy beer/wines a lot more. I have tried enough whiskey/vodka to form an opinion. Gin is a product I seldom try. I have tried all their products aquavit (not a fan), vodka (below average IMO), whiskey (poor) and the sole standout IMO gin. Out of all these products gin is the only item I can justify shelling out the the asking price. The whiskey is sub par and I enjoy a good whiskey now and then so have a good reference point. Vodka is ho hum and aquavit being an acquired taste also didn't do it for me. 3 stars for the products but I strongly suggest one visit this place for tasting to form a better opinion or just admire the space for what it is.

Bar and self-guided tour of the distillery process of their gin, vodka and rye whiskey. You can buy bottles and branded glasses to go or sit at the bar and enjoy some drinks. Tried a Moscow Mule with their Vodka and it was refreshing and strong enough to get me light-headed. My bf got the flight and was glad he tried them before buying because he decided against spending $60C on a bottle of their whiskey. The bottles are pretty and the atmosphere is laid back. It is in a touristy area but the prices are fair. Overall, glad we took a break from walking to enjoy a drink here.

Come visit the first functioning distillery at this once heralded location in decades. The excellent self guided tour does a great job of walking you through what is one of mankind's greatest discovery's- distillation. Find your own favorite spirit all made from pure Canadian black rye. Whether it's the three year old whiskey, the excellent aquavit, craft vodka, character rich gin or my favorite: the soon to be released organically grown Red Fife Wheat vodka this distillery has something for everyone. Ask for Kirsten - I'm certain she knows more about distilled spirits than 99.9% of the world's mixologists.

I all I have to say is WOW! This space is beautiful. I am not a Gin drinker but the Hawthorne Berry Gin is impeccable. After a flight of the distilleries offerings, we ordered two cocktails, one was made with Earl Grey and the Hawthorne Berru Gin, WOW!

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would! The service was great. Our bartender Megan and the other (whose name I can't remember right now & I am truly sorry), were very attentive and great. It was a great experience on that alone. We were able to do the tasting which Megan was very knowledgeable about a variety or rums, whiskeys and vodkas. They were so friendly, Megan recommenced her favorite restaurant to us, which I wrote a review for also as it was great! Joey's.

Just what your're looking for in the Historic DISTILLERY District! Friend and I were in Toronto from the states and excited to be in the "Historic Distillery District" for... ya know... GOOD SPIRITS. After touristingly bumbling through average bars we landed at Spirit of York and BLESS US. Bar staff was SUPER informative and friendly and (gave some free samples). The flight was nearly the best trio of spirits I've had: vodka gin and aquavit (aquavit is the penultimate millennial spirit-eat it old people) and we stayed way longer than we intended and busted our trip itinerary.

It's been about a year and a half that I spent an entire day with one of the most prolific Yelpers (Jennifer K). Our 2nd last stop of a crawl day which started with a late lunch was a new place in the renowned Distillery District of Toronto called the Spirit of York Distillery. Now while you have Mill Street Brewery on the east side of the district that is beer. What does the Spirit of York bring to the Distillery District? They just made the place live up to its name literally. Was this footprint Lileo at one point? I go so rarely to the double D that I can hardly remember. I remember Lileo being absolutely huge inside but it was around the main Mill Street entrance... regardless this footprint is absolutely mind boggling. It's not just a backroom where booze is produced, sorry. To call this business a booze making place is like calling the Met an art place. It would be kind of an egregious understatement. I couldn't help but be completely impressed with the layout and design of this establishment. Entering the front door felt like I was entering a lab, a first class lounge, a bar, a museum and an apothecary all at once. This place is so different and what I wouldn't expect in going to visit a distillery. The bar is multiple sided in shape, octagon or decagon, I was too distracted to count the sides. We sat at the bar and Jennifer had asked for the flight sample. The sample included tastings of 3 spirits of vodka, gin and akvavit for only 10 dollars. The server was kind enough to take the time to explain what it is they do there which is produce and what each spirit was like and how it may be different than what we were used to. This place sort of blew me away so if anything I say is inaccurate it's because I was not prepared to absorb so much sensory overload at once. The ingredients as much as possible are local and the processing is right there in front of you within visual sight. The vodka base (if I recall correctly... because I've had a few before showing up here) was rye based. I felt it was very clean and this is coming from somebody that doesn't drink vodka very often unless they are mixed like in Caesars. This is however the kind of spirit you do not mix because it's too special to do that in my opinion. The gin tasted so different from what I was expecting because if you're like me and used to Beefeater or Tanqueray, this ain't that. It was very complex and as explained to us a milder use of juniper but it was all over the place in flavor. So tasty and so different... and myself not being an experienced judge of such things I found it to be amazingly refreshing as it was just on so many levels a change and a contrast from the vodka. The akvavit which is a Scandinavian spirit primarily made from caraway seed was a completely new experience. While I can say I've had vodka and gin before I can't say I've ever tried akavit until now. I found it rather spicy at the finish and again a whole new experience but a pretty strong contrast to the other two before. All 3 are clear like water but each with their own personalities. While the Spirit of York is a relatively new establishment I can see how this place effectively legitimizes the Distillery District both by name and by representation. These "craft" spirits produced here are special and while I didn't purchase a bottle this time around (I was afraid to ask) I was guestimating at 60 to later discover they're about 50. These would make absolute special unique gifts for my friends and family who would truly appreciate such a thing and I have a few of those. Now, since I was given the privilege of being able to write the very first Yelp review for The Spirit of York granted to me by the most prolific Yelper I know personally, I had to take it. I mean sure she could have easily written the review in her sleep and be first but she "let" me do that so I'm sort of honored to be able to do so.

I love distilleries. Seriously. Some of these small batch distilleries are making spirits that are way better than what you're buying at big box booze stores and liquor stores. First, this is a cool space. There's a "tour" set up (it's self guided) where you can taste the water they use to make the wonderful gin and vodka they have here. You can also see the grains and the botanicals they use to make their product. They make gin, vodka, and aquavit here. I'm not a big vodka fan, but this was pretty good. It definitely doesn't give you that harsh after burn like most big name brands. My favorite was the gin so, of course, we picked up a bottle to go. It was a lighter flavor and perfect for gin & tonics. Definitely stop in and give this place a try, then stop buying big name gin because theirs is better anyway.

Delicious drinks. Drank this at the Christmas Market in Toronto. Tastes like the holidays!!

Simon Ho was sarcastic about giving free hand sanitizer to seniors during the pandemic.

The most authentic, stylish, and passionate bar I have ever been to. Service was excellent and drinks are tasty. Sit at the bar to watch the bartenders craft each cocktail in an elegant and tasteful manner. I tried their two gin and tonics and was blown away by their deeply detailed flavors. They also have a mini store with their housemade gins, vodkas, syrups and more. A must stop!

Purchased the gin bottle from the lcbo which was accompanied with a free guided tour of the distillery. Was in absolute amazement when entering the distillery. Fantastic ambience and great location to have a couple of drinks. Sampled the flight of different types of alcohol created there...hands down the gin was absolutely delicious. Great hints of orange and lemon and very smooth taste. The tour was very unique and fascinating to see the various steps in making their products. Very passionate and knowledgeable staff to explain all the various steps in the process.