By Nigel Maxwell

First of its kind micro-distillery planned for north of Prince Albert

Aug 13, 2020 | 12:38 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Prince Albert’s Drew Martin dreams of one day see his brand of spirit sold at a Roughriders’ game in Regina, or held by a festival goer at Ness Creek.

Martin, along with Brendan Miller, Lorelei Miller and Joel Perreault, are the four owners involved in plans for a new micro-distillery north of Prince Albert in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland. The company’s name Phantom Light Distillery was inspired by another popular spirit in the area.

“We wanted [the name] to be kind of local and I think everyone within one hundred miles of Prince Albert knows about the ghost light out in St. Louis,” Martin said, adding they almost set up shop out in St. Louis but ultimately decided their location in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland was a better fit.

“We feel like the location is just a cool location too. You think about all the people who go and enjoy the northern lakes, it’s like you have to go right by this spot,” he said.

The distillery is roughly 3800 sq. ft. and will be the only one of its kind within a 20 kilometre radius around Prince Albert. Martin said initial plans include a straight vodka and flavoured vodka, but down the line will include a rum, gin, as well as a numbered of canned products to compete with the flavoured soda waters.

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“We feel like we have a state of the art process as far as how we take our product to market. It comes out clearer tasting and it doesn’t have that bite at the end of it. It’s just a really good product,” he said, adding he feels their product can help put Prince Albert on the map.

At Monday’s RM of Buckland council meeting, council gave its blessing to the plan, but the group still requires a license from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority. Martin estimated they are about three months away from production status.

Looking forward Martin’s goal is to have their product sold nationally within five years, but explained for now he is focused on seeing the Phantom Light brand at a Roughriders game, or enjoyed by campers at Candle Lake during August long weekend.

“If I could have my brand of spirits be a part of the good times in Saskatchewan, it would be a dream for me,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell