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Our History

THE STORY: THE GENESIS OF THE DREAM. Follow us on the fascinating adventure of creating the Distillerie des Cantons. Our dream took root in 2018, during an initiatory trip to Scotland, where the idea of producing the best whisky in the world was born. From land acquisition to the meticulous planning of organic barley and rye cultivation, every step of this bold project is guided by the passion and determination of Martin McNicoll, our founder, and his team. It's a story of perseverance, innovation, and love for the terroir of the Eastern Townships.

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A crazy mission: to bring back a barrel of whisky. The mission failed, but would lead to another idea: to create their own exceptional whisky, directly in the Eastern Townships.

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It was in the heart of the Eastern Townships that founder Martin McNicoll chose to establish a Quebec whisky distillery. Drawing on his family's passion for Scotch whisky, he decided to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure to produce a unique Canadian whisky.

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Our search for land with a good water source, which could accommodate grain cultivation and distillery operations, was successful, and we settled in Mansonville.

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We acquire farm equipment and begin working the land. We decide to use organic methods for our grain crops.

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Distillery Construction: We managed to close the main building structure before the first snow in December 2023, making it ready to receive the distillation equipment.

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All equipment is installed and operational, we produce our first barrels of whisky.

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Building the cellar and experimenting with our 'Rye' and our 'Canadian Bourbon'

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2026

Creation of our Scottish-inspired liqueurs.

2028

Release of our first whiskeys, and opening of our tasting center.

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To make the best whisky in the world.
Nothing less.

The manifesto
BRANDED

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As spirits enthusiasts, we believe in the virtues of sharing. Generous by nature, we aim to create encounters, events, and exceptional experiences in all circumstances.

The clan
MCNICOLL

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From the mist of the Highlands to the lands of the Eastern Townships, the McNicoll clan is weaving a new chapter, sowing its roots, faithful to our heritage and building a future for generations to come.

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RESOURCES

DIVE IN
OUR UNIVERSE

Discover all the behind-the-scenes stories of our adventure from the very beginning through our resources, a true center of exclusive information on the distillery, its history and whisky.

ACCESS AN EXCLUSIVE WORLD

JOIN THE CLAN

By joining our exclusive list, you'll enter the exclusive circle of Distillerie des Cantons. You'll receive the latest updates on the progress of our project, enjoy member-only content such as insights into the manufacturing process and behind-the-scenes at the distillery, and be the first to know about limited editions of our upcoming whiskies and spirits. You'll also have the opportunity to be invited to exclusive tastings to appreciate the evolution of our elixirs over the years.

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