A made-in-B.C. whisky was just named best in the world. Why isn’t it sold in government liquor stores?

By Shannon Paterson – CTV News

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is toasting some major wins on the international stage. It picked up 11 gold medals and five silver medals at the World Spirits Awards in Germany last Saturday. And its whisky took home the world prize for the whole gala.

“It’s like going to the Cannes Film Festival and taking best in show, you know, taking the top award there,” said Tyler Dyck, the CEO of the company, which has its main location in Vernon and another distillery in in Kelowna.

But its gold-medal-winning whisky isn’t available in government liquor stores. That’s because B.C. craft distilleries are treated differently than B.C. wineries, and Okanagan Spirits would actually lose money selling products there.