Who would've thought that thawed peach juice would pair so nicely with our Vodkow Infused Cream?.. We did. Which is why we made this cocktail.

Hi Friends!  It's been a real trip since we opened the doors to the distillery in 2018.  We noticed a few things were missing when we opened so we took some time to double the production side of the distillery as demand for Vodkow products grew. We also turned the old office into the Vodkow Bar. The last thing missing in our last 4 years was a party!  So we're looking to fix that too! Join us Thursday September 22nd 4pm at the Dairy Distillery 34 Industrial Dr. Almonte Ontario.  And what's a party without the friends that we have developed in Almonte? We've invited our collaborators along to sweeten the deal.  Pura Vida will be serving, as usual, with a special Vodkow inspired menu item. We have been so fortunate to have developed such a strong relationship with Michelle and Justin of Pura Vida. They bring so much positive energy to the distillery and their tacos are delicious. Plus, their pup, Monte, has since been named the Distillery Dog, and we love her just as much! Tasha's Table, Small batch and preserved with love They are a small farm located in the Lanark Highlands bringing the best from their gardens to your table. Making a wide range of jams, jellies, pickles, hot sauce, soups, spices and more. Tasha and Brian are such a hard-working team and we just adore them. They always show up with smiling faces to hand deliver our orders with care, and have been a staple in our retail shop, and now in our bar as well. Fulton's Sugar Bush and Maple Shop This family has been tapping majestic sugar maples on their farm in Pakenham, since 1840. They are proud to nurture a strong connection to their forest, their customers and their community. Shirley Fulton (aka the Queen of Lanark) is the most sincere, genuine and generous person. With her infectious smile and laugh, she brightens our day upon every visit, along with her delicious maple treats she always comes bearing.  Hummingbird Chocolate Erica, Drew and their amazing team, are craft chocolate makers with an obsession for making the best chocolate ever, and they are doing just that! We are so fortunate to have these amazing people so close by and have developed such a wonderful partnership. Equator Coffee Roasters Equator Coffee Roasters was created to connect the coffee farmer to the coffee drinker. Craig and his awesome team are such a wonderful example of a small town success story with a positive impact. They are wonderful partners who we admire immensely. Almonte Butchershop and Deli Hunter, Chriss and their team have become a staple in town, with their fresh meats and delicious sandwiches and prepared meals. We are thrilled to now be offering their charcuterie boards at our bar as well.

What was once an office at the Dairy Distillery is now the Vodkow bar! We can all agree it's a much better use of the space.   The Vodkow Bar is open Wednesday thru Sunday from 12-7pm.   It's not just drinks at the bar, we've partnered with Pura Vida Food Truck to serve up tacos, smoothies and burgers on the patio.  Drop in on your road trip to Almonte and book a tour of the distillery, have lunch and hang out on the patio while you challenge your friends to our yard games.  Large groups and corporate events are welcome. We can accommodate groups up to 100, special food truck menu and cocktails available upon request.  Email Miranda@dairydistillery.com 

Summer Staff Needed Dairy Distillery is about to open a brand-new bar and tasting room! We are also looking to bring events to the distillery for the first time since we opened in 2018. Job description: We are looking for some amazing individuals to join our team. Responsibilities to include: Welcoming customers to the distillery. Offering an in-depth explanation of the process and how our products are made. Talk about and sell products at our retail shop. Run tours and tastings with groups of 2 to 50 people. Run the bar area, take orders, prepare beverages, maintain cleanliness of space at all times. Follow proper opening and closing procedures. Ensure every guest has a wonderful time visiting the distillery. Reporting to Experience Manager. The ideal candidate should possess: Smart Serve certified. Hospitality and retail background. (asset) Comfortable engaging with large groups of people. Team player, works well within a team atmosphere. Adaptable to change within a growing company. Fun, engaging personality. If this sounds like the right fit for you, please email: miranda@dairydistillery.com a resume and cover letter telling us who you are and why you would be a good fit for this role. Position is seasonal, with the potential of a permanent position. Rate of pay: $20/hr (plus tips).

Hey y’all, meet Vodkow’s business development director Alex.  Ottawa native, Alex moved to Toronto, where she ran a residential painting business for over a decade which then took her to pursue corporate accounts in the commercial hospitality sector. Meanwhile, Alex and her husband fell in love with the town of Almonte and decided to uproot themselves from Toronto to a charming property they now call home, raising two young boys with another little one on the way. What’s Your Favourite Book? Eat Pray Love is one I come back to often – each time with a different perspective and appreciation of life’s seasons. It brings me back to different chapters in my life where I came across or reinvigorated what I’m passionate about – preparing food, staying present with yourself and the healing affects of love in all its forms – especially self-care as a mom to young children. The book prompted me to embark on a spiritual journey while staying close to loved ones and passions that fill my cup -it really crystallized the importance of showing up authentically. What's your favourite cocktail? Currently, I am enjoying mocktails to cool me down on these hot days. With a great love of lavender - I enjoy extracting lavender buds for a refreshing lemonade!  When I am NOT pregnant, Dirty martini, extra olives. My go to party trick is soaking olives in our Vodkow bottle – the perfect infusion for crowd pleasing martinis and Caesars! What brought you to Vodkow? A series of very fortunate events. After deciding to move on from the hospitality sector within the paint industry – I took some time to re-evaluate what I’m passionate about. I’ve always dreamed of working in the beverage and spirits industry, so naturally witnessing Dairy Distillery’s growth and success in the community, I yearned to be a part of it. I was thrilled to discover a job opportunity pop up and thought it complimented my extensive B2B sales experience that, I truly visioned myself getting excited about all that this unique spirits company had to offer. Additionally, Dairy Distillery’s innovative thinking of repurposing lactose sugar to ethanol; created purpose for the company making sanitizer through the pandemic. It’s been so rewarding to see how we as a company have been able to pivot and support this need for hospitals and businesses in the Nations capital. I'm constantly learning and unlocking new opportunities to grow our reach in both verticals of spirits and sanitizer sales  at the Distillery, while enjoying every minute of it! If you were a fruit, what would you be and why? I would be a cherry – they’re sweet and decadent – just mind those pits! 

Hi y’all!  Meet Sujith Naveen. Sujith completed a Bachelors of technology in Dairy Science in India and worked in the United Arab Emirates as a Dairy technologist for 3 years prior coming to Canada. Sujith relocated to Canada to study distillation at Niagara College before joining Vodkow as Quality assurance for Dairy Distillery.  A hometown shoutout to the temple town in the land of coconut and spices, Kerala, a southern state of India. What’s your favourite book? My favourite book is the autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India and a well know space scientist in India. One of the quote which has helped me achieving my aims would be "You have to dream before your dreams come true" and coming to Canada was a dream too. What’s your favourite cocktail? I like all types of cocktails but the cocktail I would like to drink most is something sweet, spicy and salty; made with our Vodkow, lime, ginger juice, simple sugar and little salt topped up with carbonated water finished with a slice of green chilli (hot chillies preferred). I like to call it a "Ginjja".  If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be and why? I would be a coconut because I use it everyday in my life in different forms from food to cosmetics. Coconut and it's tree itself is used for various purposes and I believe that I have been useful for different people in different ways similar to coconut.

Hi y’all! Meet Miranda Ashby. Raised in Ottawa, Miranda has built immersive experiences in Australia and Toronto. Known around the distillery as MA, Miranda is transforming the Almonte Dairy Distillery location into a cocktail patio and event space.  What is your favourite book?  My favourite book would have to be My Sister is My Favourite by, well, um, me! Haha. I love reading children's books to my two daughters, it has actually become a passion of mine and a great way to unwind and share cuddles. I was inspired to write my own children's books during my second maternity leave and self-published this one as my first.  What is your favourite cocktail? Favourite cocktail, hands down would be a Caesar. It’s one of the few cocktails that are perfectly acceptable to order during brunch, and can basically be an appetizer with all the added garnishes. (Especially Tasha’s Table carrots, yum!) What brought you to Vodkow?  When my family first moved to Almonte, I was just about to begin my second maternity leave. My husband would often tell me that I should work at the Distillery when I go back to work - because it’s the coolest place in town. Well, I hate to say it, but he was right! The distillery is such a wonderful place to work, and the team has welcomed me with open arms. I feel very lucky to be a part of this little family! If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?  If I were a fruit, I would probably be a watermelon. Mainly sweet and best enjoyed on the back deck on a sunny day…but can be a little annoying with all those little seeds...haha. 

Hi y’all!  Meet Matt Bruder, the pride of Hamilton Ontario, community football coach and former offensive line for the University of Ottawa Gee Gees football. Matt joined Vodkow in September 2020 and learned his way to the distilling team.  What is your favourite book?  My favourite book is The Sound of Thunder by Wilbur Smith. He was my grandfather's favourite author and many of his books that I own were passed down to me by him.  What is your favourite cocktail?  My favourite cocktail is a Negroni. I became a distiller because of my bartending background. I have always enjoyed making drinks that people like and working at a distillery was a natural progression to that when the pandemic shut down my previous work.  If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?  If I were a fruit I would be an apple because they can be enjoyed in multiple ways (fresh, baked, juiced) and this versatility is what I strive to bring to all situations. Really, it's because I'm a basic fall lover. 

Hi y'all meet Kate Goffin. Kate joined team Vodkow in August 2019 on the bottling line and learned her way up to the distilling team.  What is your favourite book?  My favourite book is Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. I love dystopian stories and as a young woman this one resonated with me. It is the only book that I have read multiple times and it honestly gets better with age.     What is your favourite cocktail?  My favourite cocktail changes with the season. In the fall/ winter I prefer a whisky based cocktail such as A Walk in the Woods. With a fresh apple cider base and smokey whiskey it’s the perfect cold weather cocktail. As summer rolls around I tend to crave a margarita with fresh lime juice, tequila and cointreau. It makes me feel like I’m in Mexico.   How did you become a distiller?   Several years ago, my husband and I drove to Nashville. Along the way we stopped in Kentucky to call in on a few bourbon distilleries. At that time I had never tried bourbon. With one taste I was hooked! The first distiller we talked to was incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable and had a huge personality. He was so passionate about his product that it ignited a passion in me. Needless to say we ended up including many more distilleries in our trip. Each one was different and had their own story. After our vacation I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to work in a distillery. I started looking at distilleries in Ottawa and came across Dairy Distillery. The story of taking an unused dairy byproduct and turning it into vodka is fascinating and the distillery itself is gorgeous. I sent my resume into Dairy Distillery and hoped for the best. I’m incredibly thankful that they decided to take a chance on me.    If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be?  What kind of fruit am I? Ok, this one was the hardest question. I’m going to say that I am most like a grape. I’m quiet, unassuming and sort of sweet. However, with time I’m turning into something new; a lovely complex and finely aged wine. 

Four years ago, we were picking up 10 liter pails of milk permeate from the Lactalis dairy in Winchester for our experiments at the University of Ottawa. It was a hassle for the plant staff since their machinery was made to pump thousands of liters. When we opened our distillery in 2018, we started receiving 3,000L of permeate a week. Once again, the small volume was a problem since milk transport trucks carry 32,000L. A year later, we increased our fermentation capacity by 5X and started taking in 15,000L of permeate a week. Today, we’re excited to install a 35,000L milk permeate storage tank. Custom built for us in Montreal, this stainless steel tank will allow us to receive full truck loads of permeate.  Once our expansion is complete this summer, we’ll be processing 2.8 million liters of milk permeate a year that would otherwise be dumped in digesters. That’s enough alcohol to make 600,000 bottles of Vodkow or 270,000 liters of hand sanitizer.  We've come a long way!