Great Taste of Canada gift guide features Ajax distillery

Durham Region’s first craft distillery is featured in the Great Taste of Canada Holiday 2024 Gift Guide.

Durham Distillery, born in the former Pickering Village Fire Hall in late 2021, is showcased along with five other spirits producers across Canada in the holiday guide, produced by the Culinary Tourism Alliance.

Durham Distillery turns out classic whisky, gin, vodka, and rum using locally sourced “real” ingredients, said head distiller and co-founder Craig Ferg.

“We’re very excited about this,” enthused Ferg, who said the profile highlights their commitment to using locally sourced products in all their spirits. “It’s our core philosophy. Real tastes better.”

The small-batch distillery, which has a ‘speakeasy’ feel and offers samples at the bar, takes pride in using quality ingredients and has a barrel full of awards since their opening three years ago at the old fire hall, which served the village from 1970-1974 and became Ajax Fire Hall #1 after amalgamation until 1987.

The building was re-purposed as a community centre for most of its existence since.

Other spirit producers featured in the Great Taste of Canada Holiday 2024 Gift Guide include Black Fox Farm and Distillery in Saskatchewan, Distillerie Grand Dérangement in Quebec, Compass Distillers of Nova Scotia, Wayward Distillery of B.C. and Vodcow Dairy Distillery in Almonte, Ontario.

Durham Distillery co-founder and head distiller Craig Ferg