Nestled in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, Stillhead Distillery is a small, family-run operation with a quiet determination to do things properly. Though relatively young in the whisky world, it has already begun to carve out a place among Canada’s craft distillers by focusing on provenance, precision, and a healthy respect for the raw materials.

Established in 2017 by Brennan Colebank and his family, Stillhead began with gin and vodka, but quickly turned its attention to whisky. From the outset, the focus was on local grain and traditional methods. Barley, wheat, corn and rye are sourced from British Columbia, milled and mashed on-site, and fermented with care before distillation in a custom copper still built in Europe. The result is a spirit that carries the character of the land and the intentions of those who shaped it.

Whiskies from Stillhead are typically matured in a variety of casks, including new and used oak, wine casks from local vineyards, and occasionally more exotic wood. The ageing is influenced by Vancouver Island’s temperate maritime climate, where seasonal shifts help coax flavour from the wood without rushing the spirit.

Stillhead’s approach is refreshingly honest. There is no rush to release, no gimmickry in the packaging, and no compromise in the process. It is whisky made with purpose, shaped by its surroundings, and offered with a sense of local pride. While its name might suggest subtlety, Stillhead is quietly becoming one of the loudest voices in British Columbia’s emerging whisky scene.