What makes us different?
The apples. We make all of our spirits from locally grown apples. You can taste the difference.
We also handcraft all of our spirits using our custom-built, state-of-the-art German copper still, which allows us to distill each spirit 25X - we like to call it, PURITY YOU CAN POUR.
Forbidden Spirits is a collection of ultra-premium brands (REBEL Vodka, Eve's Original Gin, Adam's Apple Brandy, Wallace Hill Whisky etc.) but we are also a destination and an experience! We look forward to hosting you at our premier BC orchard craft distillery. With live music on the patio, and a tasting room to inspire, we are excited to share all that is Forbidden Spirits.
Made with 100% BC apples, many grown in our very own estate orchards, bespoke local botanicals and handcrafted care. Enjoy the fruits of our labour. Sip the delights of our spirits. Celebrate life.
The Wilson family story
Blair Wilson, Founder & CEO:
I moved my family to Kelowna, BC in the summer of 2010, and purchased a long producing apple orchard. Situated in a small corner of South East Kelowna, I set out to start farming fruit for the very first time. There's a heritage in our family, of both farming and producing spirits and I was looking to reconnect with some of that history.
“The spirit of Kelowna is alive on our farm”
After 5 years of cultivating, planting, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting and selling to large commercial co-ops, I felt detached and without any connection to our end customers. I realized we had to change direction, but, remain in farming and continue to produce a great tasting product. I had to figure out a better way to add more value to our apples.
“I wanted to remain in farming and produce a great tasting product”
I had the idea of turning our apples into vodka, but I hadn't heard of anyone else doing it. So, we spent many months in research and development. I discovered that were a few other intrepid individuals already traipsing down a similar path. and I soon traveled to Chicago and met with the North American representative for Kothe, one of the oldest German copper still manufacturers in the world. We worked hard with Kothe, our many investors, local suppliers, contractors and service providers, to transform our property into what it is today.
When you come by 4400 Wallace Hill Road today, you'll be met with a brand new 5,500 square foot state of the art Distillery and Tasting Room situated on a quiet road, in God’s country. We're surrounded by lush apple trees and other farmers, all cultivating the land. Come see what all the excitement is about and taste our products for yourself. They truly represent a purity of taste that is unsurpassed.
Want to meet the rest of our team?
There are so many talented folks that make up Forbidden Spirits.
We are incredibly blessed to have a powerhouse team behind the scenes and out in front. If you've been in to our Tasting Room lately, you've probably already met a few of these fine characters.
Bios and more pictures coming soon.