Stillus Craft Spirits: crafting world-class, uncompromising and authentic spirits

Spirit-making is deeply ingrained at Stillus Craft Spirits, drawing from Ukrainian roots as a benchmark for crafting high-quality, natural spirits. 

This family-owned, artisan distillery is located near Bloomfield, Prince Edward County, and has been gaining attention for its craftsmanship, which focuses on creating premium spirits that make for a meaningful drinking experience.

It’s something that Stillus President, Olexiy Derzhavin, is passionate about: naturally weaving his knowledge of spirits from Ukraine’s centuries-old traditions and culture into uniquely Canadian spirit production.

“My wife and I were born in Ukraine, a country with a rich history of spirit production,” he said, noting that the country is located in the heart of the so-called “vodka belt”, where home distilling is legal, and craft spirits — especially vodka — are the drink of choice. That translates into deep knowledge about the distilling process and the superior qualities of craft-distilled spirits compared to commercial alternatives, he said.

“In Ukraine, spirit-making is a long-lasting tradition, with recipes passed down through generations and enjoyed with family and friends. It’s a deeply ingrained part of life,” he said. “I was exposed to this culture from an early age, with a wealth of knowledge and recipes at my disposal. Additionally, I had the privilege of further exploring our distillery ideas and challenges with friends in Ukraine, which played a role in the research and development of our products.”

The Spirits

Using only high-quality ingredients and no shortcuts in the production process, Stillus Craft Spirits are made with all-natural ingredients like herbs, fruits, berries, and more, with no essences or artificial flavour. 

“This greatly impacts the quality of our spirits, resulting in natural flavours and a smooth drinking experience,” said Derzhavin. All of Stillus’ spirits are of sippable grade, meaning they can be enjoyed neat, straight, or on the rocks as well as being well-suited in many premium cocktails. 

This quality is gaining international attention. Stillus spirits have been recognized at some of the most prestigious international spirit competitions, such as the London (UK) Spirit Competition and the International Wine and Spirits Competition UK, both of which are among the top 10 global competitions.

Stillus Craft Spirits Pinery Gin was the highest-rated product from Canada at the London Spirit Competition, earning 93 points for quality and 91 points overall (Gold medal). In addition, their Hot Chilli Pepper and Honey Horilka won a Silver Medal at the IWSC, with a score of 90 points.

But it doesn’t stop there. Stillus has spirits for everyone - their top seller is the Gold Medal Gin, while other successes include Horilka, Coconut Key Lime Moonshine and Sweet Liqueurs. Last year, the distillery launched a Dill Pickle Vodka that was well-received and became quite popular.

Another spirit of particular note is the Copper Still Distilled Wheat Vodka, which Derzhavin said is highly praised by many reputable vodka connoisseurs. Derzhavin said it’s a pure vodka with a distinct flavour. “Made only from Ontario-grown red soft winter wheat and artesian well water, distilled in a copper still and gravity-filtered, this vodka is truly exceptional and belongs to a different class of premium vodka,” he said. 

“Hard to believe, but this is vodka you can pour into a glass and enjoy like whisky, at room temperature.”
 

Spirits, cocktails and pierogies

The setting complements the smooth taste of Stillus’ spirits: a modern building, a cocktail lounge and even a peek at the sleek hybrid copper still made in Italy, custom-designed and handcrafted for Stillus. It’s a functional space that’s unpretentious and intriguing.

“We have been praised for our spirits, craft cocktails, pierogies, and great vibe,” Derzhavin said. 

The craft cocktails in the lounge are next level, with a full signature cocktail menu created in-house to elevate the experience and showcase the spirits. Think vodka-based cocktails like Still Summer, Not-So-Old Fashioned, Stillus Caesar, Kyiv Mule and even a Cranberry Sumac Martini, alongside gin-based sips like Tom Collins and Bottom Line, which features lavender, ginger and lime with Stillus’ award-winning gin. 

The kitchen is known for their elevated pierogies as they pay homage to their Ukrainian roots. Derzhavin suggests trying the pierogies with Horilka, a chilli-spiked vodka, for a classic Ukrainian treat. 

For a more immersive experience, Stillus offers distillery tours. Learn about the science of distilling and how Stillus crafts their spirits during a half-hour tour on Saturdays. A tasting flight is included in the tour, where guests are introduced to the Stillus creations and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Enjoy live music throughout the summer as well as a celebration surrounding Ukrainian Independence Day in late August.

Looking ahead…

Stillus Craft Spirits is on the cusp of bottling its first rum this year, and its first whisky next year. “Our journey is one of purpose, not haste,” Derzhavin said. “We choose to avoid compromises for the sake of quick commercial success, and we’re not in a rush to chase quick profits.”

In fact, that’s what Stillus was founded on: crafting world-class whisky and truly artisanal vodka. As such, they have aligned themselves with top craft distilling equipment manufacturers globally, which has enabled Stillus to produce world-class premium spirits. “In this way, we stand apart, as only a select few distilleries follow this mission-driven philosophy — a path that remains challenging, especially within the realities of the local marketplace,” Derzhavin said.

Even so, he said rewards are many, especially sharing the exceptional and proudly Canadian spirits. 

To learn more about the Stillus Craft Spirits story or to shop their collection, go to stillus.ca or connect on socials on Facebook @stilluscraftspirits and Instagram @stillus_craft_spirits. Better yet, swing by Stillus for a visit at 2404 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield.