History

Artist in Residence Distillerie is a Canadian distillery based in Gatineau, Quebec, with a vision to be an unconventional and bold player in the spirits industry. It all began in 2016 when Pierre Mantha sought a new challenge. He discovers a new passion and begins a grand journey into a completely new industry. Together with his brother Michel Mantha, Pierre opens his first distillery in Gatineau under the name Artist in Residence. The distillery operates two alembics, the first capable of holding up to 3,000 liters of alcohol and the second up to 6,000 liters. The facility spans three floors. The family and the business emphasize community and collaboration with local suppliers, as well as giving back to those in need through, for example, local food banks. The distilleries are located in Gatineau, Quebec and Hawkesbury, Ontario.

Production/Manufacturing

Production takes place on the first floor, where all production stages occur and where the distillation equipment stands. The distillery uses water from a source directly from an underground spring, and the water is described as a unique source that adds character to the products. The distillery combines the finest ingredients with fresh local spring water and produces a range of products, including gins, vodkas, liqueurs and whiskies. The first floor also houses the shop, welcoming customers with a wide selection. The top floor features a room reserved for spirit enthusiasts, a destination for those who want to delve into the products. Grains from the local area are used for the whiskies, including corn grown just a few kilometers from the distillery, to which barley and rye are added. The distillery's water and raw materials come from a locally available source, and the production combines tradition and creativity to produce products with personality.

Gins

• Mango and pineapple gin
• Wild blueberry gin
• Passion fruit gin
• Cucumber gin
• Dry gin
• Raspberry and blackberry gin
• Boreal gin
• Watermelon gin
• Grapefruit gin
• Lemon and honey gin
• Citrus gin
• Waxwing

Vodkas

• Blueberry-raspberry flavored vodka
• Regular vodka (neutral corn-based alcohol)
• Lemon vodka
• Melon vodka
• Peach vodka
• Mango vodka
• Watermelon vodka
• Wild blueberry vodka
• Lemonade, raspberry and yuzu flavored vodka

Liqueurs

• Mint liqueur
• Lychee liqueur
• Mint and chocolate liqueur
• Chocolate and blueberry liqueur
• Coffee liqueur
• Ginger liqueur
• Maple liqueur
• Vanilla liqueur
• Curaçao liqueur
• Amaretto liqueur
• Amaro liqueur
• Caramel cream

Rum

• Cocoa and vanilla rum
• Spiced rum
• Coconut rum

Whisky

• Whisky (produced as described; notable mention of whiskies in the Hawkesbury expansion)

Other categories

• Mocktails

Notes

• The distillery works with products from Quebec and Canada, and it specifically mentions the use of underground sources and local ingredients in several of the products.

Visits/Experiences

• Gatineau: There is a shop on the first floor with a large range of products, and there is direct access to the products in the shop. The first floor also houses the production itself and the showroom; the top floor is reserved for spirit enthusiasts.
• Hawkesbury: Future phases are expected to include tours of the distillery and on-site purchases; a lounge and restaurant are mentioned as part of the experience-oriented approach, allowing visitors to taste and experience different products.

Philosophy

• Inspiration from artists and free spirits: the mission is to give customers a unique and memorable experience through an environment that is open to imagination and high-quality creative products.
• A Quebec distillery with a story to tell: focus on an inclusive and colorful world of products with strong flavor experiences.
• Collaboration and local outlook: the distillery partners with local suppliers and engages with the community and charitable causes such as food banks.
• Spirit of curiosity and innovation: strives to venture with an unconventional concept, think outside the box, and open doors to all possibilities.