History

Diony Distillery is a Canadian whiskey distillery, located in the heart of the Canadian prairie landscape in Red Deer County, Alberta. The brand’s shortened form, Diony, refers to Dionysus – Zeus and Semele’s offspring, who, according to legend, is the creator of wine and loves to tinker with things when it becomes boring. From a journey across the prairie grasses and the four seasons, inspiration arose in the prairie grain, where the corn hardens and matures into whiskey instead of wine. Diony Distillery presents an approach that focuses on quality over quantity, and everything is produced with 100% Canadian grain varieties without artificial colors or additives.

The core of the philosophy behind Diony is a concentrated production: slow fermentation (10–14 days) at lower temperatures to preserve the grain’s natural aroma, manual handling, and a masterful use of our own grain and own casks. Fermentation and distillation are closely guided by the use of different casks and finishes, including Port, Sherry, and smoked Bourbon casks, which provide complex flavor layers. There is also an active community emphasis through the Diony Society and an investment bid (Founder’s Cask) in certain casks, demonstrating a vision of both craft and community around the whiskey.

Production/Manufacturing

• 100% malted Canadian grains as the base; production of spirits from scratch without NGS or artificial colorants.
• Milling and grinding; Mashing to 72°C; Pitching yeast and enzymes; Cooled to below 18°C.
• Fermentation at low temperature for 7–10 days to preserve the grain’s aroma.
• Distillation to around 88% ABV; produced in small batches; spirit maturation of at least 3 years.
• Casks and barrels: the distillates are stored in different casks and later finished in ex-Port, Port-, Sherry- and smoked Bourbon casks (CW casks and other house casks) in the Barrels Collection.
• Barrels: blends such as CW021, CW037, CW054, CW055, CW076, etc. range from ex-bourbon to new American oak casks and ex-port/port-sherry finishes, often with different mash bills and aging start dates.
• Process steps: 100% malted grains; Milling; Mashing; Pitching; Fermentation; Distillation; Maturation; Bottling.

Products/Whisky Series

• Prairie Trio
• ABV: 48.8%
• Mashbill: 65% Malted Rye, 25% Malted Barley & 10% Oat
• Age: 40 months
• Finish: Recharred #2 and Recharred #3 French Oak
• Notes: a balance between sweetness and spice; rye and oak finish add depth and warmth.
• Price/Info: Bronze in Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition 2024.
• Campfire
• ABV: 46.8%
• Mashbill: 67% Malted Rye, 33% Malted Barley & Oat
• Age: 43 months
• Finish: Recharred French Oak – Charity #2/ #3, finished in a strongly smoked bourbon finish
• Notes: smoky, with notes of caramelized apple and toasted nut caramel; a backbone of spices and a smoky finish.
• Achievements: Gold in SIP Award 2023 and International Whisky Competition; Best Canadian Whisky 2023 (IWC).
• Port Cask Finish
• ABV: 50%
• Mashbill: Malted Rye (65–67%), malted barley and oat
• Age: Over 43 months
• Finish: Recharred French Oak, finished in Port finish
• Notes: sweetness and fruity notes with a port-like finish; refinement from the port finish adds red-wine associations.
• Awards: Silver in World Whiskies Awards 2025; Silver in International/Canadian Whisky Awards 2024 and other medals.
• Aged 5 years – Sherry Finish
• ABV: 50%
• Mashbill: Malted Rye (65%), malted barley and oat
• Age: 5 years
• Finish: Repurposed French Oak #3, finished in sherry finish in the last months
• Notes: deep fruity profile (dried figs, dark cherries), spiced oak and sherry-spice; complex and warm finish.
• Awards: Bronze in World Whiskies Awards 2025; Silver in Canadian Whisky Awards 2025.
• Northern Overproof Blend
• ABV: 51%
• Mashbill: 67% Malted Rye, 33% Malted Barley & Oat
• Age: From 3 casks of 4 years
• Finish: CW054 (Ex-Port), CW055 (Smoked Bourbon), CW076 (Re-charred French Oak)
• Notes: rich fruit, coffee and chocolate with rye-spice; powerful and complex finish.
• Expression: 98 bottles produced; Story-blend inspired by Japanese blending aesthetics.
• Roasted Malt
• ABV: 46.7%
• Mashbill: Malted Rye (67%), roasted malted barley & oat
• Age: 38 months
• Finish: Recharred #3 French Oak
• Notes: roasted grain notes, coffee and chocolate; a deep, warm finish.
• Rum Cask Finish (added as a finish in the whisky portfolio)
• ABV: 50%
• Mashbill: Malted Rye (65%), roasted malted barley & oat
• Age: 42 months
• Finish: New American Oak Barrels (Char #3) – finish in ex-rum cask for 6 months
• Notes: a combination of rye-spice and rum sweetness; dark fruit and caramel with tropical notes.

Visits and Experiences

• Workshop & Event: an experience in Alberta Whisky Making – 2–2.5 hour sessions focusing on grain selection, distillation, cask preparation and spirit aging, plus a complimentary tasting of local whiskies.
• Price: 50 CAD + GST
• Capacity: 8–12 participants per session
• Includes: 10 CAD credit toward purchase of a 750 ml bottle on the workshop day (not applicable to rum)
• Location: Red Deer County, Alberta
• Cancellation: one free rebooking with at least 48 hours notice; cancellations more than 48 hours prior are refunded with a 20% cancellation fee; cancellations within 48 hours cannot be refunded or rebooked
• Additionally: detailed information about memories and ways to experience the craft and an option for private sessions for groups

Philosophy

• A love of quality over quantity: drink quality, not quantity.
• 100% Canadian grains and craft in small batches; no use of neutral grain spirit (NGS) or artificial colorants.
• Focus and specialization: a limited product portfolio to master the process and create the finest whisky for enthusiasts and connoisseurs.
• A distinctive approach to fermentation: low temperature and longer fermentation (10–14 days) to preserve the grain’s natural aroma.
• Access to community and investment: the Diony Society and Founder's Cask program give customers the opportunity to invest in a part of the Diony story and receive special benefits.

Awards and Press

• Campfire and Port Cask Finish have received several international prizes, including the IWC (International Whisky Competition) and SIP Awards; Port Cask Finish and Rum Finish have medals in World Whiskies Awards 2025 and Canadian Whisky Awards 2025/2024.
• Several products are recognized in the Canadian Whisky Awards, World Whiskies Awards, and other competitions over the years, including Bronze and Silver in various categories.

Barrels and Process (barrel selection and interplay)

• Barrels Collection; cask sizes and finish dates (CW021, CW037, CW054, CW055, CW076, CW077, CW021, CW037).
• Finish variants range from ex-Rebel Yell Bourbon, New American Oak Bourbon, Port, Sherry finish, as well as heavily smoked Bourbon finishes, and reconstructions such as French Oak (#2, #3) – all with details on aging start and batch mash bill.
• The operational process is described as: Milling, Mashing (72°C), Pitch Yeast & Enzyme, Fermentation (7–10 days), Distillation (~88% ABV), Maturation minimum 3 years, Bottling.

About Diony Distillery (General Info)

• The brand is focused on being a whisky producer in Canada with earthy, prairie-based ingredients and a strong interest in craftsmanship and design.
• There are a range of customer-oriented offerings such as the Founder's Cask Program and the Diony Society, e-gift cards, and the option for laser engraving of bottles.
• The distillery emphasizes genuine, artisanal techniques and transparency about production methods and casks.