History

Macaloney’s Distillery is described as Canada’s most award-winning craft distillery and sits proudly on Vancouver Island in Victoria. The company highlights that the whiskies are carefully handcrafted, inspired by the island’s pure water and sea air, and that their single malt whiskies combine fine Canadian barley with the traditional craft from Scotland’s whisky houses. The distillery is described as part of a small island-kingdom (island distillery), where the sea’s salty air and island climate leave their mark on the expression.

Their products and brand names show a range of award-winning whiskies: Cath-Nah-Aven received Gold in 2023 Whiskies of the World, Kildara was named World’s Best Pot Still Whisky in the World Whisky Awards 2023, and Peat Project Islay Ex-Bourbon Cask was honored as World’s Best in the World Whisky Awards 2025. The whiskies are produced in Forsyth’s copper pot stills, which are hand-hammered, and the base of operations is Victoria on Vancouver Island, where the island’s distinctive environment shapes the final character.

Macaloney’s Distillery describes itself as part of a traditional production focusing on high-quality single malt whisky and a range of variant cask combinations. In addition to the core range, there are limited editions, the Peat Project series and Special Editions, as well as Islands Drams Collection and a 100% wheat whisky, demonstrating a broad portfolio of expressions and experiments.

Visitors can experience the distillery’s offerings through a tasting room experience, a lounge and pub atmosphere with flowing whisky flights and an on-site brewery for beer, providing an opportunity for a combined whisky and craftsmanship experience.

Production / Manufacturing

Macaloney’s Distillery distills with Forsyth’s copper pot stills, and they claim to be craft-dedicated to traditional Scottish whisky production, tailored to the Canadian terroir. The distillery highlights the use of high-quality Canadian barley and deep craftsmanship in a masterful distillation process.

A particularly detailed element in the production is the An Loy-designed mash bill: 60% locally grown Canadian barley and 40% unmalted barley, which is locally grown, reflecting a focus on local ingredients and sustainability in production.

The whiskies are aged in different cask types and characteristics: Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, Virgin American Cask, Moscatel Cask and Portuguese red-wine cask are among the used cask types. Sources also indicate that in the core range and specific series, triple-distilled pot stills (Kildara) and other pot-still expressions are used, indicating a range of different distillation profiles and aging strategies.

The distillery is also described as active with a long-term production profile and ongoing releases, including a broad range from core range to special releases and limited editions.

Core Range

• Cath-Nah-Aven: Single Malt Whisky – Spanish Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks. 700 mL. ABV around 46% (stated in product description). Part of Whiskymaker's Signature Selection.
• Kildara: Triple-Distilled Pot Still Whisky – Bourbon, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez & Virgin American Casks. 700 mL. ABV around 46%.
• Siol Dugall: Single Malt Whisky – Medium Peated. Cask types include Kentucky Bourbon Casks, Virgin American Casks and Portuguese Recharred Red Wine Barriques. 700 mL.
• Na Braiche: Single Malt Whisky – Portuguese Red Wine Casks. 700–750 mL range.

Peat Project (Special Editions / Limiteds)

• Peat Project Islay Ex-Bourbon Cask: Distillery-smoked with Islay peat – Ex-Bourbon Cask. 700 mL. Available as a limited edition.
• Peat Project Harvest Coast: Distillery-smoked with Washington peat – blended casks (Oloroso, Virgin American, Kentucky Bourbon, Portuguese Red Wine, Pedro Ximénez). 750 mL.
• Peat Project Cathedral Grove; Peat Project Washington Ex-Bourbon Cask; Peat Project Washington Red Wine Cask (Portuguese Red Wine STR Barrique); and others – some variants described as single cask and cask-variations.

Limited Quantity / Special Editions

• An Loy: Whiskymaker's Signature Selection – Single Malt Whisky. 700 mL. Cask composition: Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez & Portuguese Red Wine. 46% ABV (stated). PPm 15.
• An Aba: Whiskymaker's Signature Selection – Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso, Portuguese Red Wine, Spanish Pedro Ximénez & Virgin American Casks. Prices shown in-store.

Island Drams Collection

• Island Drams Collection: 5 x 50 mL expressions (Gold Medal Single Malt & Pot Still Whiskies). 50 mL each. Price: 59.95 CAD.

100% Wheat Whisky

• 100% Wheat Whisky: Private Single Cask. 750 mL. Price: 109.99 CAD.

St Mallie / Kirkinriola (Single Cask Series)

• St Mallie: Single Cask Series – Portuguese Red Wine Recharred Barrique. 700 mL. Price varies by variant.
• Kirkinriola Virgin American Oak Cask; Kirkinriola Red Wine Cask; Kirkinriola Moscatel Cask: Triple-Distilled Pot Still Whisky – Single Cask Series. 750 mL / 700 mL variants.

Other core and special variants

• Kirkinriola Moscatel Cask; Kirkinriola Red Wine Cask; Kirkinriola Virgin American Oak Cask are examples of other Single Cask Series variants with different cask types and combinations.

Note: Some product lists show prices and cask information varying between products, and ABV is not always indicated for all individual releases.

Availability notes

• The range includes both core range, limited quantities, Peat Project series and Island Drams collections, as well as various single cask variants and special editions, as shown on the webshop and in the categories of their collections.