The Coldstream Clear Distillery tasting room is located just off the highway as you are headed into…read moreHalifax. It is really easy to access, but is hiding behind the Taco Bell so it is easy to drive past it the first time if you do not know what you are looking for. Once you have found it the tasting room is a lot of fun. They have a wide range of rums and vodkas that you can sample as well as their sodas which are premixed drinks with soda water. You can also order a flight of cocktails which the staff makes right there in front of you. The day we visited the staff member was amazing and was very kind and helpful. With your cocktail flight in hand, you can head out outside to enjoy drinking them. The drinks were all very tasty. We tried the Blueberry Mojito the Creamsicle, Espresso Martini and the Paradise. Our two favorites were the Espresso Martini and Paradise. We stopped because we were working on getting stamps for the Cheers Trail, but it would be a great stop for anyone that enjoys small distilleries from the local area.

This distillery is so great! It's been open for a few months and their home made vodka is…read moredelicious. You can usually try any vodka, and their variety is unbeatable. My favourite has been their poke pie vodka. Their coconut vodka is also amazing for piña coladas. The staff are so friendly and are especially kind - they will literally offer to help you with anything. Definitely will be back!

A great spot for a quick cocktail or to discover something new. A tiny spot on Agricola that's…read moreaccessible and fun. A tiny bar top is tucked under the staircase that leads to the upper level with just a few seats. On the main floor, an intimate space allows the view of the stills behind glass in the distillery. The staff are the stars here. Knowledgeable and fun, they will answer any questions and suggest new things to try. Great gin, but there are also other options (vodka, whisky, etc.). Non-alcoholic options available as well.

This is stop #7 on the Hop-On Hop-Off double decker bus tour by Ambassatours. The liquor is…read moredistilled on site and sold by the bottle. The space can be rented as a venue for private events. And tours are available.

If you're in the Annapolis Valley, take a detour to this area where Barrelling Tide is just one of…read morethe awesome spots. They've got a lot of options ranging from vodka, rum, gin and a bunch of flavoured liqueurs. You can sample as many as you liked and I'd personally suggest their one off stone fruit gin which was not my favourite but interesting and worth a try regardless. The Javalley was pretty cool which would be great in your coffee. We personally really liked their vodka. The best part of this place was the super friendly staff. Lots of free parking and a port a potty outside.

What a fantastic rum! For a 2 year distillery,they have an amazing collection liqueurs and spirits…read more If you like to make cocktails, then the liquors could be your friend to change up you standard drink. The owner is very nice and knowledgeable about his products.

Opened in 2019 just before the pandemic, the owner has invested a lot of money to make two amazing…read moreproducts. So far, there's vodka and rum but there are plans to expand. If you're in the Lunenburg area, take a short drive out of the way to taste the super smooth vodka. Products are organic and the wheat in the vodka is local. You will love the fancy molasses-made rum. You can't get this stuff in the liquor stores so stop in six days a week (closed Mondays). Lots of free parking and easily accessible right on the side of the road!

Execellent stop on our PEI road trip!! Delicious and educational. Romantic too. Wonderful guide!read more

If you're in PEI, you gotta check this place out! It's just off the main road about 4 KM down but…read morewell worth the micro detour. Realistically, nothing on the island is out of the way. The grounds are beautiful with several places to sit and enjoy your Little Pig Cider that you buy right on site. We expected the booze and cider to but be that great with one place making so different things, but we were pleasantly surprised. The first two samples are free or you can do 5 for $5. Definitely worth the price despite the size. Try the Island Tide, it will make your face hurt but a hilarious thing to do regardless. It's their version of Moonshine. We really liked the vodka and gin, but that's what we regularly drink. The Limon Cello was good too, but not something I'd drink everyday. Overall, the cider is what sold us. It's got a high alcohol content, 9%, and is pretty dry; just the way we like it! Lots of parking and very easy to get to so do drop in and enjoy the patio.

I visited with friends during a road trip in the area. I wasn't sure what to expect, but we had a…read morenice time. We missed the turn off for their road the first time even though there is an old truck with "Caldera" painted on it and a small sign. They're set back a bit from the main road, so they don't quite catch your eye until it's a bit late to turn. The parking lot is pretty big and more than accommodated all of the visitors while we were there. At first glance we were a bit surprised at the buildings because the barn is so old and weathered, but there's a newer (metal) barn that the distilling happens inside. Once we learned the story of the old barn (which actually looks great inside), we were really impressed. (Get them to tell you all about it!) The distillery is really focused on local stories with all of the ingredients for the whiskey being grown locally and the names related to the community. The colour of the Hurricane 5 whiskey is a beautiful caramel (see photo). They offered free samples of the Hurricane 5 while we were there (August 22nd) and a cocktail at a great price that included ginger ale, ginger beer, lemonade and whiskey. It was perfect for a hot sunny day! They also mentioned that they were about to come out with another whiskey and would soon have a cognac as well. There was no seating in the barn, but outside on the back courtyard (through the barn) were four Adirondack-style chairs and some other areas where you could sit. It's not really set up for people to stay and enjoy a couple of drinks though; it's more to get you in, let you taste the options and send you on your way with a bottle or two. I would have appreciated a couple more chairs since there ended up being more than 10 people there at the same time.

From the owner: A creation steeped in tradition, seasoned with our salt air. The ocean defines our culture and our…read morewhisky, crafted with that same passion. Caldera is more than a beverage, it's a spirit... connected to the heart of the North Shore. We'd love for you to explore River John, Nova Scotia. Let us welcome you to our fields, farm and friendship

Very hospitable. They make your feel welcomed. That's much better than I expected!!read more

Stopped in here early on a cold Sunday afternoon in May to enjoy a couple drinks. We had the place…read moreto ourselves because it's the off-season, and it was quite cozy. HDC specializes in rum tastings/flights, but I deferred to the cocktail list. They were unable to make 2 of the 5 cocktails on the list (out of some ingredients?), which was disappointing. The staff (a few kids back from college for the summer) is well-intentioned, but I didn't get the sense they were "seasoned" enough to know a lot about the spirits they were serving. Just my bias about 19-year-olds behind the bar. Had the same Stormy Weather cocktail made slightly differently by two different bartenders. Still tasty, but that lack of consistency gave me pause about the staff's experience. All this said...be sure to make this spot a stop on your Halifax boardwalk bar journey!

Great new Distillery and Brewery. They are quite new and hope to expand to include a taproom with a…read morebeautiful view of the lake.Check out their Oyster Pond Stout.

If you're visiting the province, one of the three Coldstream locations are a must visit. Nova…read moreScotians LOVE their Coldstream. They are best known for their vodka and coolers but they make dozens of different products. Flavoured vodka soda, gin, cream-based liqueurs along with many other base mixes. The vodka is nothing out of the ordinary but the locals are simple people and the products are great as a mix. Coolers are nothing special but great if you're looking for something light. One of our favourite things here was the 'bar'. Samples are ALL free and they've got everything available to try. If you're sitting in, you can have cocktails made by the bartenders. Order from the menu or check out the rotating weekly cocktails. The service here is a 10+. Staff is incredibly helpful, friendly and on the ball. Be sure to tip them! The one downside of this place and the reason for 4 stars is that the location is NOT accessible. A few stairs will take you up to the bar/retail area as well as washrooms. Merchandise all on the main floor. A bit surprising for a newer location but then again, accessibility is hugely lacking in the majority of this province.

I truly wish I had something good to say here so I'll start by saying there is a lot of parking…read more I was really looking forward to coming here since moving to the province and I think I may have over-hyped it for myself. For a distillery with so many awards, I was quite surprised that nothing here appealed to me. I love vodka and gin and I personally couldn't figure out the quality here. We opted for tasting flights which come with a complimentary cocktail. The price is a little steep at $15 a paddle. The shot glasses as tacky plastic cups on a sad little board. You get a ¼ oz shot per cup and the complimentary drink is basically virgin. The mojito that came with the board came with one little leaf of mint and a whole lotta water. I was completely disappointed and didn't expect to not even be able to drink any of the samples completely. The other downside of this place is the set up of the outdoor sitting area. It wasn't well thought through. You have to exit the rear of the distillery and go around to the front of the building on slanted gravel to the 'patio'. Not one umbrella can be found at the picnic benches. The gravel is large and loose so it's a hazard to carry your drinks so far - even if you're sober! The staff seemed to want to be helpful but admitted they were short-staffed and she was the only one working on the long-weekend Sunday so she seemed exhausted. We asked a few questions but she seemed rushed with the line of people behind us. We asked about their beer on tap (from Half Cocked Brewing) and where the brewery was and she told us it was 10 minutes down the road. We asked if they're open and she said they're open every day. The brewery is about 30 minutes down the road and when we showed up, it was closed. No hours were posted anywhere. We were a little annoyed since we didn't have service and couldn't find it on a map. Lastly, there are NO SIGNS for this place at all. The only sign is one that faces the road so you notice it when you've already driven past the place. There are no signs on any of the buildings so unless you know exactly where you're going, you're sure to pass it. There is a food truck on site, but we didn't even bother with that. We left our samples and drink after chatting with a few other patrons who also couldn't believe that the alcohol was terrible. I don't often give poor reviews, but I honestly can't figure out how this place is still open. The taproom is small but organized with a lot of product. The location overlooking the ocean is really the only plus here so I'd say skip this place because it's not for someone who enjoys quality vodka and gin.

Good gins and vodkas. Very flavorful gin & tonics. We tried the Rhbarb G&T, Blueberry, & Haskap…read more.. The gals behind the bar lacked any knowledge about the site, location, ingredients used to make the local flavors. But because of the taste, we ended up buying a couple of bottles. It would have been nice to have someone more knowledgable sharing about the history about gins and vodkas we bought. The charm in visiting distilleries is in the story of how the product is made.