North Vancouver’s craft spirits destination has a new owner and new product launch. Known for their award-winning craft spirits (hello 3 different types of Amaro, plus Limoncello, Nocino, Gin and more!), this North Shore distillery has a new owner, plus an exciting new product release.
By Catherine Dunwoody
Celia Chiang owned and operated two successful florist businesses for years before becoming the proud new owner of The Woods Spirit Co. What may seem to some as a not-so-natural-progression career-wise, Chiang believes all came about rather serendipitously.
After selling Port Moody Flowers and Sunwing Flowers in Port Coquitlam, Chiang “ went back to school to get my MBA, and at this age thought [owning a distillery] might be the worst thing I could get myself into,” she laughs. “But I have always been curious about the wine and spirits industry, and one day I went to see the Sons of Vancouver about taking a distilling course. Then I stumbled upon The Woods, and I instantly loved this space and the staff. I bought every single item they sold, too.”
When the opportunity to buy The Woods Spirit Co. landed in her lap as a turnkey operation, she just couldn’t turn it down. She talked it over with her family and decided to follow both her heart and her head and bought the business.
Knowing this distillery was special, and successful because of the hard work and dedication of the existing team, Chiang was especially impressed with Head Distiller Andy Davidson. “I had met Andy,” she recalls, “and thought this is the most amazing young man, he is knowledgeable and has a great attitude.”
And now Davidson has a brand new product to play with in his mixing lab: a spritz-perfect Arancello liqueur, made with organic blood oranges, Thai Kaffir lime leaves, and fresh raspberry. Davidson has since concocted a variety of Arancello-based cocktails now available at The Bar in the Woods at the distillery, including a Blood Orange Sour, the Corpse Reviver #blood, and Blood Orange Garibaldi.
Chiang seems genuinely stoked by her latest venture, and honoured to be passed the baton in a BC business as much-loved as The Woods Spirit Co. “We are committed to offering cocktail workshops, hosting events, tours, and tastings, ensuring the distillery remains an accessible and inclusive space for all,” she says.
This summer, she says, watch out for “intimate gatherings, samplings, a patio launch and more presence of Woods products in bars and hotels.”
There are many ways to get here by transit. Visit TransLink’s Trip Planner to find your way.
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