Bridgeland Distillery: The Flow from Glacial Origins to Golden Spirits
Water is the silent hero behind every spirit—a simple molecule that shapes flavour, character, and terroir. At Bridgeland Distillery in Calgary, this idea takes tangible form, as glacial-fed water meets Alberta barley and time-honoured craft. With Open Farm Days around the corner, the distillery is opening its doors—offering free tours, and a deep dive into how water transforms grains into gold.
Setting the Scene: Where Water Meets Innovation
Located in the vibrant city of Calgary, Bridgeland Distillery opened its doors in 2018 with a promise: “Tradition, innovation, terroir.” What started from a distilling workshop in the Okanagan turned into a passion project by founders Daniel Plenzik and Jacques Tremblay. They built a distillery that honours craft while showcasing Alberta ingredients—and the water that binds it all together.
As one video nail‑gunned it: “Nestled in the heart of Calgary, Bridgeland Distillery stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and its ever‑evolving spirit scene.” The scene is set—steel tanks, copper stills, and a hum of water flowing behind every process.
Water Inside the Walls: Mash, Ferment, Distill, Cool
Every spirit begins as a mash—a slurry of milled barley and water, where enzymes break starch into sugar. Bridgeland sources Alberta barley and adds glacier-fed water, creating a raw canvas for yeast to work its magic.
In the “Inside the Bridgeland Distillery” video, you see mash tuns brimming with bubbling grains and clean water. Though there’s no voice‑over describing it, the visuals alone speak volumes—a liquid math of barley, water, and time.
As fermentation kicks in, the mash swirls, gasses rise, and water plays a vital role: it nourishes yeast, balances temperature, and carries aromatic compounds. Later, during distillation, steam and water reclaim these compounds via copper stills designed to match Bridgeland’s unique spirit profile.
And once distillation is done? Water again steps in—cooling the still, sanitizing equipment, and even tempering the spirit before bottling. Every drop used, reused, or purified is part of their craft integrity.
From the Video Lens: Founders on Flow
One video, filmed in their bright, polished space, shows the founders in action. Daniel explains—“We mill our barley on site, use glacier-fed water, ferment, and distill in these beautiful copper pot stills… everything we do is hands-on.” That insistence on onsite milling and fresh water reinforces their terroir-first ethos.
Another founder shot highlights their pride in equipment: tubs fill with crystal-clear water where grains steep. Jacques laughs, “It’s not just whiskey; it’s water meeting grain meeting time.” It’s that simplicity—yet richness—that Bridgeland embodies.
Water’s Role in Award-Winning Spirits
Water isn’t just an ingredient—it’s a defining factor in every award Bridgeland Distillery has won. Whether it’s the mash-in point or the final cut to bottling strength, water’s purity and presence shape the character, smoothness, and flavour complexity of each spirit.
That’s not just talk—it’s backed by results.
In 2025, Bridgeland Distillery swept up major national recognition:
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Gold and Silver medals at the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards, including standout finishes for their Taber Corn and Wheat whiskies—praised for their exceptional grain-forward clarity and balance.
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Multiple wins at the 2025 Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition, where their unique craft releases were applauded for both innovation and precision.
What ties these award-winning spirits together? Exceptional water handling at every step. From the initial mash made with glacier-fed water to the precise proofing of spirits before bottling, Bridgeland relies on water’s neutral profile to elevate—not mask—the natural character of their Alberta-grown ingredients.
As co-founder Jacques Tremblay noted in one interview, “We want the grain to speak—we want people to taste where it came from. Water lets us do that. It carries the profile without interference.”
Whether in whisky, brandy, or their smooth young bourbon-style releases, the team at Bridgeland uses water to highlight the spirit’s soul—not dilute it. And when the flavour comes through that clearly? The medals tend to follow.
Open Farm Days Connection — Water in Focus
Bridgeland Distillery will participate in Open Farm Days on August 16–17, 2025, offering free tours—canceling usual paid tours to open up specially for guests. Thanks to their registration, visitors can “book a tour” through their website, now offered for free on those days .
The theme of this year’s event? Water—focused on how farms and food systems rely on it. Bridgeland fits the bill beautifully, with every step—from mash to bottle—woven around water.
During the free two‑day event, guests can:
- See the mash tuns where barley + glacier water meet
- Smell fermentation rising, balanced by water temperature and yeast activity.
- See the copper stills where the final spirit is produced.
- Taste the results: whisky, brandy, and small‑batch grappa, all proofed and presented with water clarity in every sip.
They’ll leave with a richer understanding: water isn’t just an ingredient; it’s a process partner, a flavour mediator, and the spirit of the distillation itself.
To book a tour on their website, click here!
🌍 Sustainability, Local Roots, and Water Conservation
Bridgeland doesn’t just use local water—they care for it. Milling barley onsite and sourcing within a 75‑minute radius reduces transport emissions and keeps water pristine. They also collect and reuse rinse water and water from the coil-cooling system, cycling it back through their cleaning processes to reduce waste while keeping equipment sanitary.
Urban distilling, often misunderstood as carbon-heavy, is, in Bridgeland’s case, an eco‑efficient model. By using municipal and glacier-fed water responsibly, they support regional agriculture while remaining sustainable.
What Visitors Will Experience Firsthand
During the free Open Farm Days tour, expect a sensory journey led by water:
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Arrival & Water Storytelling
Guides introduce the six stages of distillation, each anchored to a water-based process: cleaning, milling, mashing, fermenting, cooling, proofing. -
Milling + Mash Tuns
Visitors watch barley ground and mixed with water—voicing how water solubilizes starch into sugary wort. -
Fermentation
The mash ferments in stainless tanks; guests smell the sweetness, feel the heat—understanding yeast and water combine to create alcohol. -
Copper Stills & Condensation
As vapor travels, water condenses it—capturing flavor molecules that form the heart of whisky or brandy. -
Barrel Room
Here, water interacts again—seeping into barrels, seasoning wood, and shaping maturation. -
Tasting Room
Guests taste and compare spirits: complex whisky, unaged brandy versus aged brandy — all served with a splash of water to unlock aromas and temper proof.
Why This Water Story Matters
Breweries and distilleries often speak of grain and wood… but water is the invisible link. It’s the same water that nourishes the barley fields, flows into the distillery, and marries with vapour to define taste.
By focusing on water—from glacier-fed sources to recycle loops—Bridgeland champions farming heritage, environmental accountability, and educational transparency.
Visitors walk away with more than tasting notes: they leave with an awareness that every sip is water meeting land meeting human ingenuity.
Final Pour: An Invite to Hydration & Hospitality
Mark your calendars: Open Farm Days, August 16–17, 2025—the ticket to understanding how water shapes some of Canada’s finest spirits. Bridgeland Distillery’s free tours will show you how glacier-fed water, local barley, and craft collide inside copper stills, and why every drop makes a difference in taste, terroir, and sustainability.
Whether you’re drawn to barley, wheat, and corn whiskies, intrigued by single-varietal grape brandies or grappa, fascinated by water chemistry, or simply looking for a unique farm-to-glass experience in Calgary—Bridgeland Distillery is ready to pour your next adventure.
A Toast to Water, Grain & Craft
Next summer, raise a glass to the unseen hero behind every spirit: the water. It brings grain to life, shapes fermentation, talks to barrels, and emerges as flavour. Join us at Bridgeland Distillery this August for a Water Story you’ll taste, feel, and never forget.
See you by the mash tuns! 🥃