The U.S. Alcohol Industry Is Reeling From Canada’s Booze Boycott
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Wasn’t there some c suite recently saying exports to Canada are equivalent to a rounding error in terms of volume? Where’s that guy? How’s he doing?
I believe he got off scot-free which is part of the C-suite job description, zero accountability unless there’s credit to be taken
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We need a good replacement for bourbon though. No canadian whisky is a drop-in replacement
Edit: i know other styles of whisky exist. I’ve tried a lot of them. Nothing out there currently is close to bourbon. Not even the right type of grain to start with.
It’s like asking for a champagne replacement and people suggesting red wines instead of other types of sparkling white wine (of which many exist)
I got the opportunity to try this limited run from Compass recently, and it’s fantastic. Unfortunately, sold out already and they’re not currently making more, but they damn well should.
In general though, I found myself switching to Canadian whiskey in my cocktails a while ago. Canadian Club is still dog-ass and you shouldn’t touch the stuff, but that doesn’t mean other distillers haven’t been upping their game. Dillons has a really nice whiskey out now, to complement their selection of - and I am 100% not exaggerating here - the best god damn gins ever made, and the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye deserves all the awards it was showered with. There’s also the Alberta Premium Cask Strength which everyone has been raving about. I’ve tried the regular Alberta Premium and it really is excellent. I imagine the cask strength is even better.
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We need a good replacement for bourbon though. No canadian whisky is a drop-in replacement
Edit: i know other styles of whisky exist. I’ve tried a lot of them. Nothing out there currently is close to bourbon. Not even the right type of grain to start with.
It’s like asking for a champagne replacement and people suggesting red wines instead of other types of sparkling white wine (of which many exist)
If it makes y’all feel any better, it was legally pretty difficult to brew any kind of distilled liquor in the US following Prohibition until, like, 2010. America’s iconic alcohol products tend to be produced in places where there has been a traditional carve-out — at least on the East Coast, blue laws reign supreme.
Y’all have an entire Canada to make cannabis and liquor in. You have a real head start compared to us; you will find a way to replace American Whiskey, rum, gin, or beer in no time flat. Could be time for Canada to enjoy a Renaissance of importing foreign and exotic liquors, like soju or araqi.
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Canada’s got great local craft brewries and distilleries all over the place. We do not need American stuff, and at least on the beer front the Canadian-brewed stuff’s just plain better tasting.
We just need to re invest into malting and making extracts as the only one in NA is in Ohio… Because an American bought up our facilities and moved them across the border
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Yeah it was pretty eye-popping to see a bottle of Jameson’s costing almost $40 in the last couple of years.
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and thinking alcohol is bad for you.
I mean there is a strong scientific consensus on that.
I can also recommend everyone to say goodbye to alcohol. Alcohol free beers can be quite good nowadays. The only taste i miss sometimes is a Whiskey where you can taste the smokiness but it isn’t too strong yet. Still not worth the negative health effects.
Helps that Kurzgesagt just came out with a video all about how there’s no amount of daily alcohol intake that’s not bad for you.
It turns out that all of those “studies” saying that a glass of wine or a glass of beer a day is actually healthy for you was all bullshit.
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They still have active breweries in four provinces.
I get that but it’s all labeled 'Proudly Brewed in the U.S. of A.
In my local store, anyway.
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“The Distilled Spirits Council, an industry group, estimated exports of U.S. distilled spirits to Canada at $43.4 million over the first six months of 2025, down about 62% from the same period in 2024. Exports of American wine were about 67% lower, the group said, citing U.S. trade data.”
Good job, Canada! Keep your elbows up!
Nothing of value will be lost.
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“The Distilled Spirits Council, an industry group, estimated exports of U.S. distilled spirits to Canada at $43.4 million over the first six months of 2025, down about 62% from the same period in 2024. Exports of American wine were about 67% lower, the group said, citing U.S. trade data.”
Good job, Canada! Keep your elbows up!
Do y’all make good wine? Or do you just import it from Chile instead of California?
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Do y’all make good wine? Or do you just import it from Chile instead of California?
There’s many countries that produce wine, skipping on the US’s contribution is hardly a blip on the radar.
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I got the opportunity to try this limited run from Compass recently, and it’s fantastic. Unfortunately, sold out already and they’re not currently making more, but they damn well should.
In general though, I found myself switching to Canadian whiskey in my cocktails a while ago. Canadian Club is still dog-ass and you shouldn’t touch the stuff, but that doesn’t mean other distillers haven’t been upping their game. Dillons has a really nice whiskey out now, to complement their selection of - and I am 100% not exaggerating here - the best god damn gins ever made, and the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye deserves all the awards it was showered with. There’s also the Alberta Premium Cask Strength which everyone has been raving about. I’ve tried the regular Alberta Premium and it really is excellent. I imagine the cask strength is even better.
Can you be more specific on those gins? You have my attention.
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Do y’all make good wine? Or do you just import it from Chile instead of California?
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Do y’all make good wine? Or do you just import it from Chile instead of California?
Canada makes really lovely wines. Vancouver Island especially has some of my favourites (also because I live here haha).
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We need a good replacement for bourbon though. No canadian whisky is a drop-in replacement
Edit: i know other styles of whisky exist. I’ve tried a lot of them. Nothing out there currently is close to bourbon. Not even the right type of grain to start with.
It’s like asking for a champagne replacement and people suggesting red wines instead of other types of sparkling white wine (of which many exist)
What about importing whiskey from Ireland? There are differences in taste, ingredients, and production methods, but it might be similar enough to be an alternative. Here is a good reference about the differences between whiskey and burbon. Bourbon is a spirit that evolved from whiskey production methods.
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If it makes y’all feel any better, it was legally pretty difficult to brew any kind of distilled liquor in the US following Prohibition until, like, 2010. America’s iconic alcohol products tend to be produced in places where there has been a traditional carve-out — at least on the East Coast, blue laws reign supreme.
Y’all have an entire Canada to make cannabis and liquor in. You have a real head start compared to us; you will find a way to replace American Whiskey, rum, gin, or beer in no time flat. Could be time for Canada to enjoy a Renaissance of importing foreign and exotic liquors, like soju or araqi.
There are a bunch of places in BC making gin, I can think of at least 15. Really interesting flavours and techniques. Two of my favourites are Victoria Gin and Sheringham Point. Tofino also has a good distillery. It’s the new craft alcohol scene since people are kinda off beer it seems. (I would add links but my internet is being wonky).
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Can you be more specific on those gins? You have my attention.
No the person you asked, but see my comment above for some Vancouver island gin recommendations if you’re interested.
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Do y’all make good wine? Or do you just import it from Chile instead of California?
The Niagara region in ON and Okanagan region in BC produce some good stuff, or so I’m told. More a beer and whiskey guy myself.
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No the person you asked, but see my comment above for some Vancouver island gin recommendations if you’re interested.
Dunrobin Distillery makes some good gin as well, though the Earl Grey gin is a novelty imo.
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Dunrobin Distillery makes some good gin as well, though the Earl Grey gin is a novelty imo.
Nice! Thanks for the tip!
