The Vice & Vertu distillery is a fine illustration of the rise of artisanal micro-distilleries in Quebec.

Origins & Philosophy

The Vice & Vertu story began around 2016, when it obtained provincial and federal distilling licenses. The project is led by a passionate entrepreneur who combines technical know-how and creative vision to create distinctive spirits. What sets this distillery apart is its grain-to-bottle approach: every step—from grain cultivation to fermentation to bottling—is carried out on-site or under direct supervision.

This integrated mastery allows for quality control at every stage and to highlight the local character of the ingredients. Their slogan—"noble drinks, rebellious spirit"—evokes this duality between rigorous craftsmanship and creative openness.

Facilities & production capacity

Vice & Vertu has comprehensive equipment to cover all phases of production. It includes a mash tun, four fermenters, and copper and stainless steel stills. The facility is capable of producing up to approximately 1,000 bottles of spirits per day (all products combined), demonstrating an artisanal yet ambitious scale.

The distillery has also acquired local farmland to grow its own grain, strengthening its roots in the region.

Products: gins, spirits & whisky

At the heart of Vice & Vertu's offerings is craft gin. The distillery's first gin is called BeOrigin . This spirit quickly gained international recognition, winning medals at competitions such as the SIP Awards, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and the New York International Spirits Competition.

Another distinctive gin is BeDirty , which focuses on bolder notes, including aromas of pepper, spices, and a strong vegetal character (bay leaf, celery seed). The distillery also offers aged versions—for example, an aged BeOrigin version—as well as products like AquaVice (an akvavit, or Scandinavian-style product) and whiskies, the first official versions of which, named Le Portneuf and Le Origine , were launched in December 2024.

The distillery's versatility allows it to diversify its range: gin, aromatic spirits, eau-de-vie and whisky.

Distillation, taste & recognition

Distillation at Vice & Vertu is artisanal and meticulous, with attention to detail in the aromatic profiles. Using Quebec ingredients and refined techniques, the company aims to produce spirits with typical terroir flavors, while maintaining high standards (for example, a London Dry-style gin for BeOrigin).

The recognition it has gained over time—both locally and internationally—gives its products solid credibility.

Visit experience & customer engagement

Vice & Vertu also welcomes curious amateurs: it offers guided tours, tastings and events in its tasting room (and the Oktave lounge). You can book a tour with tasting for two people , including a tour of the facilities, an explanation of the processes and souvenir glasses. coffretsprestige.com The on-site shop allows you to directly purchase the distillery's products.

Challenges & perspectives

Like any microdistillery, Vice & Vertu must deal with challenges: volume management (balancing artisanal production and growing demand), control of consistent quality, distribution in a competitive market, and maintaining local ties while seeking to establish a place outside the region.

However, its award-winning products, its integrated local approach, and its ability to innovate (with aged products or whiskies) give it solid assets to grow without losing its artisanal character.

In short, the Vice & Vertu distillery offers a fine example of success in the Quebec microdistillery landscape: combining passion, know-how and local identity, it demonstrates that a project born from a personal vision can produce renowned spirits and offer an enriching experience to gin and whisky lovers.