Visiting the tasting room and cocktail bar on Bow Meadows Crescent is frankly always a good time, but it hits different amid the warmth of a summer’s evening. Lounging on the patio with a cold and refreshing gin margarita in hand while gazing out at unhindered views of the iconic Three Sisters is just about my idea of heaven on earth.
First thing’s first; Wild Life turns seven this summer, which is not only cause for celebration for the hard-working team at the distillery, but is a real victory for the wider Canmore community. Not only have co-founders Matt Widmer and Keith Robinson succeeded in cultivating delicious spirits, imbibed and beloved beyond their Alberta roots, they are also engaging and supporting the town. Order their rotating community cocktail, for example, and $5 from each drink will be donated to the Canmore Area Mountain Bike Association. Drink well, do good… that’s an ethos I can get behind!
So, what to drink on your visit? Well, look, I’m not your mom; I’m not here to tell you what to do. It’s your party, I’m just here to help you fuel it! That said, I do have a few recommendations for the spirit-curious. As Wild Life is no one trick pony; there are over half a dozen spirits in their core line-up, ranging from vodka, amaro, gins, and now finally some delicious whiskies. With this in mind, you’d be remiss not to order a spirit tasting flight, which also offers an excellent opportunity to sample some of the rarer, tasting room exclusive, releases from Wild Life…which is pretty darn cool for drinks nerds like me. I for one loved the sell-out peated single malt, made with 100% locally grown peat smoked malted barley. PLEASE, Matt and Keith if you are reading this, MAKE SOME MORE!
A real effort has been made to create a cocktail culture surrounding Wild Life, and here you’ll find some of the best serves in town. As it was a blastingly hot summer’s day upon my last visit, I opted for fruiter libations, particularly enjoying the earthy spice and tart citrus blend of Lola the Showgirl, made with Wild Life Rhubarb Gin, mezcal, grapefruit, lime and habanero, as well as the creative Miss Direction; ricotta and lavender infused Rundle Bar Gin with lime and syrup, which a) had a deliciously round mouthfeel, and b) was such a pretty hue of lilac, I could not help but snap a lil’ picture of it for the ‘gram. With a hearty array of base spirits to their name, there are plenty of other concoctions to choose from to suit all tastes, as well as zero proof options for those who want to keep a clear head through the summer haze.
Having recently levelled up their production facility, Wild Life now offer immersive tours of their new distillation space on Boulder Crescent, which includes roaming sips of WLD Spirits, a nosing glass that’s yours to keep, and a post-tour canned cocktail at the tasting room, plus…y’know some invaluable front-line knowledge on the art of distilling that you can impress upon ‘ya mates during your next drinking sesh.
If you’re into live music, Wild Life is the space; there’s local performances on a Friday as well as regular open mic-nights for budding talent. I honestly can’t think of a better place to sit, chat and enjoy some community-led crooning over delicious handcrafted sips.
Ah…summer in Canmore, (*deep swoon*) you’re the one!
For opening hours, events, distillery tours and the online store, visit www.wildlifedistillery.ca
