A Saskatoon distillery’s choice to age whisky through Saskatchewan’s intense winters has helped it earn the title of Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year. Black Fox Farm and Distillery owners John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote store their whisky outside — a practice that goes against industry norms. But the unconventional method stood out to judges at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, which awarded the family-run operation one of its highest honours earlier this month. “They were very surprised and impressed with the idea of storing our whisky outdoors because that is totally unheard of in the whisky industry,” Stefanyshyn-Cote said in an interview with CTV News. The distillery’s signature technique began by accident. When the couple first started distilling a decade ago, they had no choice but to leave the barrels outside. “We couldn’t afford to build a building. The barrels sat outside, and then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, this actually works,’” Cote said. He said the barrels expand and contract as the weather shifts, creating pressure changes that shape the flavour of the whisky. “It’s absolutely wonderful. It’s almost like the barrels are alive and breathing,” he said. While the outdoor aging caught judges’ attention, the award acknowledges the full scope of the distillery’s work, including its overall portfolio, innovation and commitment to excellence. Judges said Black Fox Farm and Distillery’s crop-to-connoisseur philosophy also stood out, noting about 95 per cent of its grains are grown on the farm, along with its sustainability efforts. Cote and Stefanyshyn-Cote say the award is also a win for Saskatchewan. “Saskatchewan is known for growing some of the best grains in the world for other purposes, and we should be able to make very good whisky, and this proves that we can,” Stefanyshyn-Cote said. While the award has boosted sales, the couple says the most heartwarming part is sharing their whisky with the world.
