By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson raised a glass Wednesday to Alberta’s proposed new whisky law, anticipating a high-proof economic booster within and beyond her largely rural riding.
The UCP member said clear industry standards and requirements are good for farmers, distillers, barley breeders like Western Crop Innovations in Lacombe and malthouses like Rahr Malting Canada Ltd. in Alix.
“In small towns and big cities, family-run distilleries and local businesses are putting in the work every single day to craft world-class whisky,” said Johnson, whose riding is between Red Deer and Edmonton.
“They’re creating jobs, supporting farmers and building something that reflects who we are as Albertans.”
Bill 24, the Alberta Whisky Act, aims to define and protect Alberta whisky. The goal is to create a strong identity for quality and authenticity, like Kentucky bourbon and Scottish whisky, called scotch internationally.
According to Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, Alberta boasts 45 whisky distillers, 43 of which are small craft distillers.
In recent years, Alberta-made whiskies have earned a sheaf of awards and medals on the national and international circuits.
Consumers need to know their whisky “was made right here with local ingredients by hard-working Albertans,” Johnson said during her member’s statement, “because, at the end of the day, this is about people.”
She continued: “It’s about the farmer growing the grain, the distiller perfecting their craft, and the small businesses and communities that benefit when things go right.
“When our distillers succeed, it means more visitors coming through our doors, more opportunities for local tourism, and more Alberta products on shelves right here at home and around the world.”
Trade data from 2024 values whisky exports from Alberta at $48.2 million, making up about 70 per cent of the provincial beverage export sector.
The government envisions an industry-led Alberta Whisky Trail that helps get Alberta to $25 billion a year in visitor spending by 2035.
Under the law, which passed second reading today, a product labelled Alberta whisky would have all its water and two-thirds of its mash cereal by weight sourced within the province.
It would have to be produced in Alberta, aged at least three years in small barrels, be at least 40 per cent alcohol by volume and have only minor, defined additions to the product made after distillation.
