The Marker Group has acquired Victoria Spirits distillery, producers of Victoria Gin, and is planning to increase production in a larger location in Sidney.
Victoria Spirits will continue operating as usual at its 6170 Old West Saanich Rd. site until the end of September. The distiller will move to an 8,500-square-foot waterfront location on Seaport Place, said Peter Hunt, master distiller and general manager, who is remaining with the company.
Previous owners Bryan and Valerie Murray are retiring. The sale of the company closed Monday.
The Marker Group, headed by Grant Rogers, is a development company that operates the Sidney Pier Hotel. Details are still being worked out for the new location, said Hunt.
Space will be more than doubled, allowing the company to increase production of existing offerings and expand the type of spirits, such as whiskies, Hunt said.
The company’s gin is produced in small batches using a copper-pot still.
Victoria Spirits sells across the country and the goal is to expand its markets. It produces Left Coast Hemp Vodka, Victoria Gin, Craigdarroch Whiskey and Twisted and Bitter cocktail bitters.
The new location at Seaport Place is expected to attract tours surrounding the distilling process and will feature a tasting room.“It really is a tourism business,” Hunt said.
Victoria Spirits has five staff and another distiller will be hired, Hunt said.
