Whiskey samples at the JP Wiser's brand centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Whiskey samples at the JP Wiser's brand centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)
Windsor

New Distillery Tour In High Demand (GALLERY)

The Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Windsor is opening to the public for the first time in 16 years.

Three tour dates have been set up as a trial run (April 1, May 6 and June 3), and Adriano Ciotoli of Windsor Eats says they sold out in just five hours.

"We're going to be having the discussions to see, when these three tours are done, if any tweaks need to be made," he explains. "If [the distillery] is still interested in moving forward, [we want to know] how can we move forward, adding more dates and keeping the tour going."

Ciotoli says the Drinks of Walkerville tour has always included the Canadian Club brand centre, and they'd been hoping to add the distillery at some point, but the announcement of the Canadian Club centre closure expedited the process.

The overall demand for this tour surprised Ciotoli, who now believes it could be a game changer for local tourism. He's been getting calls from people all over North America who want to see the distillery.

The tour includes lessons about how various brands of whiskey under the Pernod Ricard name are made, also the history of the distillery and what it's meant to the local and national economy, dating back to 1858.

Hiram Walker & Sons is the largest distillery in Canada, and one of the largest on the continent.

"I certainly get a lot of media attention from around the world come to this site and say, 'Man, you guys really make great quality stuff here. You do some unique styles of whiskey," says Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore. "I think it's time to bring that story to life."

Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore educating a group about the Canadian whiskey made at Windsor's distillery, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore educating a group about the Canadian whiskey made at Windsor's distillery, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

A fermentation pot at Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)A fermentation pot at Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore educating a group about the Canadian whiskey made at Windsor's distillery, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore educating a group about the Canadian whiskey made at Windsor's distillery, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

Corn from a fermentation pot at Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Corn from a fermentation pot at Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

One of the original grind stones used for grain at Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery. It was recently dragged out of the Detroit River, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)One of the original grind stones used for grain at Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery. It was recently dragged out of the Detroit River, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

A distillation pot at Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)A distillation pot at Hiram Walker & Sons distillery on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

The new bar at the JP Wiser's brand centre. Part of the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery tour, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)The new bar at the JP Wiser's brand centre. Part of the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery tour, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

An education room at the JP Wiser's brand centre. Part of the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery tour, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)An education room at the JP Wiser's brand centre. Part of the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery tour, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

A wall of whiskey at different stages, found at the JP Wisers brand centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)A wall of whiskey at different stages, found at the JP Wisers brand centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore and Windsor Eats Co-Owner Adriano Ciotoli welcome a media group to the new JP Wiser's Brand Centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore and Windsor Eats Co-Owner Adriano Ciotoli welcome a media group to the new JP Wiser's Brand Centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

Whiskey samples at the JP Wiser's brand centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Whiskey samples at the JP Wiser's brand centre on Riverside Dr. in Windsor, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore educating a group about the Canadian whiskey made at Windsor's distillery, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Hiram Walker & Sons Master Blender Don Livermore educating a group about the Canadian whiskey made at Windsor's distillery, March 22, 2017. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)

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