Greater Sudbury will soon be home to its own distillery. Shane Prodan plans to open Crosscut Distillery by the end of the summer, producing locally made vodka, gin and whiskey (or, if you prefer, whisky, since Canadian and Scotch varieties omit the "e").
When it opens, it'll be the second such business operating in Northern Ontario, following in the footsteps of Rheault Distillery in Hearst, Ont.
Prodan said there's been an explosion in small distilleries opening across the province and across North America, much in the same way as craft microbreweries have also been popping up everywhere.
“Two years ago, when I developed the business plan, there was five distilleries in the province,” he said. “There's 20 operational now, and probably another half a dozen at the same phase as myself. The increase is exponential.”
Crosscut Distillery will use Northern Ontario ingredients whenever possible, and will also produce seasonal batches of more unusual spirits.
Prodan and his wife are originally from Elliot Lake, but lived in Ottawa for years. There Prodan — who has a degree in toxicology — worked for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, regulating alcohol.
The couple moved to Greater Sudbury two years ago because they wanted to raise their two young kids here, closer to where they grew up.
“It's nice to be able to have a chance to build something that's our own, something that's new, something good for the North,” Prodan said.
Crosscut Distillery, by the way, will be located on Kelly Lake Road, across the road from the city's only microbrewery, Stack Brewing, and a few doors down from Ristorante Verdicchio.
Prodan said that's a coincidence, although a happy one.
“We had to be in an industrial park,” said Prodan, who's renovating a 3,600 square foot former machine shop to house his business, which will include a tasting room and retail area, as well as the distilling operation.
“I think we couldn't ask for better. We have two great neighbourhoods right there, there's a population base, and Stack's across the way.”
To keep up to date on what's happening with Crosscut Distillery, join the business' Facebook page.
