THIS IS OUR STORY

THIS IS OUR HISTORY

THIS IS OUR FUTURE

Celebrating 7 Years of Copperhead!

We’re proud to mark 7 amazing years with the release of our Signature Series 7-Year Canadian Whisky – Copper Bond, launched April 3, 2024. Copper symbolizes prosperity, good luck, and good fortune—a perfect fit for this milestone.

We were saddened by the closure of South River Brewing Co., a longtime partner in events and Chiller Can co-packaging. They’ll be deeply missed in the commmunity.

We’re excited to continue Chiller Can production with Brock St Brewing Co. in Whitby, ON and launch a new flavour Watermelon Moonshine

Copperhead joined the Muskoka Maple Trail and the First Annual Almaguin Maple Syrup Festival at Hubbert’s Maple Farm. We also joined Muskoka Tourism for the Muskoka Cranberry Route, featuring our Spiced Cranberry Chiller and Cranberry cocktail recipes.

The LCBO strike in July 2024 brought an influx of new visitors to our distillery—making for a truly busy and exciting summer. We welcomed many new faces and shared our passion for craft spirits with even more of our community.

While The Tattie Shack couldn’t reopen for summer 2024, we’re lining up a new Mexican-style food truck for 2025!

Here’s to another great year at Copperhead!

Cheers to 6 Years of Copperhead!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Copperhead Distillery’s 6-Year Anniversary with our Signature Series 6-Year Canadian Whisky – Iron Ring Edition, released April 3, 2023. Named in honour of CEO Sharon Ferchat’s father, Frank, and his 37-year career as a civil engineer.

Building the Copperhead Experience

This year, we focused on making Copperhead even more of a tourist destination. While we were sad (and a bit jealous :P) to see the Smokin’ Blonde BBQ Shack move to Belize, we were excited to welcome The Tattie Shack to our Licensed Patio this year – bringing fresh flavours and a hearty new menu to our guests. We've built more local collaborations (89 Main, Hubbert’s Maple Syrup, Muskoka Gourmet). Our spirits are now featured in more local hot spots like Canvas, Twiggs, Bracebridge Barrelhouse, 3 Guys & a Stove and Muskoka Farm Store. We hit the road too – making appearances at events like North On Tap and The Bay Block Party to expand the Copperhead community.

We said goodbye to gallon jugs due to supply issues, and welcomed 3L tetra bags.

Our CHILLER Cans are a hit! Now available year-round: Rye + Ginger, Blackberry, Raspberry, with seasonal flavours Tropical, Cranberry Spiced and Orchard.

We currently have 3 products in the LCBO in over 100+ locations across Ontario.
While Ironcat was delisted from the LCBO, Smokin Gun is still available at Copperhead.

Here’s to another incredible year of growth, great spirits, and good times at Copperhead!

2022 was a big year! We launched our seasonal Coppercino Cream (Cappuccino), debuted a new website and POS system, introduced a seasonal sampler set, added travel mugs, and expanded our Muskoka Gourmet partnership to include our delicious new Boozy Jams <3

Celebrating 5 Years of Copperhead!

We proudly released our Signature Series 5-Year Canadian Whisky on April 3, 2022, and celebrated 5 years in our Sundridge location on December 20.

Fan Favourites & Exciting New Additions

Summer Favourites: Cin-A-Bun, Strawberry Cream, Vanilla Vodka, and of course, The Juicebags!

We also launched our now-popular CHILLER Cans—a lighter, fizzy take on our Juicebags—created in collaboration with South River Brewing Co.

Due to increasing shipping costs, we've returned to Ontario-only delivery

Introducing the Copperhead Patio

Our brand new Copperhead Patio made its debut, quickly becoming a summer hot spot!
Guests enjoyed Chiller Cans, Apple Pie Moonshine, and BBQ from The Smokin’ Blonde.

Thanks for an unforgettable year—and cheers to many more!

Copperhead expanded into more LCBO locations, with our 4 LCBO products now in over 100 locations across the province! We got the go-ahead to start shipping orders to Nova Scotia, BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, expanding our brand from provincial to national! We are in the works of trying to get licenses to ship to the remaining provinces.

What a year! Despite COVID-19 and provincial lockdowns, we kept moving forward and growing stronger.

Community Events Return
While lockdowns paused our May 2-4 BBQ again, we came back strong for Labour Day / Customer Appreciation BBQ—our biggest turnout ever! The day featured:

Live music from Johnsons Creek and Davey Meloy, Food by Whispering Pines Farm, Classic cars from the North Bay Cruisers, Hunter’s Bay Radio coverage, and Live chainsaw carving by Jake Rhodes (Northern Rhodes Artistry).

We launched our Signature Series 2021 – The Four Brothers Batch (4-year Canadian Whisky, released April 3, 2021), exciting flavours like Pumpkin Pie for fall and Spiked Eggnog for Christmas.
Summer hit hard with the debut of our Juice Bags flying off the shelves (ready-to-drink 12% cocktails, transporting you to the tropics).

We also partnered with Muskoka Gourmet to carry their sauces, jellies, and oils in-store.

After 2020’s sell-out, our Advent Tree Calendars returned in a big way—1,000+ sets sold in 2021!
New labels, a redesigned box, cocktail recipes, and a fun photo contest made this a customer favourite.

Copperhead expanded into more LCBO locations, with our 4 LCBO products now in over 100 locations across the province! We began shipping orders to Nova Scotia, BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, expanding our brand from provincial to national! We are in the works of trying to get licenses to ship to the remaining provinces.

In-store you will see more seasonal selections rotating through to allow us to offer a wider range of delicious spirits and liqueurs. Another big change... new custom-branded mason jars with copper lids

On December 16, 2021, we marked Copperhead's 5-Year Anniversary with pride and gratitude.

Here’s to growth, resilience, and great spirits—cheers from the Copperhead team!

2020 was a pivotal year for Copperhead Distillery. Under the leadership of President/CEO Sharon Ferchat, Craig’s wife, and the dedicated Copperhead team, we worked tirelessly to carry on Craig’s legacy and grow the business through an unpredictable time.

Stepping Up During the Pandemic
When COVID-19 hit, we quickly pivoted to produce hand sanitizer starting in April 2020, helping supply local retailers and first responders during the global shortage. We’re proud to have supported our community through multiple waves of the pandemic.

Though we had to cancel our May 2-4 BBQ, we were thrilled to have the restrictions lifted in time for our Labour Day Customer Appreciation BBQ—a packed, high-energy event featuring: Food from Whispering Pines Farm, Fantastic performances by Johnson’s Creek and Davey Meloy and A visit from the North Bay Cruisers Classic Cars

Signature Release & New Products
On May 3, 2020, we launched our second Signature Series – The Founders Batch, our first 3-year aged Canadian Whisky, fulfilling one of Craig’s dreams. The limited run of 600 bottles sold out with great success.

Other 2020 highlights included:

Canadian Maple Cream, Moonshine Neck Gaiters, New flasks & Glencairn whisky glasses

A special Whisky Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, in collaboration with Hubbert's Maple using the barrel from our Founders Batch Whisky and their award-winning maple syrup

A New Holiday Tradition
We launched our first-ever Advent Tree Calendars, featuring 24 mini bottles, daily cocktail ideas, and custom wooden stands made by Lake House Carvings. This trial was a huge hit and will return as a new Copperhead holiday tradition.

Thank you for standing with us through a challenging but inspiring year. Here’s to resilience, community, and great whisky!

When Craig Ferchat, founder of Copperhead Distillery, set his mind to creating something, he did anything possible to make it a reality. 2019 was a year of legacy and growth. Following the passing of founder Craig Ferchat, the Copperhead team pressed forward, inspired by his unmatched determination and vision.

Honouring Craig & Bob Ferchat

On April 3, 2019—what would have been Craig’s 59th birthday—we proudly released the first batch of our Signature Series: a barrel-aged moonshine filled by Craig in 2017.
Only 400 bottles were produced, featuring signatures from Craig and his father Bob, and the iconic “Ironcat”—a nod to the Ferchat name and legacy.

2019 also marked the beginning of Copperhead’s beloved annual events, including May 2-4, Labour Day, and Customer Appreciation Days, which drew thousands to the Almaguin Highlands regionand cemented our place in the local community.

A foundational year that honoured the past while laying the groundwork for Copperhead’s future.

2018 began with the addition of 15 new aging barrels, expanding Copperhead’s capacity to 5,400 litres and laying the groundwork for the future release of its first 3-year aged Canadian Whisky in 2020.

The team introduced new liqueurs—Strawberry Monkey Cream and Cin-A-Bun Cream—and expanded its line of branded merchandise, continuing to grow both in product variety and production capability.

To celebrate the first full year in the Sundridge location, Copperhead hosted its first annual Customer Appreciation Day on December 23rd, with overwhelming support from the community and visitors alike.

Just days later, Copperhead suffered a heartbreaking loss.
Craig Ferchat, founder of Copperhead Distillery, passed away on December 27, 2018. His passing left a profound void in the Copperhead and Ferchat family. His legacy and vision continue to guide the distillery today.

2017 was a breakthrough year. Craig Ferchat created what would become a fan favourite—Apple Pie Moonshine—and four Copperhead products were accepted into the LCBO. As word spread, monthly customer traffic soared.

This unexpected success encouraged Craig to develop more spirits to meet the growing demand from customers.

The surge in popularity made Copperhead a must-visit stop for seasonal cottagers and tourists, prompting Craig to consider a larger, more accessible location.

After one in operation, Copperhead moved to Sundridge, Ontario, into a facility eight times the size of the original. On December 20, 2017, the new 9,000 sq ft space—complete with a retail store, bottling line, and shipping hub—officially opened, with incredible support from the community.

2017 marked the start of Copperhead’s journey from local gem to a growing Ontario brand.

In early 2016, Craig Ferchat and his family began planning a craft distillery in the Almaguin Highlands, an area close to their hearts. Seeing the rise of craft spirits in Ontario, Craig applied for a distillery license in May 2016.

Once approved, Craig converted a 1,000 sq ft garage on the family’s Burk’s Falls property into Copperhead’s first distillery—handling everything from production to bottling and retail.

While building the space, Craig perfected his first four products: Magnetawan Rye Moonshine, Black Currant Vodka, Coconut Pirate Rum and Smokin’ Gun Moonshine

After a year of hard work, Copperhead Distillery officially opened its doors on December 16, 2016. With only word-of-mouth and a local press release, no one could have predicted the incredible journey that was just beginning.