Serena Sabourin is a director with the Monkland Community Association, but she also promotes Vodkow, an interesting alcoholic beverage created from milk permeate. Many interested shoppers were sampling the product at the Monkland Christmas Craft Show. Tinkess Photo

MONKLAND – In an era when consumers are increasingly curious about where their food and drink come from, a small-batch spirit made in the Ottawa Valley is earning attention well beyond its rural roots. Vodkow, produced in Almonte by Dairy Distillery, has carved out a niche in Ontario’s craft spirits market by pairing innovative production methods with a local story that resonates.

Vodkow is available both as a vodka and as a cream liquor.  The unusual part is that it is distilled using milk permeate, a dairy byproduct that would otherwise have limited commercial use. Through careful fermentation and distillation, the permeate is transformed into a clean, neutral spirit that stands comfortably alongside traditional grain- or potato-based vodkas. Oh, and it’s lactose free.

The result is a smooth, subtly creamy spirit that retains the clarity expected of vodka without any pronounced dairy flavour. For most consumers, a blind tasting would place Vodkow squarely in the “vodka” category, though its origin sets it apart from mainstream brands.

Vodkow is best understood as a craft vodka. It appeals to those who are fans of neutral spirits, and consumers who appreciate local, small-batch production. But its dairy-derived base places it in a growing niche of “alternative foundation” spirits,  products that use unconventional agriculture-based inputs. Similar products include vodkas made from honey, maple sap or fruit, all of which have become increasingly common in the craft distilling world.

Vodkow also appeals to consumers who prefer to support Ontario-made or locally made goods, as well as those who are attracted to environmentally conscious or waste-reduction production practices. Turning milk permeate into a value-added product has been a major part of Vodkow’s story, and it’s a narrative that resonates with both rural and urban buyers.

It’s one reason why Serena Sabourin was promoting Vodkow as a vendor at the Monkland Christmas Craft show earlier this year. “It’s a great product to have because not everyone’s tried it yet. It’s also something that’s local, and to me, that’s the most important thing, especially when doing the vendor shows, is to keep everyone local.”

Vodkow draws a broad audience: foodies, mixologists, and buyers looking for something with a story, something they can bring out at a gathering and say, “This is made from milk sugar.”

As a small producer, Dairy Distillery relies on a mix of direct and wholesale distribution channels. In Almonte, the distillery’s retail store remains the best place for sampling and purchasing, and it has become a steady draw for day-trippers and tourists exploring the region.

By choosing a combination of distribution routes, Vodkow has been able to extend its market footprint without losing the small-batch identity that defines it.

Another interesting characteristic of Vodkow is the range of flavours and seasonal expressions released throughout the year. “We have multiple flavors,” says Sabourin. “We always have our chocolate, maple, vanilla and dark roast coffee, but we also have our seasonal flavors, things like eggnog, chocolate, orange chocolate mint and White Russian.”

These small-run releases can sell out quickly and have become a key part of the distillery’s local following. For many buyers, the rotating lineup is an added incentive to return or check for new products online.

For the mixologists in the group, the range of recipes that can include Vodkow is limited only by your imagination. To help you get started though, the company has two pages of tempting recipes on it’s website. And if you prefer a more classic approach, you could try it in your coffee (hot or iced) or even in hot chocolate.

You can find Vodkow being promoted at different locations, but you can also order online at Vodkow.com and they have free shipping for most of Canada (certain conditions apply).

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