The story behind Maverick Distillery
Maverick started in Oakville in 2009, back when Ontario craft spirits were still a rare thing to see on a shelf. Craig and Sally Peters built it as a family distillery and stuck to that plan as it grew.
The name fits. Making vodka from Ontario sweet corn instead of the usual wheat or potato was an odd call at the time. It worked. TAG No.5 went on to become one of the best-selling craft vodkas in the country, and the range now runs from gin to whisky to moonshine.
How Maverick makes its spirits
The house style leans on local grain and a lot of patience. TAG No.5 vodka is distilled five times from Ontario sweet corn, then filtered over several days for a soft, clean finish. It picked up gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011.
The rest of the shelf follows the same local thread. GINSLINGER is built around juniper and botanicals foraged off the Niagara Escarpment, and BARNBURNER whisky blends corn and rye aged three years before a second stint in fresh bourbon barrels.
Frequently asked questions
What is Maverick Distillery known for?
Maverick is best known for TAG No.5, its flagship vodka distilled from Ontario sweet corn. The distillery also makes GINSLINGER gin, BARNBURNER whisky, and Reunion moonshine, all out of Oakville.
Where is Maverick Distillery located?
It sits in Oakville, Ontario, just west of Toronto. The distillery leans hard on local ingredients, from the sweet corn in its vodka to juniper foraged off the nearby Niagara Escarpment.
What makes Maverick's vodka different?
Most vodka starts from wheat or potato. Maverick uses Ontario sweet corn, distilled five times and filtered for days. The result is softer and a touch sweeter, which is why it caught on as a mixing and sipping vodka.
