Women of Spirits: Laura Bradley of King’s Lock Craft Distillery
A committed environmentalist who has designed her life and business around the principles of sustainability, Laura Bradley is one of those rare people who really are trying to be the change they want to see in the world. As a result, King’s Lock Craft Distillery, which she opened with her husband, Rob Heuvel, in 2015, is hyperlocal and produces award-winning certified-organic spirits with as small a footprint as humanly possible.
The Spirits
Both of Bradley’s top picks from the King’s Lock portfolio — Prescott Rye and 1000 Islands Organic Moonshine — have earned medals from the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition. Those familiar with the products will know why: the white rye perfectly balances spicy and sweet, and the moonshine (a sugar cane spirit, so it’s similar to rum) offers a truly unique whisper of oak, chocolate and vanilla.
We sacrifice a little efficiency for quality, because the process we use is a little more handcrafted, and we’re trying to make things more local. But if you want to endeavour to make something of quality, then you have to be committed to it. You can’t be half in and half out.
The Distillery
Located near Prescott, Ont., on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, King’s Lock is a family-run facility that’s completely powered by green energy and diligently recycles as much of its water and waste as it can. And never mind the 100-Mile Diet: much of the grain used to make the spirits at King’s Lock comes from farms so close to the distillery they’re practically within walking distance.
How to Enjoy
Whisky Sour
Manhattan
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