Colin Schmidt, a former NHL player, was living in Colorado when he discovered that his friend was distilling vodka and infusing it with pineapple in Hawaii.

“Now that’s a business I’d enjoy,” commented Schmidt offhandedly.

Coincidentally, Colin had just met his future wife, Meredith. But rather than moving to a tropical island, the new couple returned to Colin’s home province of Saskatchewan.

After their relocation, Colin and Meredith started crafting vodka as a hobby. They were inspired by Ian Smilie’s definitive book about distilling. On a whim, Colin sent the author an email explaining their idea for starting a micro-distillery.

To Colin’s amazement, he wrote back, offering his help to the two Saskatchewan entrepreneurs. Unbeknownst to the couple, Schmidt’s email had arrived at precisely the right time. Smilie, a master in the art of distilling, had recently launched a consulting business and was looking for his first client.

It was the opportunity of a lifetime for the Schmidts. Smilie taught them how to make whiskey. He taught them about enzymes and how to dial in the pH. Most importantly, he shared his tried-and-true recipes.

Their timing was perfect in other ways, too.

In 2010, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority had re-written its policies to allow micro-distilleries in the province. The Schmidts drafted their business plan.

By the following year, the Last Mountain Distillery opened, based out of Colin and Meredith’s garage, and produced the first batch of Last Mountain Lake Distillery Vodka. The heart of the prairie grain belt where they chose to live is a rich source for many of the raw ingredients they now use in the distillery.

The vodka was a resounding success, and they rapidly outgrew the confines of their car garage! A year and a half after capping the first bottle, they opened their new (and present) location along highway 20 at the Lumsden exit.

With the business booming, Colin met Darryl Babey, a local investor who was welcomed on board as a partner during this rapid growth phase.

In 2014, they launched their unique Dill Pickle Vodka and a Prairie Cherry Whiskey. Both have become extremely popular; their dill pickle vodka has become synonymous with Last Mountain Lake Distillery.

“Most people who know about LML distillery know about our dill pickle vodka,” said Schmidt.

A further expansion came in 2017, adding more space and a canning machine. This opened the door for their first cans of Coolers. Each year new products are added to the line. And in 2018, Saskatoon Berry Vodka made its debut.

Even the bottles reflect their strong roots in Saskatchewan — in 2019, they designed a heavy glass bottle shaped like a traditional wooden prairie grain elevator to hold their products.

Fast forward to the present, in 2021, the Last Mountain Lake Distillery crafts vodka, gin, whiskey and rum. Starting with their award-winning spirits and infusing natural flavours, the flavoured spirits are crafted.

They are best known for their signature Dill Pickle Vodka, a corn- based Vodka naturally infused with fresh cucumber, dill, and garlic. The flavour is based on a dill pickle recipe passed down from Colin’s grandmother!

Explore the many other flavours at the distillery with unique creations like Cherry Sipper, Dill Pickle Caesar, and Coffee Flavoured Liquor.

At Last Mountain Lake Distillery, they take pride in sourcing most of their ingredients locally, including wheat, rye, and cherries. They chose to live in the heart of the prairie grain belt, a rich source for many of the raw ingredients they now use in the distillery.

With each 2,000-litre mash (batch) holding 500 kilograms of grain, they use plenty of Saskatchewan-grown grains each year.

Nineteen employees under the direction of Braeden Raiwet, general manager and head distiller, work at the distillery creating these worldclass spirits. Their unique Prairie Cherry Whiskey and Hazelnut Cream Liqueur are offered during the holiday season for a limited time.

Last Mountain Lake Distillery products are available in retailers across the province, including the Davidson Co-op. For your convenience and safety products can also be purchased online at https://lastmountaindistillery. com/shop and contactless pick-up in Lumsden. The distillery email is info@dillpicklevodka.com.

(Lowell Strauss is a member of a number of outdoor organizations, including the Outdoor Writers Association of America.)

-Lowell Strauss