Winnipeg: City hall committee shows its spirits, gives downtown distillery a green light

When it comes to alcohol, consumer trends are outpacing regulator’s ability to keep a handle on the new and emerging business models. One example is the emergence of boutique local distillers, a business type that’s hard to fit in many cities licensing policies. But in Winnipeg, they made room. Patent 5 Distillery is expected to open in February with gin, vodka, and whiskey distilled from local agricultural products.