that for many years. I guess five years ago I started looking into how I would go about launching something like that. Looking at sales at the Lounge, vodka made sense. People wanted to buy local. The answer was to make it ourselves.” From a workplace perspective, Thornley proudly states that the employees tend to have a philanthropic air about them, focusing on creating and working within a community atmosphere. “We’re a company who cares. We’ve all been very active in our various communities, as individuals and as a company.” This positive and “caring” energy doesn’t stop at the community gate, however. Top Shelf’s environmental sensibilities or “Eco-focus” aims to help ensure that future generations have a leg up on sustainability, and don’t get saddled with the after-party clean-up. And yes, that means a direct relationship with the birds and the bees. “The front garden of the distillery is wild flowers growing everywhere. So we partnered with West Coast Seeds and got seeds that would grow plants that would attract pol- linators in an effort to help the bee population.” Their for- ward-looking eco-approach includes the recent installation of a charging port for electric cars. Further, if you have ever been to a large-scale public music festival, you’ll notice the punching of beverage containers under your feet. Top Shelf uses compostable cups and ensures that their space at public events has available recycling bins, providing a leader- ship role in waste reduction and eco-awareness at festivals. For starters, Top Shelf Distillers make a vodka with a 100% locally-sourced corn base. Their website boasts that their vodka possesses “a sweetness that drives people wild and a light, dry finish.” Their London Dry gin makes a similar claim, declaring it “is the ultimate choice for the savvy sipper. Juniper berries and fresh grapefruit peel blend with faint notes of cardamom, angelica, and liquorice to make this an intoxicating combination you won’t be able to keep your hands off of.” All good business. But what about the spirits themselves? Me too. But it was their “Moonshine” that really caught my attention. Remember, this is a rum- running town with a steep history in the prohibition-era nefarious. So naturally, we’d want to open the hidden door in the bookcase and head down to the cellar to find out what’s in the jar. Apparently, I didn’t have to wear the fake moustache after- all. Their Moonshine, in all it’s effervescent flavours, is avail- able at the LCBO stores! (That’s the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, for those of you out of jurisdiction). Maple, Citrus Mint, Apple Pie, Ontario Cherry andWild Blueberry. All made from as many local and natural ingredients as is possible. But what IS moonshine? Again, the word conjures up images of paint-thinning Mason-jar liquids found in copper stills somewhere in the Smokey Mountains. However, the answer is much simpler. “Moonshine has a really loose definition. Thirsty yet?
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2017
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