LUMSDEN — A small Saskatchewan distillery is making a big statement in the Canadian whisky world.
Last Mountain Distillery has captured national attention after sweeping the top three spots in one category at the Whisky Explorer Awards—an achievement rarely seen in the industry.
Its Baldur’s whisky line earned gold, silver and bronze recently in the highly competitive Best Canadian Whisky (aged six-10 years) category, marking a clean sweep against larger, established brands from across the country.
“It’s very cool. Anytime you get recognized for some of the stuff you're producing kind of reassures you that what you're creating, people are loving, and that you're on the right track,” explained co-owner and general manager Braeden Raiwet.
“And then to make it even better, cleaning up all three awards in a category is very special. You don’t see that very often.”
A rare clean sweep in a competitive field
The Whisky Explorer Awards, held annually in Ontario, are judged through blind tastings by independent experts, removing brand bias and focusing purely on what’s in the glass.
That makes Last Mountain Distillery’s result even more significant.
Competing against national brands with decades — sometimes centuries — of history, the Lumsden operation didn’t just place. It dominated.
“Especially when you go against some of the national or bigger brands that have been around for years and years … If we’re able to win awards right alongside or better than them, it really just goes to show that the quality of our whisky is right there,” Raiwet noted.
From garage startup to grain-to-glass success
Founded in 2010, the distillery began in a modest two-car garage. Over time, it has grown into a cornerstone of Saskatchewan’s craft spirits industry, often credited as the province’s first micro-distillery.
That growth has mirrored the evolution of its whisky.
“When we first started making whisky, we were releasing things that were three, four years … more entry-level,” Raiwet explained.
“Whereas now our stuff is getting to that age where it’s more mature, it’s more of a sipping whisky.”
That maturity — now reaching the six-to-10-year range — has opened the door to national recognition.
Built on Saskatchewan grain
A key part of the distillery’s identity is its deep connection to local agriculture.
Nearly all of the grains used in production are sourced from Saskatchewan farmers, reinforcing a true “grain-to-glass” approach.
“It’s nice to have that connection and people know what they’re drinking or where their stuff’s coming from,” Raiwet said.
“And I think that’s one of the best things about Saskatchewan too … people support people in Saskatchewan.”
That local sourcing not only strengthens the product’s authenticity but also ties its success directly to the province’s agricultural backbone.
Craft flexibility driving innovation
Unlike large-scale producers focused on consistency, Last Mountain Distillery leans into small-batch experimentation.
Each release can vary in grain composition, aging process, or barrel finishing — creating a diverse portfolio designed to appeal to a wide range of whisky drinkers.
“We’re not just mass producing one style of whisky,” Raiwet told. “We’re doing smaller batches … playing around with different grains, different finishes.”
That flexibility has helped the Baldur’s brand, launched roughly a year and a half ago, quickly gain traction both in Saskatchewan and across Canada.
There is, however, a catch.
With batches typically ranging from 130 to 300 bottles, many releases sell out quickly and are never reproduced exactly the same way.
“Once a release is sold out, it’s gone,” Raiwet explained, adding that future batches may offer similar profiles but never identical ones.
For whisky enthusiasts, that scarcity adds another layer of appeal — and urgency.
More than medals
While the awards themselves come with no financial prize, their impact is undeniable.
“There’s no big trophy or cash prizes,” Raiwet said. “It’s more of bragging rights and reassurance.”
And for a Saskatchewan distillery competing on a national stage, that reassurance carries weight. It signals not just success, but arrival.
After more than a decade of growth, experimentation and patience, Last Mountain Distillery is no longer just part of Canada’s craft whisky conversation. It’s helping lead it.
