“I feel excited,” said Manuela Teixeira, the president and CEO of Square Old Chelsea, this recreational tourism project of which the Square Distillery is a part. “I am happy to finally open, after this long and complex work. From now on, the work is about welcoming people and giving them an experience.”
The Distillerie du Square project is the fruit of eight years of hard work, according to Manuela Teixeira, who, with her team, had to visit distilleries in the country and elsewhere to understand the environment, and even take courses on the subject. Several dignitaries from all levels of government were present at the official opening ceremony to take part in a tour of the place which contains a distillation room, a multifunctional room which will transform into a speakeasy bar in the evening, a boutique, even as administrative offices.
Eventually, the distillery will also host outdoor shows, or potentially artisan markets, Christmas markets, festivals, says Ms. Teixeira. “We wondered what we could do that had a connection with the village, which has an interesting link, also educational at the same time, and which could help consolidate this idea of the Square’s destination. After visiting several places all over the world, a distillery, it worked. The people who will come for the distillery will tour our other attractions.”
A sip of Chelsea
La Distillerie du Square currently offers three products, including the Bella Ciao aperitif and the Gin du Jardin. A second “Mediterranean” Gin du Jardin with notes of lemon, olive and pistachio is currently sold exclusively at the distillery boutique, but should be on the shelves of the SAQ in the coming weeks. “We are also working on four other products, three of which should be presented next summer. But we take a lot of time to develop our products, so that they have a long lifespan. If we release a product, we want it to gain notoriety over time. We are more about quality than quantity.”
For the mayor of Chelsea, Pierre Guénard, in addition to the economic development and diversity aspect that the new distillery brings, the location is also good news for employment in his municipality. “I always think of our young people and our residents who can have one more opportunity to work in the village, close to their homes,” he maintained. Every time a visitor takes a bottle home, they will think of Chelsea with every sip.”
Ecomuseum
What makes the distillery unique, it is said, is partly the presence within its walls of an eco-museum which presents the history of spirits in Canada, the history of the microdistillery industry in Quebec and historical anecdotes. “I don’t want to say too much right away, because one aspect of the project is the guided tours where people can learn more about distilling, but also the historical side here upstairs.”
The general director of Outaouais Tourism, Julie Kinnear, believes that the addition of the distillery and its eco-museum completes the Square’s tourist hub. “I admire Ms. Teixeira. When someone like her comes to us with ideas, I already know it’s going to be a quality tourist attraction. Everything is obviously done fairly, but we are always ready to listen to them, because we have the guarantee that if it is signed Manuela Teixeira, it will be of quality.
2023-12-13 01:24:52
#Chelsea #sip #Distillerie #Square
