Our Story: The History of Dunrobin Distilleries
High School Friends Dream Big
High school friends Adrian Spitzer and Mark Watson pursue their dream: to create world-class craft spirits in the Ottawa region—spirits that would stand shoulder to shoulder with the best.
Getting down to work
Adrian builds a small still and starts developing a spirit line and Mark plants a botanical garden on his certified organic 10-acre hobby farm in Dunrobin, Ontario. A garage on the farm is converted into a lab for experimenting with recipes for both clear and aged spirits.
Together with Adrian’s wife, Laura Zentner, the trio develops a detailed business plan and applies for a spirits manufacturing licence. Mark takes on the role of President, Adrian becomes Secretary and Treasurer, and Laura leads administration.
Adam Malmberg joins the company, first as a consultant working with the hospitality industry and the Alcohol Gaming Commission Ontario (AGCO) and later as a key partner in the company overseeing all things client and consumer facing.
Work the Plan
On October 9, Dunrobin Distilleries Limited is officially registered as an Ontario corporation. Later that year, the team receives their Spirits Manufacturing Licence, and Adrian and Mark earn their Scotch Whisky Diplomas from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy in Scotland. The team grows to seven.
2019
The search for seed capital begins. Ten angel investors from the Ottawa area step forward to help fund the vision. Jonathan Hatchell joins the company as VP of Sales & Marketing, bringing critical mentorship during this growth phase.
Dunrobin receives their spirits manufacturing license from the CRA and the company is now in business.
The now-iconic Dunrobin bottle enters production and goes on to win numerous design awards.
2020
As the pandemic strikes, Dunrobin pivots to manufacturing hand sanitizer, working up to 16-hour days to meet urgent demand. In July, the team expands to a second location in Vankleek Hill, partnering with Beau’s Brewery to repurpose 1,500 sq. ft. of space to extract alcohol from over 400,000 litres of unsold draft beer, production continues 24/7. For these efforts, Dunrobin receives a Humanitarian Award for its pandemic response.
2021
With businesses reopening, Dunrobin returns its focus to artisanal spirits. The iconic Earl Grey gin and Canadian rye whisky are fully developed, and Dunrobin’s Canadian whisky wins silver at the American Whiskey Competition. The Artisanal Vodka becomes the first spirit accepted by the LCBO. Staff expands to 20.
