Highwood Distillers
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High River, Alberta · Online shop · highwood-distillers.com
Company size not establishedMain products hit
Highwood distills Canadian whisky such as Centennial and White Owl from unmilled Alberta wheat, rye and corn in High River, along with vodkas, gins and liqueurs.
The U.S. isn't affecting us in terms of our product movement or sale, because we're so focused on our own side of the borderSource: whitehouse.gov, Sep 29, 2026
Highwood's whisky, gin, vodka and liqueurs are Canadian spirits under HTS 2208.30.60, 2208.50.00, 2208.60.20 and 2208.70.00, which carried a 50% US duty from August 22, 2026 and, since September 29, 2026, can no longer be imported into the United States at all. Its president told CBC the company left the US market after the 2013 High River flood and now sells in Canada.
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In their own words
We're trying to mitigate anything going through the U.S, and we've been quite successful at that
Michael Nychyk, president, Highwood Distillers (via CBC News) · cbc.ca, Sep 3, 2026
On US-sourced bottles and labels, the main tariff effect on a distillery that sells in Canada.
The U.S. isn't affecting us in terms of our product movement or sale, because we're so focused on our own side of the border
Michael Nychyk, president, Highwood Distillers (via CBC News) · cbc.ca, Sep 3, 2026
Explaining that Highwood left the US market after the June 2013 flood and has focused on Canada since.
Quoted word for word from public posts and articles. Owners can claim the listing to add or remove a quote.
Made in Canada
Highwood says it runs every step in its own still house: "Beginning with our beer still and refining it through our pot, we carefully make the right cuts at just the right moments."
On the tariff list
- HTS 2208.30.60 · Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 percent vol.; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages, Whiskies, Other · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The whisky page lists "HIGHWOOD 5 YEAR OLD CANADIAN WHISKY" and the distillery page "CENTENNIAL 10 YEAR OLD CANADIAN RYE WHISKY"; Canadian whisky falls under HTS 2208.30.60.
- HTS 2208.50.00 · Gin and Geneve · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The gin page lists "EMPIRE GIN", "SAHARA DRY GIN" and "POTTER’S LONDON DRY GIN"; gin falls under HTS 2208.50.00.
- HTS 2208.60.20 · Vodka, in containers each holding not over 4 liters, valued over $2.05/liter · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The vodka page lists "PRISTINA VODKA" and "FOOTHILLS GLUTEN FREE VODKA", made by "carefully repeated distillation of quality grains"; bottled vodka falls under HTS 2208.60.20.
- HTS 2208.70.00 · Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 percent vol.; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages, Liqueurs and cordials · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The liqueurs page lists "COLITA COFFEE DEL SOL", "CHINA WHITE CRÈME DE CACAO" and "MIDNIGHT BLUE SAMBUCA"; liqueurs fall under HTS 2208.70.00.
Rates are the additional US duty under Section 338. About the tariffs
Sources
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
THE DISTILLERY IS LOCATED IN HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA.
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
Since 1974, Highwood Distillers, proudly owned by Caldera Distilling Inc., has stood in the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
To this day, it still remains privately owned.
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
Beginning with our beer still and refining it through our pot, we carefully make the right cuts at just the right moments.
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
We distill each wheat variety individually, storing them separately, then later combining them to create our desired flavour profiles.
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
Our acclaimed Canadian whisky brands like Centennial, White Owl, Highwood 5 Year Old Whisky, and Potters Special Old, alongside a diverse range of vodka, rum, gin, and liqueurs
- highwood-distillers.com · accessed 2026-09-29
Highwood’s master blender imports the most delicious Caribbean Rum to create our portfolio of white, amber and dark rums.
- cbc.ca · accessed 2026-09-29
The business pulled out of the U.S. market after the devastating June 2013 flood in High River and Calgary
- whitehouse.gov · accessed 2026-09-29
2208.30.60
- whitehouse.gov · accessed 2026-09-29
2208.50.00
- whitehouse.gov · accessed 2026-09-29
2208.60.20
- whitehouse.gov · accessed 2026-09-29
2208.70.00
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