Persian Empire Distillery
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Peterborough, Ontario · Online shop · persianempire1.com
Company size not establishedMain products hit
Persian Empire makes Arak Saggi distilled from sultana raisins, an oak-aged XO brandy, Otonabee River gin and triple-distilled vodka, coffee, pomegranate and coconut rum liqueurs, and Aria beer in Peterborough.
Persian Empire's arak, brandy, gin, vodka, liqueurs and beer are Canadian drinks under HTS 2208.90.75, 2208.20.40, 2208.50.00, 2208.60.20, 2208.70.00 and 2203.00.00, 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. PTBO Today reported in 2024 that the distillery ships its products across Canada and the United States.Source: whitehouse.gov, Sep 29, 2026
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Made in Canada
The distillery describes itself as "a Peterborough based manufacturer, and seller of alcoholic beverages since 2006", and says its flagship Arak Saggi "is made by distilling sultana raisins".
On the tariff list
- HTS 2203.00.00 · Beer made from malt · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The home page sells "Aria Beer", and PTBO Today says the distillery expanded "to include Aria beer", beer made from malt under HTS 2203.00.00.
- HTS 2208.20.40 · Grape brandy, other than pisco and singani, in containers each holding not over 4 liters, valued over $3.43/liter · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
"Persian Empire Brandy" (750 mL, 40%, $35.95) is aged in oak and "derived from a perfect blend of international and local Canadian wine", grape brandy valued over $3.43 a litre under HTS 2208.20.40.
- HTS 2208.50.00 · Gin and Geneve · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The site sells "Otonabee River Spirits Dry Gin" (42%, 750ml), gin 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
"Otonabee River Vodka" (40%, 750ml, $39.25) is "triple distilled for maximum smoothness", vodka valued over $2.05 a litre 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 home page lists "Persian Empire Coffee aged in barrel" (22.5%), "Persian Empire Pomegranate" (20%) and "Persian Empire Coconut Rum" (19%), sweetened spirit liqueurs under HTS 2208.70.00.
- HTS 2208.90.75 · Spirits nesoi, fit for use as beverages or for beverage purposes · 50% since Aug 22, 2026
The flagship "Arak Saggi" (40%, 750ml) "is made by distilling sultana raisins", a raisin spirit that is not whisky, gin, vodka or brandy, under HTS 2208.90.75.
Rates are the additional US duty under Section 338. About the tariffs
Sources
- persianempire1.com · accessed 2026-09-29
636 Queensway Court Peterborough, Ontario Canada K9J 7V6
- persianempire1.com · accessed 2026-09-29
The Persian Empire Distillery is a Peterborough based manufacturer, and seller of alcoholic beverages since 2006.
- persianempire1.com · accessed 2026-09-29
Arak Saggi is a popular Persian drink that is made by distilling sultana raisins.
- persianempire1.com · accessed 2026-09-29
Our vodka is tasteless and odorless, triple distilled for maximum smoothness.
- persianempire1.com · accessed 2026-09-29
CDC Inc. is owned by Bruce Khabbazi (Senior Product Developer).
- ptbotoday.ca · accessed 2026-09-29
Now, with 15 employees – most of those fulltime – Persian Empire has a strong LCBO presence as well as ships its products across Canada, the United States, Australia and several European countries.
- ptbotoday.ca · accessed 2026-09-29
he focused on expanding the distillery’s product line to include Aria beer
- whitehouse.gov · accessed 2026-09-29
2208.90.75
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