Canadian whisky lottery draws thousands as trade war shifts buying habits

A Canadian whisky lottery has drawn the attention of thousands of Canadians as trade tensions shift buying habits. Okanagan Spirits, a distillery in Kelowna, received over 42,000 entries for its draw of 5,000 bottles of Laird of Fintry single malt whisky. The company attributes its surge in sales to the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war, which has encouraged more Canadians to seek out homegrown spirits.

Wyatt Cooper-Brown, the manager of Okanagan Spirits' Kelowna location, noted that the bourbon-style whisky has especially strong interest, driving more customers to purchase other products. A recent TD survey found that 79% of Canadians plan to support local or Canadian businesses, with 48% giving this priority over last summer.

Some local residents have also become more mindful of where their purchases originate, with Hubert and Cindy highlighting the importance of supporting Canadian culture. However, Okanagan Spirits faces challenges in increasing production, as its whisky is finished in specialized wine barrels from local wineries, which are in limited supply.

Despite the trade war's mixed impact on businesses, Okanagan Spirits sees the situation as an opportunity to promote Canadian-made spirits. The economic consequences of the trade war vary, with some businesses thriving while others struggle.