What spirits are distinctively from Québec?

The most culturally specific drink is caribou — a traditional Québécois mix of red wine and fortified spirit, particularly associated with the Carnaval de Québec. In distilled spirits, Ungava gin (from the Ungava Peninsula, using Arctic botanicals) is Québec's most internationally recognised product. Madame Jean and Romeo's Gin represent the new wave of artisanal gin. Several distilleries in Montréal and the surrounding area now produce excellent whisky and other spirits.

What is caribou exactly and where do I drink it?

Caribou is a warm or cold alcoholic drink traditionally made from red wine (usually a cheap, robust Québécois table wine) mixed with a fortified spirit — historically rye whisky or grain alcohol, now often a fortified wine (porto or fortified grape spirit). The ratio varies: typically 3 parts red wine to 1 part fortified spirit, sometimes with spices. It has been associated with the Carnaval de Québec since the 19th century, where it is sold in the streets in tiny plastic canes during the February festival. Outside Carnaval, it is found at cabanes à sucre and traditional Québécois celebrations.

What is Ungava gin and what makes it different?

Ungava Gin is produced by Domaine Pinnacle in the Eastern Townships and uses six Arctic botanicals harvested from the Ungava Peninsula in northern Québec: wild rose hips, cloudberries, Nordic juniper, Labrador tea, Arctic blend (a species of willow herb), and crowberries. The result is a distinctively flavoured gin with a striking yellow colour from the botanicals — unusual, aromatic, and genuinely Québécois. It is widely exported and available internationally; try it in Québec for a sense of the terroir.

Romeo's Gin is produced in Montréal and uses a softer botanical profile than traditional London Dry gin — more floral, with a distinctly Québécois character from local botanicals. It is the craft gin most frequently cited alongside Ungava as representative of the new Québec gin scene. Available at most SAQ locations and at the distillery.

Are there good Québec whiskies?

Yes, and the scene is growing rapidly. Distillerie de Montréal (based in Verdun, Montréal) produces one of the most interesting rye whiskies in the province — aged in small barrels, with a spicy, complex character. Domaine Lafrance (in the Eastern Townships) also produces a maple-influenced whisky that is distinctively regional. The Québec whisky industry is young by Scottish or Irish standards but developing quality quickly.

Where can I buy Québec craft spirits?

The SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) carries most established Québec spirits. For the widest selection, visit specialised SAQ Dépôt or SAQ Sélection locations. Alternatively, visit distilleries directly — many sell exclusive products at their own boutiques. Distillerie de Montréal in Verdun and the Romeo's Gin distillery in Saint-Henri both have welcoming boutiques and occasional tastings.

Can I bring Québec spirits home in checked luggage?

Yes, within your destination country's duty-free allowance — most European countries allow 1 litre of spirits duty-free per adult, the UK allows 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine. Pack bottles in checked luggage, well wrapped (clothing works fine), since liquids in bottles over 100 mL cannot go in carry-on. Buying at the SAQ near your departure airport or directly from a distillery boutique both work; airport duty-free in Montréal-Trudeau also stocks a small selection of Québec spirits.

Québec spirits guide 2026: caribou, gin, whisky and what to drink

Drinking in Québec beyond beer and wine

Québec’s drinks culture is more complex than its most famous exports (poutine, smoked meat, maple syrup) would suggest. The province has a century-long tradition of home brewing, distilling, and creative fermentation rooted in rural necessity and French-Canadian resourcefulness. That tradition has matured into a serious craft spirits industry over the past two decades, and several distinctively Québécois products are worth seeking out.

This is a practical guide to what to drink, where to find it, and what makes each product worth trying.


Where	SAQ stores, distillery boutiques, Carnaval de Québec streets
Cost	~40 CAD (Ungava gin) to 80 CAD (rye whisky) per bottle
Signature drink	Caribou (red wine + fortified spirit)
Best time	Carnaval (late Jan–mid Feb) for caribou culture
Legal age	18+ in Québec

Caribou: the winter drink

Caribou is the most culturally specific alcoholic drink in Québec and is not a spirit at all — it is a traditional cocktail, or more precisely a punch, made by mixing red wine with a fortified spirit. The name is thought to derive from the Indigenous caribou hunters who mixed fermented grain with whatever alcohol was available.

The traditional recipe: three parts red wine (a robust, inexpensive Québécois table wine is traditional; Baco Noir or Marechal Foch grape wines are typical) to one part rye whisky or grain spirit, sometimes with a pinch of cinnamon or other warm spices. Served warm in winter or cold in summer.

The Carnaval de Québec connection: caribou is inextricably associated with the Carnaval de Québec, the large winter festival in Québec City in late January to mid-February. During Carnaval, small plastic canes filled with caribou are sold throughout the streets of Vieux-Québec. The festive crowd drinks caribou outside in -15°C temperatures, which is both deeply peculiar and somehow exactly right for the event. If you visit during Carnaval, drinking caribou in the cold is a cultural obligation.

Outside Carnaval: caribou appears at cabanes à sucre (often available alongside the traditional meal), at traditional Québécois celebrations, and at some restaurants and bars that lean into regional tradition. You can make it yourself — any SAQ carries the components.

Gin: the Québec craft moment

Gin has become the dominant category in Québec’s craft distilling scene, partly because the province’s cold-climate botanicals offer genuinely distinctive flavour profiles, and partly because gin requires less aging time than whisky, making it easier to bring to market quickly.

Ungava Gin (Domaine Pinnacle, Eastern Townships): The most internationally recognised Québec gin. Made with six botanicals harvested from the Ungava Peninsula in arctic Québec: wild rose hips, cloudberries, Nordic juniper, Labrador tea, Arctic blend, and crowberries. The gin is striking yellow in colour (from the botanicals, no colouring added) and has an unusual aromatic profile — more floral and less juniper-forward than a London Dry. Excellent in a G&T or simply over ice. Available at SAQ and in many international markets. About 40 CAD for 750 mL.

Madame Jean (Montréal distillery): A softer, more citrus-forward gin from Montréal. The botanical blend uses Quebec-foraged plants including sweet grass and spruce tips. One of the most accessible Québec gins for visitors unfamiliar with the local style.

Romeo’s Gin (Saint-Henri, Montréal): Founded by two former bartenders, Romeo’s has quickly developed a reputation for quality and innovation. The original recipe uses a carefully balanced botanical blend; the seasonal editions are inventive. The distillery in Saint-Henri has a boutique and occasional tastings.

Cirka Distilleries (Montréal): Produces several gins including a Montréal Dry Gin that uses a classical botanical profile with local Quebec touches. Their spirits are widely distributed through SAQ.

Whisky: the emerging category

Québec whisky is younger than its gin scene and still establishing its identity, but several producers are producing genuinely good products.

Distillerie de Montréal (Verdun, Montréal): Perhaps the most ambitious whisky producer in the province. Their rye whisky uses Quebec-grown rye and local fermentation expertise from the province’s winemaking scene. Aged in small barrels, it has a spicy, complex character. The distillery in Verdun has a boutique and operates occasional tastings — check their website. About 60–80 CAD for 750 mL.

Domaine Lafrance (Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Laurentides): An apple orchard and distillery that produces apple brandy and a maple-influenced whisky using Quebec maple barrels. The maple aging gives the whisky a distinctly regional character — subtle but unmistakeable. Available at SAQ and at the distillery.

Beer note: the strong end of the spectrum

For those interested in the intersection of craft beer and spirits territory, Trois Mousquetaires (Brossard) produces some of Québec’s finest high-gravity beers — their Imperial Stout has been consistently awarded at international competitions and approaches the complexity of a good spirit in its barrel-aged versions.

Where to experience Québec spirits

SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec): The provincial alcohol monopoly carries the widest legal selection of Québec-made spirits. Large SAQ Sélection or SAQ Dépôt locations have the best range. Staff are often knowledgeable about Quebec products.

Distillery visits: Distillerie de Montréal (Verdun), Romeo’s Gin (Saint-Henri), and Cirka (Montréal) all have accessible boutiques. Call or check websites for opening hours.

Bar programs: Several cocktail bars in Montréal and Québec City have built programs around Québec spirits. L’Express (Plateau) and several craft cocktail bars in Saint-Roch (Québec City) stock the local range well.

Beer bars:

Old Port craft brewery and beer tasting tour covers Montréal’s craft brewing scene and includes context about Québec’s broader drinks culture. 85 CAD, 3 hours.

Making caribou at home: a rough recipe

If you want to recreate the Carnaval experience after you’ve left Québec, the home version is forgiving and doesn’t require exact measurements. Mix roughly three parts inexpensive robust red wine (a Baco Noir or similar) with one part rye whisky, brandy, or a fortified wine like porto, plus a pinch of cinnamon or a clove if you want the traditional spiced edge. Serve it warm in winter (gently heated, never boiled — you’ll cook off the alcohol) or over ice in summer. There is no single “correct” recipe; Québécois families and bars all have their own ratio, and adjusting the fortified-spirit proportion to taste is entirely normal.

Sugar shack pairings: what to drink with a cabane à sucre meal

If you’re visiting a cabane à sucre during maple season (mid-March to mid-April), caribou is a natural pairing with the meal’s rich, fatty dishes (ham, baked beans, pork rillettes), and several sugar shacks serve their own house version alongside the meal. Ungava gin, with its arctic botanical profile, also pairs surprisingly well with maple-forward desserts — the juniper and rose hip notes cut through the sweetness. If you prefer beer, a craft brewery tasting beforehand or afterward rounds out a full day of Québécois food and drink culture.

Cider as the fourth category

Alongside caribou, gin, and whisky, Québec’s cider scene deserves mention — particularly cidre de glace (ice cider), a dessert-style cider made by freeze-concentrating apple juice before fermentation, produced almost exclusively on Île d’Orléans and in the surrounding Charlevoix and Montérégie orchards. It is sweet, intense, and distinctly Québécois, often served alongside or instead of dessert wine. See the Québec cider route guide for tasting-room recommendations, most of which are a short drive from Québec City.

Buying to take home

Most Québec spirits travel well in original bottles. The most giftable items:

Ungava Gin (recognisable bottle, excellent story, widely unavailable elsewhere)
Cidre de glace (technically not a spirit but in the same shopping category)
Maple syrup (not a spirit but pairs perfectly with any of the above)
Distillerie de Montréal rye whisky (available only in Québec)

Check customs regulations for your destination country: most European countries allow 1 litre of spirits duty-free; the UK is 1 litre spirits or 2 litres wine.

Mistakes to avoid

Expecting caribou to taste refined — it’s a rustic winter punch built for drinking outside in the cold, not a craft cocktail; adjust your expectations accordingly.
Buying Québec spirits only at the airport — SAQ Dépôt/Sélection stores and distillery boutiques have far better selection and often better prices than airport duty-free.
Overlooking Ungava gin because the colour looks artificial — the striking yellow comes entirely from the Arctic botanicals, with no added colouring.
Packing spirits in carry-on luggage — bottles must go in checked baggage; pack them well wrapped to avoid breakage.
Ignoring your destination country’s duty-free limit — most European countries cap spirits at 1 litre duty-free per adult; check before buying multiple bottles.

Frequently asked questions about Caribou, gin and Québec spirits: a drinker's primer

What is caribou exactly and where do I drink it?
Caribou is a warm or cold alcoholic drink traditionally made from red wine (usually a cheap, robust Québécois table wine) mixed with a fortified spirit — historically rye whisky or grain alcohol, now often a fortified wine (porto or fortified grape spirit). The ratio varies: typically 3 parts red wine to 1 part fortified spirit, sometimes with spices. It has been associated with the Carnaval de Québec since the 19th century, where it is sold in the streets in tiny plastic canes during the February festival. Outside Carnaval, it is found at cabanes à sucre and traditional Québécois celebrations.
What is Ungava gin and what makes it different?
Ungava Gin is produced by Domaine Pinnacle in the Eastern Townships and uses six Arctic botanicals harvested from the Ungava Peninsula in northern Québec: wild rose hips, cloudberries, Nordic juniper, Labrador tea, Arctic blend (a species of willow herb), and crowberries. The result is a distinctively flavoured gin with a striking yellow colour from the botanicals — unusual, aromatic, and genuinely Québécois. It is widely exported and available internationally; try it in Québec for a sense of the terroir.
What is Romeo's Gin?
Romeo's Gin is produced in Montréal and uses a softer botanical profile than traditional London Dry gin — more floral, with a distinctly Québécois character from local botanicals. It is the craft gin most frequently cited alongside Ungava as representative of the new Québec gin scene. Available at most SAQ locations and at the distillery.
Are there good Québec whiskies?
Yes, and the scene is growing rapidly. Distillerie de Montréal (based in Verdun, Montréal) produces one of the most interesting rye whiskies in the province — aged in small barrels, with a spicy, complex character. Domaine Lafrance (in the Eastern Townships) also produces a maple-influenced whisky that is distinctively regional. The Québec whisky industry is young by Scottish or Irish standards but developing quality quickly.
Where can I buy Québec craft spirits?
The SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) carries most established Québec spirits. For the widest selection, visit specialised SAQ Dépôt or SAQ Sélection locations. Alternatively, visit distilleries directly — many sell exclusive products at their own boutiques. Distillerie de Montréal in Verdun and the Romeo's Gin distillery in Saint-Henri both have welcoming boutiques and occasional tastings.
Can I bring Québec spirits home in checked luggage?
Yes, within your destination country's duty-free allowance — most European countries allow 1 litre of spirits duty-free per adult, the UK allows 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine. Pack bottles in checked luggage, well wrapped (clothing works fine), since liquids in bottles over 100 mL cannot go in carry-on. Buying at the SAQ near your departure airport or directly from a distillery boutique both work; airport duty-free in Montréal-Trudeau also stocks a small selection of Québec spirits.