Last Updated on August 11, 2026
One of the things I enjoyed in Banff, besides trying out the breweries in town, was the Park Distillery Tour at Park Distillery and Restaurant. We were having drinks and appetizers at the and saw a sign that said free distillery tours. There was a QR code on the menu and I decided to sign up.
Park Distillery and Restaurant in Banff, Alberta is a distillery right inside Banff National Park. While, most people come to Banff to take in amazing sights of the Canadian Rockies such as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, there is also plenty to do in the town of Banff itself.
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How to Sign Up for the Park Distillery Tour
As I said above there was a QR code on my menu that took me to the booking site. You can also book from the Park Distillery website as well. The booking is straightforward with a calendar that shows available dates and times. You can also book tasting add on to your tour on select days as well as a mix your own gin add on. You can also decide to add the tasting during the tour if you change your mind.
Pricing
Even though the it says free tour it is $0.25 CAD per person to sign up online. So not technically free but damn near. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could sign up in person at the merch shop for completely free.
If you want to do an add on as well the tasting is $15 CAD and the mix your own gin is $75.
What the Tour Includes
The tour starts in the merch shop and the staff will check you in. When you being you will be taken into a back room with the copper stills and the guide will explain to you some of the process behind the distilling, as well as the history of the equipment. The equipment is actually from Germany and the distillation process they use is somewhat similar to what you see in an oil refinery.
Next is on the back room where the different grains and botanicals used in the different liquors are shown. The guide gave us further insight to where they source the grains and botanicals, which was from Alberta for almost everything I believe. Then the guide discussed the aging process and where they get the barrels from and how the affects the taste of the liquor.
The tour took about 30 minutes, after which you could leave or stay for the tasting if you had booked it. Even if you hadn’t booked the tasting you could add it as this point with no hassle. Even if not everyone in your group wanted to do the tasting that was perfectly fine as well. It was very relaxed.
The Tasting
I did the tasting as trying new liquors from all over is something I enjoy. You could pick your choice of four spirits to try from the stand line up and they had some special releases for a small up charge.
I tried the Espresso Vodka, the Maple Whiskey, the Banff whiskey, and the Flora and Fauna Gin. I also tried the specialty spirts which were the Strawberry Fields gin and the Maple Syrup Cask Whiskey.
I enjoyed all of them, the whiskey most of all which was no surprise to me. The espresso vodka had a very clear and distinct espresso flavor and would make an excellent espresso martini. The Maple Whiskey was on the sweeter side but still enjoyable. I was surprised how much I enjoyed fthe gins, especially the Strawberry Fields Gin.
Verdict: Is the Park Distillery Tour Worth it?
Yes, the Park Distillery tour is definitely worth it. The price, while not truly free, is next to nothing. It’s a fun little something to do to break up the day between hikes and is quick enough that you still have a good amount of daylight after.
The tasting was equally well priced and gives you a chance to try some high quality spirits brewed in Banff. If you are planning a trip to Banff and are looking for something to do, I suggest signing up for the Park Distillery tour and tasting.
