Established since 2016 in Gatineau, the Artist in Residence distillery, recognized for the quality of its gins, vodkas, liqueurs and other spirits, is setting out to conquer new markets with the upcoming opening of a second branch in Hawkesbury, Ontario.
This first phase of expansion should be followed by several others. The founder of the company, Pierre Mantha, does not lack ambition or vision and plans to open several distilleries at a rate of one every three years. After Ontario, it is in Pennsylvania that Artist in Residence will settle.
“The land has already been purchased at Harborcreek, on the edge of Lake Erie, reveals Pierre Mantha. Then it will be Vancouver. We are also looking at Mexico for the production of tequila and Colombia for rum. We also have an eye on Europe. There is no limit to our project.”
“My ambition is to promote Quebec by making our products travel,” he adds. Wherever we settle, we will advertise ourselves as a Quebec company.”
A builder
It is with the collaboration of his brother Michel that Pierre Mantha opened the Gatineau distillery. He didn’t know anything about the area.
“I wanted a new challenge. As I like to build businesses, I got into the manufacture of alcohol, which has become a real passion for me”, says the one who defines himself as an entrepreneur at heart. A mechanic by training, he owns three heavy truck dealerships in Gatineau and Ottawa.
It is Michel Mantha, the master of the stills and the Distiller Artist who is responsible for the production. The recipes for the different alcohols are developed by a team of experienced designers who are as passionate as the owner of the company. “The secret is knowing how to surround yourself with the right people,” reveals Pierre Mantha. That’s what makes us successful.”
The products of Artist in Residence (also known as Air Distillerie), quickly made their mark in Quebec. Their particularity: they are made from underground spring water drawn from the distillery’s well – a concept that he hopes to reproduce from one establishment to another – and local ingredients.
“As much as possible, we buy from suppliers in the region in order to obtain the best ingredients,” explains Pierre Mantha. It will be the same in Hawkesbury. Our business model is based on local production.”
Bringing customer experiences to life
The design of new products will always be done from the Gatineau distillery, the parent company, which houses the research and development laboratory.
The new Hawkesbury branch, which should open its doors in the summer of 2023, will be like the one in Gatineau with a space for production and another for tasting. The only exception is that it will have a restaurant. “We want to provide customers with a culinary experience and become a tourist destination in the region,” says Pierre Mantha.
The construction of the first building is underway and several expansion phases are already planned between now and 2030. In the end, the Ontario branch will have an area of 160,000 square feet. The investment required is $40 million.
Pierre Mantha chose to settle in Hawkesbury for a very specific reason: “It was important for me to choose a region where French is spoken,” he says.
French is not the only cause close to his heart. Artist in Residence is also a company strongly committed to its community. Since its inception, it has supported food banks, including Moisson Outaouais Gatineau and Ottawa Food Bank. “We have to help families to feed themselves. It is difficult for me to imagine that children can go to school on an empty stomach. We want to do our part for food security,” he said.
Artist in Residence distributes its products in the various SAQ in Quebec and soon in the branches of the lcbo, in Ontario.
Over the years, the company has significantly diversified its product line. In addition to whiskey, it offers several gins of different flavors, including the latest, cranberry gin, which has caused a stir among enthusiasts, vodkas and liqueurs. “Our star product remains wild blueberry gin, our best seller in Quebec,” points out Pierre Mantha.
He does not hide his great ambition: “I want to become Quebec’s Jack Daniel’s,” he says. This American distillery founded more than 150 years ago produces a large family of different whiskies.
“Our alcohols are created with top quality ingredients and are offered at a good price,” he adds. So we have to produce volume. Each year, one million bottles and six million cans leave our distillery. In Hawkesbury, we plan to double this volume.
Pierre Mantha and his team are not done doing business! Visit the website to find out more.
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