Award-winning Calgary spirit pulled from shelves over missing French on label

Ottawa just shut down an award-winning Calgary distillery for trying to sell its product in Saskatchewan. The issue? No French on the label. That is it.

Ottawa just shut down an award-winning Calgary distillery for trying to sell its product in Saskatchewan.

The issue? No French on the label. That is it.

“Berbon” is made with southern Alberta corn. It has won international awards. Retailers overseas have expressed interest. Albertans know exactly what it is when they pick it up. The label clearly identifies the spirit. The spelling is distinct. The product has built a loyal following.

One complaint was enough to trigger federal enforcement.
When the distillery moved to market in Saskatchewan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency stepped in. Because the bottle did not include French labelling, and because the name resembles “bourbon,” regulators ordered the product pulled from shelves.

This is happening between two overwhelmingly English-speaking provinces.
Ottawa frequently lectures provinces about internal trade barriers. In this case, a small Alberta producer expanding next door found itself facing a federal compliance order that halted sales outright.

Bridgeland Distillery remains open and continues selling its other products while working through the regulatory process. The company employs Albertans, sources Taber corn, and contributes to Calgary’s local economy. For now, one of its most successful spirits cannot be sold across a provincial border.

Juno News has reached out to federal officials for comment on the enforcement decision and whether accommodation exists for small producers operating between Western provinces. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Readers in Calgary can still visit Bridgeland Distillery and support local production directly. Further reporting will be published at JunoNews.com as this dispute unfolds.