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SCHA honours Alliston potato farm and vodka distillery – Beattie’s wins again!

October 18, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Wendy Gabrek

On Saturday, October 5, the Simcoe County Historical Association presented Ken Beattie, owner of Beattie’s Potato Farm and Distillery, with an SCHA Heritage Business Award.

The Beattie family first came to Canada from Scotland in the late 1800s, where they established a successful lumber mill near Alliston.

In the 1920s, the family branched out into potato farming. So far, five generations of Beatties have grown potatoes in the Alliston area. 

The family currently farms over 2,000 acres of potato fields. Inspired by a visit to a small craft distillery in PEI, Kenny Beattie and his wife Liz launched a vodka distillery three years ago, and donate fifty cents from every bottle sold to local causes.

Starting at #23 on LCBO shelves, Beattie’s Vodka is currently the third best selling vodka in Ontario – and Ken has his eyes set on a global takeover.

“We will be on the shelves on ten to twelve [US] States by Christmas,” Ken told The Times. “A lot change is coming. Where we’re going? I think I know, but I’m not sure. All I know is I’m on the train, I can’t stop it, and I don’t want to get off.”

To prepare for his expanded business model, Ken says he’s planning to build a larger facility within the next five years.

“We’ll build the new facility a little differently then the current one, but close to here,” said Ken.

On how he ended up with his growing empire, Ken said, “It’s all about potatoes. I ended up doing this because I believed I could, and I’ve just played a small part.”

Expanding business in other areas, the family also owns Willie’s Car & Van Wash, named after the family dog. A second, six bay self-serve car wash named Oscar’s, also named for a family dog, will open in Alliston in 2020.

The SCHA created the Heritage Business Award in 2018 to honour and thank longstanding businesses operating throughout the County of Simcoe for their contribution to the development, well-being and heritage of the County. 

The award ceremony took place at the Beattie Distillery, located at 6673 Line 13, Alliston, and was attended by Town of New Tecumseth Mayor Rick Milne, and Ward Councillor Michael K. Beattie (also Ken’s son). The event cumulated with sampling of both the Chippery Chips – grown and manufactured on site – as well as a selection of vodka and gin products produced by Beattie’s. 

The Simcoe County Historical Association is a voluntary non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and appreciation of the history and heritage of Simcoe County.

For more information about the Simcoe County Historical Association, visit the website at www.simcoecountyhistory.ca

For more information about Beattie’s Distillers visit beattiesdistillers.com

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