A popular alcohol brand long enjoyed by Canadians is returning to its roots after years of being produced south of the border. Minnesota-based Phillips Distilling Company has announced that it is moving production of its Sour Puss liqueur for the Canadian market from the United States to Canada, ending all U.S.-based manufacturing destined for Canadian shelves.
The company says the escalating U.S.–Canada trade dispute heavily influenced its decision. In recent months, American-made alcohol products have disappeared from liquor store shelves across multiple provinces as a result of tariff retaliation. In Ontario, Sour Puss products are currently listed as unavailable on the LCBO website with a note indicating they are no longer sold due to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
Production will now take place in Montreal through a partnership with Station 22 Distillery, chosen from a shortlist of 19 Canadian facilities evaluated by Phillips. Rumi Jaffer, the company’s director of sales, said Canadians have embraced Sour Puss since its launch in 1998, and bringing production to Canada marks a meaningful milestone for the brand.
Sour Puss has been one of Canada’s most popular flavoured liqueurs for decades. In 2024 alone, more than one million bottles were sold nationally, with sales surpassing $23 million. With the shift in production, Phillips Distilling says its raspberry-flavoured liqueur will return to store shelves next month after months of forced absence.
The company says the rollout is meant to reconnect the brand with Canadian consumers and revive a staple of festive cocktails just in time for the holiday season.