Who knew we have an awesome family-run craft distillery right in our own backyard.

When Shayna Hansen brought in now husband Kris Sustrik to the family fold, she took him to meet Grandma — in the family moonshine shed. By the end of the visit Sustrik was passed out on the floor. Beguiled by Hansen and surviving his first taste of moonshine, it wasn’t long before the two formed Hansen Distillery.

Hansen’s family has been making moonshine for four generations now. Starting in the American badlands then moving to the Alberta midlands, the art of making moonshine in the family was passed on from great grandparents to grandparents to parents to children. Hansen has fond memories of her time growing up with Grandma in the moonshine shed and considers her unique family “hobby” a blessing.

Before opening the distillery, Hansen and Sustrik owned another business. But the couple were always taking vacations to tour other distilleries to see how they did it. After one holiday the two came back and thought “we can do this — why don’t we do it”. Hansen says when they told Grandma they were going to open a distillery she said “Are you crazy?!” But soon she came around and taught them all about the process of making moonshine. Grandma is now their most staunch supporter and whiskey taster — nothing gets by Grandma!

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