After all, this used to be the home of Gooderham and Worts Distillery, which produced whiskey and spirits on the site from 1837 to 1990.
In 2003, the area re-opened as a pedestrian-only village, as an arts, culture and entertainment district. But amidst the galleries and boutiques, the well-preserved buildings of the former distillery definitely put you in the mind of having a little something to drink.
Ontario Spring Water Sake is a new option for slaking that thirst. Housed in what had been an art gallery, this industrial-chic space is not only where you can buy the only sake brewed in Toronto, and in fact, the only sake brewed on the eastern seaboard of North America -- it's also where it's produced. Some 2,000 liters are fermented here each month. (It seems a safe guess that sake is a product that the late Mr. Gooderham and Mr. Woorts never considered.)
You can observe the sake-making process almost in its entirety, as it occurs behind glass. (There are posted signs that explain the process.)
You might choose to do so with a choko, or a small ceramic cup of sake in hand -- there's a handy ledge, if you're so inclined. There's also a small bar where you can sample a flight of sake.
Ontario Spring Water Sake brews several varieties, most of them unpasteurized. (Browse the current sake list.) "Most sake is pasteurized twice," explains Ken Valvur, president. "It lasts a long time at room temperature that way, but it does take a way flavor." Unpasteurized sake has a lively, brighter flavor, but you will want to keep it in the refrigerator.
In addition to sake, you can also buy several items made from sake-kasu. This is a by-product of sake fermentation, analogous to wine lees, but edible. It's sort of similar to soft tofu in texture, and Ontario Spring Water Sake sells a concentrated miso soup mix made from it, as well as a frozen dessert similar to ice cream. On the non-edible side, the company sells soap made from sake-kasu, and a variety of sake accessories, including the small ceramic tasting mugs.
The brewery has recently added regular "Sake Sip and Learn" events, which take you through the basics of sake brewing and include a few tastes. The events often sell out, so check the website for details, and be sure to make advance reservations.
