Minhas brewing up world-class facility in Regina

Regina will soon be on the map when talking about the alcohol industry.

A new multi-million dollar distillery is being built in the Queen City by Moni Minhas. He is the father of Dragon’s Den star and craft-beer mogul Manjit Minhas.

Minhas said one of the reasons he is building Minhas Sask. Distillery in Regina and the province of Saskatchewan is because of how easy the process was.

He said the City of Regina, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) and the provincial government were able to respond to all the questions he had.

“Every businessman, before they spend any of their money, all they need is comfort that when they go into a regiment where they are going to invest the money that they are going to be treated fairly, treated cooperatively.”

The distillery will also use products grown in the province in their beverages.

Saskatchewan isn’t uncharted territory for the Minhas family.

His daughter Manjit studied engineering at the University of Regina and he was a petroleum engineer who did work in Weyburn.

There’s also a family connection to the province’s favourite football team.

Minhas’s cousin, David Sidoo, was a member of the Riders during the 80s. He said he would often take his children to Regina to see their uncle play.

“I always felt people of Saskatchewan were always very friendly and very nice,” Minhas said.

“People ask me ‘isn’t that true for everywhere’ and I always say ‘try going to New York and you’ll see what I’m talking about,’” he joked.

The distillery will create many types of alcohol, including vodka and gin, as well as pre-made drinks, such as a Moscow mule or margarita.

The distillery will not only provide Saskatchewan residents with craft alcoholic beverages, but it will export to other places as well.

Minhas said he is already in talks with companies in California and Montana.

He also said the distillery isn’t only going to be an alcohol factory, but a tourist destination as well.

“The building outside is going to be as pretty as any fancy store in the city of Regina,” Minhas explained.
“I don’t want it to be a factory building, I want it to be a tourist attraction.”

Construction on the distillery is expected to be completed by the end of January with it being fully operational by the end of February.