Community
We have farmed this ground since 1927. Showing up for the place you are from is not a marketing program — it is the rent you pay.
Best Coast Distillers sits on the Hastings family farm in North Saanich, fifth generation. Most of what we support is within a twenty minute drive of the still. Here is where it goes, and how to ask.
BC Aviation Museum
Keeping the Martin Mars where it belongs
The Hawaii Martin Mars flew its last mission and came to rest at the BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich — about five minutes from our distillery. For more than fifty years that aircraft stood between Vancouver Island forests and a bad fire season. It is the largest flying boat ever put into operational service, and it belongs here.
So we put it on a bottle. The WildFire Whisky Martin Mars Bomber Edition carries a limited run label built around the aircraft, developed together with the museum. Every 750 mL bottle of that edition contributes to the museum’s Martin Mars preservation work.
Victoria Firefighters Charitable Foundation
Standing behind the people who fight it
Every 750 mL bottle of WildFire Whisky contributes to the Victoria Firefighters Charitable Foundation, which delivers financial, social and practical support to community groups across Greater Victoria.
Firefighters show up for this community. This is one way we show up for them.
Best Coast Roast
Our coffee brand runs its own fundraising program
Best Coast Roast is our Vancouver Island coffee label — the roast behind our award-winning Cold Brew Coffee Whisky, sold on its own.
Best Coast Roast operates its own community fundraising program, separately from the distillery. Participating organizations earn 25% of eligible coffee sales, with no inventory to buy and no minimums. Everything to do with that program, including registration, lives on its own site.
Donation requests
Asking us for a donation
We receive more requests than we can fill, so we have made the rules public rather than making people guess. If your event meets all of the criteria below, get in touch and we will give you a straight yes or no within five business days.
We can consider your request if:
- The event is run by a registered non-profit or charitable organization, and its purpose is to raise funds for a charitable cause
- The event takes place on Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands
- The event is 30 or more days away
- The event holds a valid Special Event Permit, or the venue holds a licence that covers the donation
- Everyone attending is of legal drinking age
We are not able to help with:
- Private, family or personal events
- Events run by a business, or fundraisers benefiting a business
- Anything connected to a youth or school program — provincial liquor regulations do not permit it, and no exception is available to us
- Cash sponsorships, gift cards or advertising
- Requests from outside Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands
- Requests with less than 30 days notice
Please include: your organization and its charity or society number, the event name, date and venue, expected attendance, what the funds raised will be used for, your Special Event Permit number, and what you are asking for.
One more thing
If you are a Vancouver Island organization and there is a fit here that is not a bottle in a basket — a venue, an event, a tasting, a partnership — tell us anyway.