Steinhart Distillery / 9zero2 Brewing Company — Local services in Arisaig

I have been going to Steinhart Distillery several times through out the summer, the past several years. It's a lovely spot, great drinks, nice outdoor view, good food when the food truck is open, live music, etc. But my biggest beef with them and the reason for the 3/5 review is the lack of public washrooms, the poor layout of patio vs serving drinks and the outdoor sitting area. When this place is busy, the lone washroom with single toilet in the building is not sufficient. Long lineups for the single bathroom. I mentioned it to staff and even they don't like it. A couple of years back, there were port-a-potties outside, but not last summer. Even so, these were not well maintained and then stench/state of them was not inviting. I am shock and disappointed that such successful landmark business in the area does not have a better washroom situation. There have been lots of govt grants given and more could be applied for, to get this improved. Surely for the buildings that have weddings, there is more than one toilet. Hot Tip: many outdoor hospitality businesses will make use of containers to convert to washrooms, usually can get 2-3 separate toilets in them. Next, the outdoor sitting area could be improved. Just basic picnic tables, no shade whatsoever and it can get pretty hot & sunny out there, and the surface is hard gravel. C'mon: make that area more esthetically pleasing. Invest a little money in that area. And the layout to get drink service could be improved. There should be a window one can stand up at from the outdoor seating to order their drinks vs making the trek around the corner and into the building. The food truck container should be moved, so that the staff doesn't cook themselves in it, come post 2 pm when the hot sun turns it into the inside of a furnace for them. Going back to Steinhart this summer - I will be interested to see if any improvements made to these areas. Hope owner is...

Gin-tastic Potential, but Missing a Few Ingredients

There’s much to love about the Ginstitute at Steinhart Distillery—plenty of gin, a stunning view, and a class that's as educational as it is boozy—but like a good cocktail, it’s missing a few key ingredients to make it perfect.

The good? Oh, it's really good. We’re talking knock-your-socks-off views of the Northumberland Strait (PEI is practically waving at you), an eccentric host who lives and breathes gin, and cocktails that will have you wondering if you should pack up your life and move here. Plus, there’s a hands-on gin-making class that will leave you feeling like a distiller. All in all, the gin-credible experience you've heard about.

But here’s the tonic to your gin. The food truck—great for a snack, not so much for an entire weekend’s meals. And the cabin? Let’s call it 'rustic,' but not in that chic Instagrammable way. More like ‘this lamp’s missing a lampshade, and why does this loveseat look like it’s wearing a diaper?’ You get the picture.

My advice? Bring your own snacks and expectations of a laid-back, rustic vibe. A little welcome basket and a clear ‘here’s what’s happening’ booklet would go a long way in helping guests settle in. Fix the screens, toss in some extra seating, and suddenly this place is as charming as a cold G&T on a hot day.

All in all, is it worth visiting? Absolutely, just come prepared with some picnic-worthy provisions, and expect a few quirks along the way. It’s like a cocktail made with love but missing the garnish—a little rough around the edges, but still...

Update 2025: We were visiting Antigonish again and went for cocktails. They were delicious as usual. We stocked up on our rhubarb gin and strawberry vodka to bring home. We also order online throughout the year and we're impressed with this service. I do wish they were in the NB liquor stores. Well packaged. We didn't try the food, last year's meal is still a bit fresh in our memory, but the food we saw coming out, looked good, maybe next time. Oh, and the young man singing and playing guitar was very talented.

Update: July 2024, what a disappointment with the food! Wow, the food was absolutely the worst meal that any of us have had in years. The fries were lukewarm, overcooked, and either chewy or too burnt to eat. The pork schnitzel was flavorless and overly breaded. I can't compare this experience to our last. The fish, was terrible. The guy cooking was unfriendly and clearly hated cooking. We were realy disappointed. We were a group of 7 and spent a decent amount per meal. The drinks are still amazing! We each bought their bottles of gin and vodka, and the bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable. We will try it again qhen we visit the area, but we won't be dropping money on the food. 2022 - Fantastic gin drinks, amazing food and beautiful views! Pulled pork poutine, pork schnitzel with spaetzle with jager sauce, amazing! Local organic cheese curds from the dairy Knoydart Farm Cheese House up the road. Plus, the gravy is homemade! If you love poutine, you know that's important!...