rye made for whisky-lovers, by whisky-lovers

Sons of Vancouver is an independently owned distillery based on Vancouver’s North Shore. Founded on the conviction that rye is the most expressive grain in whisky, the distillery is part of a new generation of producers exploring its full potential.

Widely known for its No. 82 Amaretto, Sons of Vancouver is now centered on a long-term, flavour-driven rye whisky program dedicated to exploring the grain’s full expressive range.

Three people standing in front of a large garage door with the words 'Sons of Vancouver' written on it, smiling at the camera.

Meet the Team

  • A man with glasses and a beard holding a glass of whiskey and whisky thief, standing next to a large wooden barrel in a distillery. Several other barrels are stacked on racks in the background.

    James Lester

    FOUNDER - PARTNER - BLENDER - GENERAL MANAGER
    One of the founding owners of SOV, he started the distillery in 2015. James has a vast knowledge of the whisky industry and spent time making bourbon at a distillery in Seattle, Washington. He makes sure the bills get paid and is the leading expert in answering emails professionally.

  • A woman with dark hair and glasses, wearing a gray and white striped shirt, is using a whisky thief to sample whisky from a large barrel. She is holding a glass of whisky in her other hand, standing in front of shelves filled with barrels and boxes.

    Jenna Diubaldo

    PARTNER - BLENDER - WHISKY PROGRAM MANAGER
    A graduate of the SOV Distillery School and the Seibel Institute, Jenna oversees the whisky program and manages production at the distillery. Originally hoping to open a distillery in her hometown Winnipeg, MB, she jumped at the chance to move out to BC to join the team at SOV, and became a partner in 2022. Jenna insisted the bar get a slushy machine, so you have her to thank for that.

  • A man wearing glasses and a casual jacket pouring a clear liquid from a bottle into a glass of ice at a bar with various liquor bottles on shelves in the background.

    Emmet Groves

    PARTNER - BAR CONSULTANT
    A veteran of the Vancouver bartending industry, if there’s a solid cocktail bar in town there’s a good chance Emmet had something to do with it. The bars he’s managed in the past are too long list here, but suffice it to say he makes a damn good cocktail. He manages the tasting room, and became a partner in 2023. He loves breakfast foods, but is vehemently opposed to the idea of brunch.