Banff is Canada’s answer to Yellowstone, the country’s first and oldest National Park. It is stunningly beautiful, and as one of the world’s great ski towns, with three major resorts (Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Mt. Norquay), it is wildly popular with visitors. The charming and outdoorsy town of Banff is the epicenter of lodging and dining, and because of its unique location, the Park Distillery is a rare example of its genre located within a National Park. Park makes Glacier Rye, an unaged white whiskey from 100% Alberta-grown rye, and also uses it in its signature bottled whisky cocktails, including the Glacier Manhattan.
The distillery offers free tours, but for whisky lovers who want to imbibe, it’s best to head to sister establishment Hello Sunshine, a Japanese restaurant, bar, and karaoke lounge under the same ownership, with a unique Canadian-Japanese fusion approach to whisky.
It is a large space with high ceilings and a very modern feel, but the expanses of blonde wood on the floor, the sleek tables and chairs of the same wood, and the wood-shingle-covered walls evoke a sense that you could be in Japan. There are unusual indoor firepits ringed with chairs and counters you can eat off, with massive, tiled chimneys suspended from the roof above, dubbed “fire tables,” in the middle of the room. Around the restaurant, there are a variety of seating options with wooden chairs, upholstered grey sofas, booths, a sushi bar, and two rentable karaoke rooms where you can also eat and drink. Finally, there is the Tiny Bar, just what it sounds like, the kind of little stand-up bar you might have in your home, with stool seating for up to eight, which is bookable for private parties.
As in Tokyo, they have Highballs ($10), including the classic made with Suntory Toki and soda water, along with a Hard Lemonade version, with Toki, craft lemon tonic, bitters, and soda water. There is an impressive list of Japanese whiskies ($8-$13/1 oz.) including selections from Suntory, Nikka, Mars, Ohishi, and Matsui, about 10 in all. There are also Japanese and global blends including Junenmyo, and a premium tasting flight of the Mizanura, Cask Strength, and Peated labels of Nikka Kaiyo, (three .75 oz. pours/$26).
It also has a small selection of bourbons and local whiskies, most in the $6-$8 range, including its own Park Glacier Rye, Alberta’s Bearface Oaxaca, Ontario’s Lot 40 rye, and Kentucky’s Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve. There’s a small smattering of scotch, and a large list of craft cocktails ($13), including the Observation Peak (Park rye, Appleton rum, Amaro Montenegro, cherry liqueur, house orange bitters, and a smoked cedar square) and Manhattan on Mars (Mars Iwai Japanese whisky, Maker’s Mark bourbon, amaro, plum wine, and smoke). Finally, there is a long menu of sakes by the glass or bottle and multiple tasting flights.
The food is quite good and mixes popular Japanese standards such as tempura and ramen with much less common authentic specialties such as karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken) and okonomiyaki (topped cabbage pancakes, a specialty of Osaka). There is a full sushi menu and fire-grilled steaks, with both imported Japanese A5 wagyu and Alberta’s excellent local beef. As with the whiskies, it’s a mix of local and Pacific Rim, and a mix of Izakaya pub food and finer dining.
A daily late afternoon sushi and drinks happy hour has made Hello Sunshine one of the top après ski spots in Banff, but sadly the specials do not include any whisky or whisky cocktails. But you can still enjoy some food bargains and wash it down with a Highball or two.
