Many consumers may know the brands, but perhaps not the producers behind base spirits.
Enter Greenfield Global, a key supplier of high-purity grain neutral spirits to distilleries across Canada that delivers more than 180 million litres of spirits annually from its three Canada-based distilleries. Cameron Potts, director of beverage alcohol sales, says what truly sets Greenfield Global apart is the dedication, expertise and integrity of its people, driving excellence at every level of the organization for the past 35 years.
“Our multiple Canada-based packaging and distribution centres ensure fast, efficient and reliable delivery of the highest quality products available. Beyond high-purity alcohol, we offer award-winning beverage ingredients such as flavours, wines and organic, Kosher and non-GMO Project Verified specialty certifications.”
However, producing the best spirits alone doesn’t sustain partnerships with North America’s largest beverage producers for more than three decades. “Our company combines the advantages of complete vertical integration, deep technical expertise and global distribution to serve companies from emerging startups to global leaders,” said Potts. As a proudly Canadian-owned and Canadian-based company, Greenfield Global sources all its corn from Canadian farmers and produces all its high-purity alcohol in Canada. Not only that, but it has also been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for more than 15 consecutive years.
With base alcohol as the backbone of every great spirit, Potts says its high-purity ethanol is distilled to over 95 percent, delivering exceptional neutrality that allows brand owners to build precise flavour profiles without interference. “It begins with the highest-quality grains, inspected load-by-load to ensure integrity. Through controlled fermentation, starches are converted to sugars and then to alcohol under strict parameters. Advanced column distillation systems then separate water and impurities with maximum efficiency, producing a spirit of unmatched purity,” said Potts.
The company’s in-house testing and innovation lab prides itself on not relying on third parties; every batch undergoes rigorous analytical testing and sensory evaluation to guarantee purity, neutrality and consistency. The result is a strong foundation for vodkas, gins, RTDs and beyond.
One spirit better
When asked what makes one neutral grain spirit better than another, and how does that impact flavour, aroma and mouth feel in finished products, Potts says it comes down to purity, consistency and neutrality.
“A truly superior grain neutral spirit [GNS] is distilled to the highest proof possible while removing every trace of congeners and unwanted compounds. This ensures a spirit that is virtually flavourless and delivers a smooth, clean mouthfeel. That level of refinement results in a spirit with exceptional neutrality, providing the ultimate blank canvas for brand owners to craft their vision. The finished product tastes exactly as intended, whether it’s vodka, gin, RTDs or flavoured spirits, without interference from the base,” he said.
For more than three decades, Greenfield has mastered the science and artistry of distillation to create a grain neutral spirit that sets the standard for purity and performance. By perfecting alcohol washing with pristine water that is purified in-house, optimizing refluxing and leveraging copper-contact purification, every trace of congeners and undesirable elements is eliminated. “Our proprietary distillation designs, combined with rigorous in-house testing and human sensory panels, ensure unmatched consistency and quality in every batch,” said Potts.
Certifications and quality control
With respect to the certifications and quality control that is required, Potts says maintaining the highest standards of quality is built into its operations. “The company’s grain neutral spirits undergo rigorous quality control protocols at ISO-certified distilleries, ensuring compliance with international standards and stringent Canadian and U.S. regulations,” he said.
Whether a customer produces 500 cases a year or 5 million, our approach is the same: deliver clean, consistent, high-purity alcohols and specialty ingredients that protect the integrity of their recipes.
Cameron Potts, Greenfield Global
Beyond certifications such as ISO FSSC 22000 for Food Safety, Kosher, and non-GMO Project Verified, Greenfield Global has in-house testing infrastructure. “We don’t rely on third parties,” said Potts. “Our advanced labs are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instruments for raw material analysis, in-process monitoring and final product validation. Complementing this is our innovation lab, where a combination of technical precision and trained sensory experts evaluate neutrality and mouthfeel to guarantee consistency and purity in every batch.”
But just how does the Greenfield team balance craft values with massive production capacity, supporting everyone from small-batch startups to global beverage giants? According to Potts, “craft” isn’t about size, it’s about intention. “Whether a customer produces 500 cases a year or five million, our approach is the same: deliver clean, consistent, high-purity alcohols and specialty ingredients that protect the integrity of their recipes,” he said.
The company achieves this balance through three key pillars:
- Vertically integrated, sustainably sourced production. From grain sourcing to fermentation, distillation and delivery, the company’s vertically integrated model ensures ingredient purity and reliability, eliminating the variability smaller producers often encounter.
- Craft-level attention, enterprise-level reliability. Emerging brands count on Greenfield Global for formulation support, quality assurance and flexible packaging options (drums, totes, railcars). Global players leverage scale: multi-site production, secure supply chains and coast-to-coast logistics for uninterrupted flow.
- Customer-first collaboration. The company supports formulators at every stage, including R&D, scale-up, reformulation and compliance. The result is a partner that feels like an extension of their team but performs as one of North America’s largest high-purity alcohol producers.
Clear-based cocktails in cans
There has been an explosion of canned clear-based cocktails. Potts says that grain neutral spirits are the backbone of RTD innovation because they provide a neutral, high-purity base that doesn’t interfere with flavour profiles.
“GNS provides a blank canvas. Flavour houses and beverage formulators can build crisp, bright profiles that stay stable through canning and shelf life. Lower-purity alcohols risk introducing congeners or impurities that can compound stability issues in a closed can. Additionally, GNS supports cost efficiency and scalability, enabling producers to meet rising demand without sacrificing quality. The cleaner the spirit, the more freedom formulators have to create bold, modern flavours that actually taste like the beverage on the label,” said Potts.
Potts says the demand for RTDs and high purity spirits has placed pressure on alcohol supply chains, but Greenfield Global is uniquely positioned to support that growth with its vertically integrated footprint and specialized beverage ingredient portfolio. Beyond its award-winning GNS, its beverage ingredient portfolio includes solutions tailored for RTD offerings, such as:
- Other-Than-Standard Wine for wine-based RTDs
- Flavour Blenders like Natural Flavour Extender, Citric Acid Blender and Ethyl Lactate Blender
- Specialty alcohols (potato, beet, cane) for premium positioning
“This diversified portfolio allows brands to launch multiple bases (wine, malt, spirit) without juggling multiple vendors,” said Potts. “Whether a customer is scaling their first RTD or optimizing an existing line, our team helps with flavour and stability considerations, packaging selection and regulatory guidance. We don’t just ship products, we help brands build category-winning beverages.”
