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Moonshine, hooch, spirits, firewater, 'hard stuff', rotgut... these are just some of the names that people use to describe the most potent form of alcoholic beverages. Through a process of heating fermented liquids, the alcohol within separates from the other liquids through evaporation. This happens because of the different boiling points of the various liquids. The alcoholic vapour then condenses into a much more concentrated form of alcoholic drink than the fermented mixture used to begin this process.

According to Wikipedia, the process of distillation was known to the Babylonians in Mesopotamia (in what is now Iraq) from at least the 2nd millennium BC. Distillation became widely known around the time of Christ.

In the early days of Toronto, known as York before 1834, small scale breweries and distilleries were common and supplied the tastes of locals. Often, a person who set up a still in order to distill spiritous beverages often had an operation for brewing beer. But as time marched on, distilling and brewing became separated specialities of those making alcoholic drinks.

In this section you will find an exploration of the major distilling operation in Toronto - 'Gooderham and Worts'. Although it began as a small operation in 1837, it grew over the course of the 19th century to become the largest distillery in the world by the late 19th century. And because the G&W distillery survived as an industrial-sized operation through the 20th century, it is possible to explore its rich history, which began in 1831 when James Worts (pronounced 'Werts', as in 'world' or 'worth') built a windmill at the mouth of the River Don. The intent of Worts was to start a milling business with his brother-in-law and business partner William Gooderham. Within six years, it became obvious that distilling offered a way to use the bi-products of milling to make alcohol. In fact, distilling became the primary activity of Gooderham and Worts. Yet there are many corporate and personal side stories that shed light on early Toronto.

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General View of Toronto (featuring the windmill of Worts and Gooderham, Millers), 1834
c. 1834
Looking west from the mouth of the Don River, York (now Toronto), Canada

Credits:
Illustration: PA Gross, Lithographers, Toronto; in Timperlake, J., "Illustrated Toronto: Past and Present", Toronto: PA Gross Lithographers, 1876 p. 16

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Map of York in 1833
1833
Mouth of the Don River, shoreline of Lake Ontario, with south east area of York (now Toronto), Upper Canada, 1834

Credits:
map: Toronto Public Library, Toronto

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Gooderham & Worts - original millstone of Worts & Gooderham Mill, with historic plaque
early to mid 19th century
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Photo: Douglas Worts, Toronto, Canada

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G&W - Historic Plaque for original millstone
1832
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Photo: Douglas Worts, Toronto, Canada

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Gooderham and Worts Distillery, with Windmill and Wm Gooderham's Residence
c. 1840
Toronto Waterfront, looking north,just west of the mouth of the Don River

Credits:
Illustration: painting by Wylie Grier, based on fold-out illustration of Toronto waterfront, in Robertson, JR, "Landmarks of Toronto", volume 1 (original in Toronto Public Library)
Scan of image: courtesy of Distillery Historic District, Toronto

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Gooderham and Worts Distillery, during 1850s, painting by William Armstrong
about 1855
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Painting: property of Hiram Walker, Gooderham & Worts, Walkerville, Canada
Scanned image and commentary: Sally Gibson, Manager of Heritages Services, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada,

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In 1863, the Canadian Illustrated New published a large article, with accompanying illustrations, of the impressive operations of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery. Some of those illustrations are provided here.

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Gooderham and Worts, View from south side, 1863
25 April 1863
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: by D. D. Robertson, published in "Canadian Illustrated News", April 25, 1863 (Collection: Toronto Public Library)
Scan: courtesy of Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada

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Gooderham & Worts, Wharf, 1863
25 April 1863
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: by D. D. Robertson, in "Canadian Illustrated News", April 25, 1863 (in collection of Toronto Public Library)
scan: courtesy of Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada

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Gooderham & Worts, Engine Room, 1863
25 April 1863
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: by D. D. Robertson, in "Canadian Illustrated News", Apr. 25, 1863 (Collection: Toronto Public Library)
scan: Distillery Historical District, Toronto, Canada

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Gooderham & Worts Distillery, Mashing Room, 1863
25 April 1863
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: by D. D. Robertson, in "Canadian Illustrated News", April 25, 1863 (Collection of Toronto Public Library)
scan: courtesy, Distillery Historic District, Toronto

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Gooderham & Worts Distillery, Fermenting House, 1863
25 April 1863
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: "Canadian Illustrated News" April 25, 1863
scan: Distillery Historic District, Toronto,

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Explosion in the Boiler House, G&W, 1863
1863
Gooderham and Worts Distillery, Mill St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: Canadian Illustrated News, 1863
image: courtesy of Distillery Historic District,