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Quebec woman's surprise over Sour Puss origins sparks trade war fallout
Stephanie Intrevado, a 35-year-old from Quebec, never expected her favorite fruity liqueur, Sour Puss, to be at the center of a cross-border trade dispute. When she discovered the drink was American-made, she feared her collection of rare flavors-from passionfruit to coconut-might vanish from Canadian shelves.
Provincial boycott cripples US liquor sales
Canada's provinces began banning American-made alcohol in spring 2025, retaliating against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. The boycott slashed Phillips Distilling's Canadian revenue by 70%, with Sour Puss-its top-selling brand-bearing the brunt of the losses. CEO Andy England called the drop "a disaster," noting Canada was the liqueur's largest market.
Company relocates production to bypass trade barriers
Facing near-total exclusion from Canadian liquor boards, Phillips Distilling became one of the first U.S. alcohol producers to move production north. By October 2025, it partnered with Montreal-based Station 22 to manufacture Sour Puss locally. England told the BBC the shift has "convinced all provinces to re-stock some products," though Alberta and Saskatchewan-where liquor sales are privatized-never joined the boycott.
"If we sold 1,000 cases of Sour Puss in the U.S., I'd be surprised. It's very much a Canadian brand."
Andy England, CEO, Phillips Distilling
Trade war's unintended consequences
Meredith Lilly, a Carleton University professor, called the boycott a "heat-of-the-moment" move that inadvertently boosted Canadian manufacturing. Unlike bourbon or wine, Sour Puss's lack of geographic ties made relocation feasible. Lilly noted the company faces "no reputational penalty" in the U.S. for the pivot, given its Canadian dominance.
Yet the boycott's effectiveness remains uncertain. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick condemned it as "outrageous," while Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested provinces might lift restrictions if Trump reduces tariffs on Canadian autos, metals, and lumber. As of May 2026, only Alberta and Saskatchewan continue selling American liquor.
Future uncertain as dispute drags on
Canada's federal government has used liquor tariffs before-like Trudeau's 2018 bourbon levies-but past disputes were resolved within a year. This time, negotiations show no signs of progress. For Phillips Distilling, the crisis may have a silver lining: England said the forced relocation could reshape its business model permanently.
Intrevado celebrated Sour Puss's return with an Instagram post: "Guess who's back?" alongside a photo of raspberry bottles. For now, her collection-and Canada's liquor aisles-are safe.
