Bigger than ever – BC DISTILLED

BC Distilled is back and bigger than ever. Canada’s premier craft and micro-distillery festival, featuring 26 BC artisan distilleries, is your chance to sample locally made gin, whisky, liqueurs, vodka and more.

•The main tasting event takes place on Saturday, March 26 at the Croatian Cultural Centre from 6:30 to 9:00pm.

•NEW this year: BC Distilled presents a BC Whisky Preview Tasting, with cask strength spirits currently maturing towards being released as whisky. This event takes places on Friday, March 25 at the Westin Bayshore from 6:30 to 9:00pm.

•Spirit aficionados will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to participate in BC Distilled’s audience favourite awards blind tasting. Details to come.

The third annual BC Distilled is an invitation to imbibe – responsibly, of course – with proceeds going to support the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS). A charity auction and the chance to get frisky with puppies will amp up the fun. And if you find a few bottles you’d like to add to your personal bar, the Legacy Liquor “Pop-Up Shop” on-site will be selling more than 100 products from all the participating distilleries – the biggest selection of BC spirits you’ll find anywhere, all year.

Last year’s winners of the audience favourite awards – Dubh Glas Distillery’s Noteworthy Gin, Wayward Distillation House’s Unruly Vodka and Sons of Vancouver Distillery’s No. 82 Amaretto – will all return to make new fans. Newcomers include Sheringham Distillery, de Vine Wine & Spirits, Okanagan Crush Pad and Woods Spirit Co. Woods is BC’s newest distillery and will be launching its first product, an amaro, at the event.

“This is your single best chance to try everything BC has to offer, and to meet the creative people who make these spirits,” says BC Distilled founder Alex Hamer. “People always discover new favourites at this event. We’re also excited to be bringing in great local restaurants with fantastic treats to help you pace yourself.”

Canapés will be provided throughout the evening, courtesy of chefs from: Blacktail, Boulevard, Cascade Room, Edible Canada, The Union, Westin Bayshore, and Forage – which is showing its support for BC Distillers for the third time by teaming up with Wayward for a food and drink pairing. You can also expect assorted bites and beverages from Cioffi’s Cucina, 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, Bittered Sling, Golden Ears Cheese, Koko Monk, Walter’s Caesar, Cartems and Lucky’s – who will be cooking up kicky doughnuts using local spirits.