We are getting pretty excited for BC Distilled this Saturday. It’s the second year for the new local spirits festival. Last year saw 16 British Columbian distilleries participating. This year there will be 23 of them inside CBC Studio One, which is to say nearly all that exist. 10 of them opened in the last year, and this event is sort of like their coming out party. Like many Vancouverites with a penchant for locally made spirits, we can’t wait to meet them.

We’re especially looking forward to checking out the pop-up shop from Legacy Liquor Store, but the real attraction will be sipping on spirits. Our primary targets are as follows: the Limoncello from Gillespies’ Fine Spirits; the Amaretto from Sons of Vancouver; the Craigdarroch Whisky from Victoria Spirits; the local honey mead-distilled Unruly Vodka from Wayward; the Stump Coastal Forest Gin from Victoria’s Fermentorium (an offshoot of Phillips Brewery); the Creme de Cassis and Bittersweet Vermouth from the geniuses at East Van’s Odd Society; the Kartoffelschnapsthe and organic “Devil’s Club” absinthe from Pemberton Distillery, the Cucumber Gin from Long Table (made right in downtown Vancouver), the Canadian Kirsch from Maple Leaf Spirits, and last but certainly not least, the Endeavour Origins gin from The Liberty Distillery. It’s the first gin made with 100% BC botanicals foraged from our mountains, meadows and gardens, and we’ve yet to give it a whirl.

Attendees can also score cocktails from our friends at Bittered Sling and Walter All-Natural Caesar Mix, non-alcoholic drinks from Dickies Ginger Beer and SIP Soda, plus bites galore from Forage Restaurant, The Donnelly Group, The Belmont Bar, Koko Monk chocolates, and more.

There are two public tastings on April 18th, 4pm to 6pm and 7pm to 9:30pm. The venue, CBC Studio One, is located at 700 Hamilton Street in downtown Vancouver. Tickets start at $49.99 (plus service charges) and can be purchased here.

 See you there!