The 8th annual BC Distilled festival – the largest craft spirits event in Canada – took place Saturday, May 13, at the Croatian Culture Centre in Vancouver.
Sons of Vancouver, the North Vancouver distillery that has participated in every BC Distilled since its first event in 2014, was chosen as the BC Distilled 2023 ‘Distillery of the Year’ by festival attendees.
With 39 distilleries, dozens of volunteers, and hundreds of guests, last Saturday’s BC Distilled festival provided a unique opportunity for attendees to sample 180 different products.
Online voting took place over the course of 48 hours following the event, allowing festival-goers the opportunity to pick their favourite distilled spirit from each of 14 categories, as well as the BC Distilled 2023 ‘Distillery of the Year’ for the show’s overall favourite producer.
This year’s BC Distilled also saw several distilleries launching new products at the event, including whiskies such as Green Alligators from The Dubh Glas Distillery, Ancient Grains 5-Grain Whisky from DEVINE Distillery, and Smoke & Oak Rauch Malt from Odd Society Spirits.
Once again, and to the delight of attendees, BC Distilled was graced by the appearance of dogs and handlers from designated charity Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS), who received loving pats (only the dogs, of course) throughout the evening.
Close to $5,000 was raised for PADS through a live and online silent auction, a 50/50 draw, and a portion of ticket sales.
BC Distilled 2023 Audience Favourites Awards
- Absinthe: Tofino Distillery – Psychedelic Jellyfish Absinthe
- Amaro or Vermouth: The Woods Spirit Co. – Barrel aged Amaro
- Barrel-Aged Gin: Stillhead Distillery – Islay Cask Gin
- Brandy or Eau-de-Vie: Maple Leaf Spirits – Lady of the Cask
- Flavoured Gin: Odd Society Spirits – Strawberry Gin
- Fruit Liqueur: Alchemist Distiller – Nectar – Apple Liqueur –
- Gin: Antidote Distilling Co. – Black Gin
- Infused or flavoured vodka: Shuswap Highland Stills – Wee Nip of Coffee Spirit
- Lime or Limoncello: The Woods Spirit Co. – Limoncello
- Liqueur: Elder Bros Farm Distillery – Apple Strudel Liqueur
- Rare & Fine Other Spirits: Wayward Distillery – Drunken Hive Rum
- Vodka: Ampersand Distilling Company – Per Se Vodka
- Whisky: Shelter Point Distillery – Smoke Point
- White Spirit: Tumbleweed Spirits – Raspberry Moonshine
- BC Distilled 2023 Distillery of the Year: Sons of Vancouver Distillery