Photo: BC Gin Festival
Vancouver has a thriving craft distillery scene, with local artisans showcasing their passion and talent in unique spirits.
Among local distilleries, gin has become increasingly popular, with many drawing upon local ingredients to give the spirit distinctive flavour. The city’s bartenders incorporate these gins in cocktails while chefs create delicious food to pair with them.
Both new and long-time gin appreciators will learn even more about the spirit at the first annual BC Gin Festival, taking place September 6, 2024, at the Roundhouse Community Centre. This exciting event, organized by the producers of the Indian Summer Festival, will be an immersive, interactive, and enjoyable way of delving into all things gin. Expect over 46 local and international gins and a friendly crowd (over 600 attendees anticipated) for making friends over a shared enthusiasm.
Photo: BC Gin Festival
The BC Gin Festival consists of three parts. The first, the Juniper Exclusive Tasting Event (September 6, 5-6:30pm), is a limited VIP experience for those with a deep interest in the spirit and exceptional cocktail-making. The host, Amber Bruce (Bar Manager of The Keefer Bar), will lead special guests through a curated tasting of rare gins from around the world, offering her insight on their botanicals as well as tasting notes. Those with VIP tickets get early access to the First Tasting. Tickets for the Juniper Exclusive Tasting ($157.50 in total per person) are available here.
Juniper Tasting Host; Photo: Amber Bruce (Bar Manager at The Keefer Bar)
The next parts of the festival are the First Tasting (September 6, 6:30pm to 8:30pm) and the Second Tasting (9pm to 11pm). These two Tastings give attendees access to unlimited samples from both local and global distilleries. Glass in hand, guests will move through the tasting hall, gaining knowledge from the gin-makers and fellow aficionados of the spirit. The later Tasting will take on an especially festive vibe as the night unfolds. Tickets ($68.25 in total per person) are available here for the First Tasting and here for the Second Tasting.
Local distilleries, from across the province, that will be pouring include Long Table Distillery (Vancouver, e.g., Cucumber Gin), Sheringham Distillery (Langford, e.g., Seaside Gin), Raincity Distillery (Squamish, e.g., Barrel Aged Gin), Copperpenny Distilling Co. (North Vancouver, e.g., No. 005 Gin), and Monashee Spirits (Revelstoke, e.g., Ethos Gin). Further afield, national and international representatives include Inversion Nitro Cocktails (Alberta, e.g., Elderflower Gin Sour), James Gin (UK, e.g., American Mustard), Citadelle (France, e.g., Jardin d’Été), and Gray Whale Gin (California; e.g., Gray Whale Gin). A full list of participating distilleries (and their gins) can be found here.
Photo: Raincity Distillery participating in BC Gin Festival
In addition to the tastings, guests can enjoy food samples (note: keep in mind that this is not a dinner so eat before the event) and live entertainment. There will also be a silent auction, with the chance to bid on hospitality experiences and a “Mega Gin Bouquet” with 30+ bottles. A Legacy Liquor bottle shop will be selling all gins served at the distillery tables so attendees can take home the ones they particularly liked during the tastings.
Full details and tickets for the BC Gin Festival can be found here. Book soon to avoid disappointment.
See here for further info on Vancouver’s diverse craft spirit offerings.
