Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of craft spirits—where passion meets the palate!
The Vancouver Island Craft Spirit & Cocktail Festival, presented by Merridale Cidery & Distillery, is returning for its 5th year this year—and you’re invited.
The festival looks to showcase the best craft distilleries on Vancouver Island, with the opportunity to explore the nuances of craft spirits and cocktails produced with integrity, character and cutting-edge innovation.
Situated at Merridale’s farm location, the beloved event will take place on Saturday, October 26th—tickets are available online, and bus transportation from Duncan and Victoria/Westshore is included in the ticket price.
Hand-held bites and canapes are also included in the ticket price—enjoy delicious, farm-fresh eats celebrating seasonal flavours with exquisite drink pairings.
Want to check it out for yourself?
We’ve partnered with Merridale to give away a pair of passes to this prestigious event, and you’ll find those contest details below!
The festival shines a spotlight on a select collection of Vancouver Island’s premier craft distilleries, including:
- Merridale Cidery & Distillery
- Ampersand Distilling Co.
- Driftwood Spirits
- Holocene Distilling
- Misguided Spirits
- Moon Under Water Distillery
- Stillhead Distillery
- Tofino Distillery
- True North Distilleries
Merridale stands as a beacon of craft distillation in British Columbia, proudly holding the title of the first certified craft distillery in the province since 2013.
With a rich history of distilling that combines age-old traditions with a splash of modern innovation, Merridale has been at the forefront of the craft spirit movement.
At the heart of Merridale’s ethos is deep commitment to quality, community, and sustainability. By meticulously selecting the finest BC ingredients, Merridale not only crafts exquisite spirits but also tells the story of its land, one batch at a time.
If you can’t make it to festival, don’t fret—Merridale has plenty of things going on throughout the month of October!
Check out their harvest festivities and fun for all ages—the farm’s schedule includes Distillery Tours that provide a behind-the-scenes look at the craft behind their products, as well as a selection of specialty pumpkins for sale from neighbours, Miller + Co Farm, which are perfect for creating Instagram-worthy moments.
Also, families should not miss out on the Harvest Elf tours and scavenger hunts, nor on Merridale’s famous faery walk, promising a magical adventure especially for the little
ones.
For adults, the Pint & Paint Night promises for a fun night amongst good company.
And throughout the Thanksgiving-long weekend, everyone can enjoy seasonal and Thanksgiving-inspired meal features.
CONTEST
To enter to WIN a pair of tickets the two passes to the Vancouver Island Craft Spirit & Cocktail Festival at Merridale Cidery & Distillery, complete one or more of the following:
- LIKE Merridale Cidery & Distillery on Facebook, and comment below letting us know once you have (1 entry)
- FOLLOW Merridale Cidery & Distillery on Instagram, and comment below letting us know once you have (1 entry)
- SHARE this post on X and/or Threads, and comment below letting us know once you have (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, October 7th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
Vancouver Island Craft Spirit & Cocktail Festival
- When: Saturday, October 26th, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Where: Merridale Cidery & Distillery, 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill
- Tickets: Available online – Early Bird Special – $85 per person
- Included in each ticket:
o Round-trip transportation, with choice bus pick-up locations
o Admission to the festival
o 5 drink tokens
o Gourmet handheld culinary pairings
o Tasting glass
o Pop up liquor store selling all you will be tasting
o Educational insights, experiences, and a whole lot of fun
*Drive yourself tickets are available for those who can carpool
- Included in each ticket:
