Clear your schedule for the BC Distilled festival.

BC Distilled is the biggest artisan and micro-distillery event in Canada and a must for anyone interested in spirits and cocktails. It is April 14 at the Croatian Cultural Centre, with a trade tasting from 2 to 4:30 pm followed by the public event, 6 to 9 pm.

It is also a fundraiser for the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society, with a silent auction on site as well as guest appearances by some of the assistance dogs and puppies.

Early bird tickets start at $59.99 and are now on sale at bcdistilled.ca/tickets.

This year’s fest features 12 brand-new distilleries that have opened in the last year.

It will also feature a number of the top winners of the recent Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, both to sample and to purchase at the on-site Legacy Liquor pop-up store. They include gold medalists Odd Society Mia Amata, Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 Gin, Merridale Cidery and Distillery Cowichan Copper Gin, Wayward Distillation House Depth Charge and, the spirit of the year, Sheringham Distillery Akvavit.

To see the complete list of winners, or to learn more about CASC, please visit artisanspirit.ca.