Distilled Spirit & Cocktail Festival At The Del Mar Fairgrounds

It’s not just concerts, cotton candy and ferris wheels that are being served up at the Del Mar Fairgrounds this summer. On June 24th, our beloved fairgrounds will become home to Distilled — San Diego’s Spirit & Cocktail Festival.

You’ll have a chance to explore 100 different spirits and mixers — from the classics to the exotic — including rare bottles you won’t be able to snag in local stores.

Throughout the day, befriend the likes of spirits like Whistling Hare Distillery’s Blue Corn Vodka, MurLarkey Distilled Spirit’s Imagination Botanical Gin, Humboldt Distillery’s Organic Spiced Rum, Blackfish Spirits Distillery’s Rhubarb Liqueur, Colorado Honey House Distillery’s Bourbon Whiskey.

Wet your whistle with a cocktail competition hosted by San Diego United States Bartenders Guild. Among the recognized San Diego bars and mixologists will be Stephen Kurpinsky from George’s Level 2 at the Cove, Michelle Willard from Urbn and Eric Giger from Sycamore Den.

The Bartender’s Guild will also concoct some specialty fair themes cocktails — available for your sampling every hour in 17 Hands Restaurant and Cantina. How about a Horseless Carriage made with Bulleit Bourbon and Liqueur di Apricot? Or the Mad Hatters Tea Party created with Malahat black tea and ginger rums?

When it comes to the tunes, the festival has you covered in that area, too, so you can groove to soul music, Western swing and Americana folk while you sip.

There will be an Educational Presentation Series (in Paddock Tavern) where you can attend the best classes of your educational adult life, like RUMmy in Your Tummy presented by Malahat Spirits and Beefy Spirits, a collaboration between Kill Devil Spirit Co. and Sausage & Meat that includes mini Bloody Marys paired with drool-worthy bacon and meats.

General admission will get you a 10-tab wristband (with each tab representing 1/4 ounce pours of distilled spirits and 1 ounce pours of mixed cocktails) plus admission to the fair so you can soak up your bourbon with ice cream on a fried chicken donut sandwich.

You can also go the route of the VIP experience if you’re looking to get fancy, which includes unlimited samplings of spirits and cocktails and access to the VIP lounge and patios. It’s here that you will find gourmet food stations to pair with your libations  — where (as the website states) you’ll have access to “unlimited grazing.” Uh, yes, please.

Some of the menu highlights include crispy bourbon glazed pork belly: with celery root puree, caramelized granny smith apples, and shaved fennel, Pete Balistreri charcuterie: chili fennel salumi, Berkshire proscuitto, whole grain mustard, fig jam and rustic flatbreads, and shrimp & grits with cherry heirloom “bloody mary” tomato sauce.

So, shall you decide to gorge on June 24th — we wish you all the best on your spirit-fueled journey.

For more information, make sure to give Distilled’s website a gander. Cheers!

Share This Event
Event Details
The Latest
Event Details
Event Search:
Upcoming Events
21st annual Gator By The Bay Festival
May 9, 2024
6:00 pm
  • Spanish Landing Park
The 21st annual Gator By The Bay, the largest and most-authentic Louisiana-themed music and food festival this side of the bayou, will return to Spanish...
San Diego Rodeo Petco Park
January 12, 2024
8:00 am
  • PETCO Park
The San Diego Padres, in partnership with C5 Rodeo Company Inc and Outriders Present will be bringing the first-ever rodeo to Petco Park Friday in...
Champagne at The Guild Hotel in San Diego
December 31, 2023
8:00 pm
  • The Guild Hotel, San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
The Guild Hotel is one of the most elegant, gorgeous hotels in Downtown San Diego – making it the perfect place for an extravagant New...
The Wild Horses Festival Returns To Petco Park With Zach Bryan
December 30, 2023
4:00 pm
  • PETCO Park
Get ready for the Wild Horses Festival at Petco Park! Join us on Saturday, December 30th, for an electrifying full-venue show featuring the rising country...
Stefanie Bales Art Soiree at Sparks Gallery
December 28, 2023
5:30 pm
  • Sparks Gallery
San Diego’s vibrant art scene is set to be illuminated by the upcoming Stefanie Bales Art Soiree, a one-of-a-kind event at Sparks Gallery that promises...