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Launching this month at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is Distilled, a new locally-focused spirit and cocktail festival scheduled for Saturday, June 27. Organized by the San Diego County Fair, which also hosts annual wine and beer fests during fair season, the event was preceded by a spirits competition that garnered medals for several San Diego distilleries, including Malahat Spirits, Kill Devil Spirit Co. and Liberty Call Distilling.
On the day of, ticket holders will be able to watch a live craft cocktail competition, with bartenders from six local spots, including Juniper & Ivy, Sycamore Den and The Lion's Share, creating cocktails for a panel of judges and sampling them for the crowd, who will give out a People's Choice Award. There will also be an educational series, ranging from a session with Ballast Point Spirits on barrel-aged spirits and cocktails to the history of gin with Old Harbor Distilling Co. Admission includes a wristband good for 10 tastings of spirits (18 distilleries will be on site) or cocktails, plus admission to the San Diego County Fair.
