The second annual Science of Cocktails took place yesterday evening (February 9) and attracted guests until nearly midnight—even though it was a weekday.

The signature fundraiser at Science World (1455 Quebec Street) aimed to sell 1,300 tickets in order to raise $200,000 for its class field-trip bursary program. The bursary helps bring students from underserved schools in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland to the science centre.

Ultimately, 1,500 guests attended the highly anticipated event, raising more than $240,000 for the student-focused initiative.

The night started out with media and VIP guests arriving at 6:45 p.m., who were quickly ushered in to experience all the cocktail and culinary creations that were on offer.

With 31 bar stations and 13 food checkpoints, as well as plenty of scientific attractions and demonstrations, there was definitely a lot to see, eat, and drink.

Some of the featured drink creations included the Kahlua Krispie Paralyzer (Olmeca Altos, milk, cola, Kahlua, and Rice Krispies); the Smoked Banana Daiquiri (Havana Club three-year rum, lime juice, and smoked banana syrup); the Frosé (Road 13 wine, grenadine, cranberry, and tartaric acid); Japanese Cocktail with Orgeat Floss (Hennessy, orgeat, Angostura bitters); and Black Bel-Vet (Belvedere vodka, Summerland Sweets blackcurrant syrup, lemon juice, egg whites, and dry ice).

The bartenders onsite made sure to add wow factors to their respective libations, using elements such as liquid nitrogen, a jet fountain, dry ice, torched marshmallows, hand-powered cocktail shaking machines, and even a cocktail robot.

Renowned chefs and caterers around the city joined the party to serve some delicious fare—each complementing its drink pairing.

Guests sampled bites such as a meringue, passion fruit, white chocolate, and coconut tart; prime rib sliders; butternut squash gnocchi with lamb ragu; tuna pressed sushi; fresh lemongrass rolls; and pork belly rice bowls, among many others.

The majority of event-goers walked through the doors at 8 p.m., bringing the night into full-swing.

For those who wanted a short break from the eating and drinking, you could test your ability to identify aromas at the smell station, try your hand at free-pouring like a skilled bartender, or create an origami shot glass using waterproof, drink-friendly paper.

A silent auction also took place at the venue and offered everything from travel and food escapes to a hockey night out to a professional photography session.

If you didn’t get a chance to purchase a ticket to this year’s event, presale tickets (through February 28) to Science of Cocktails 2018 has opened up. They don’t come cheap ($125 for general admission; $225 for VIP), but if you’re looking for a fun night out for a good cause, we suggest snagging your passes before the special rates are gone. Each ticket includes all food and drink creations at the event.

Scroll through the photos below for a look inside Science of Cocktails 2017.