Leopold Bros.

Round two with Taylor Drew, exec chef of Russell's Smokehouse

Taylor Drew Russell's Smokehouse 1422 Larimer Street 720-524-8050 russellssmokehouse.com This is part two of my interview with Taylor Drew, exec chef of Russell's Smokehouse; part one of our chat ran yesterday. Favorite Denver/Boulder restaurant(s) other than your own: I don't get out to eat nearl ... More >>

Photos: Root25 takes root in the Hyatt Regency in the DTC

A new restaurant has taken root on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency in the Tech Center. Root25 Taphouse & Kitchen is a big step up from the standard chain-hotel restaurant, with locally focused fare, barrel-aged cocktails and a healthy kid's menu. Partnering with such local vendors as Haystack ... More >>

Win two tickets to DStill's American Craft Spirit & Cocktail Showcase

Next Wednesday, Denver will be raining small-batch spirits: vodka, whiskey, gin, bourbon, brandy, grapa, absinthe and more at DStill's American Craft Spirit & Cocktail Showcase, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and takes place at the McNichols Building at 144 West Colfax. There are 44 distilleries parti ... More >>

Photos: Gather mixes craft cocktails inspired by local start-ups

Not every work environment has cocktails on-site, but if your office is at Galvanize, that's one of the amenities. Galvanize, the startup-tech common workspace in the Golden Triangle, has Gather to thank for that. Gather, the on-site cafe overseen by ChoLon chef-owner Lon Symensma, is mixing up ... More >>

Breckenridge-Wynkoop have a concept for South Pearl -- but the name's still a secret

As we reported last week, Izakaya Den plans to move into its new home at 1477 South Pearl, right next to Sushi Den, by the end of May. That will finally free up the current home of Izakaya Den, at 1518 South Pearl, which the Breckenridge-Wynkoop group acquired last year in a complicated trade that g ... More >>

Recipe: Punch Bowl Social's punch makes a splash in Food & Wine magazine

Apparently, the cocktail sphere is getting punched. Earlier this week, Food & Wine magazine pointed out, correctly, that prior to the popularity of the Manhattan, martini and mai tai, there was punch, which dates all the way back to the 17th century. See also: - Anika Zappe named bar manager of Pu ... More >>

Photos: Smashing cocktails from the Winter Talent Showcase

An appreciative crowd of convivial drinkers bellied up to the bar last night at Ghost Plate & Tap, the site of Industry Denver's first Winter Talent Showcase, a cocktail-centric bash that pimped the mad mixology skills of several Denver bartenders, including Dante Reesman, Melissa Durant, Matty Durg ... More >>

Seven Colorado food and spirits producers emerge as finalists for a 2013 Good Food Award

Colorado foodophiles have one -- make that seven -- more reasons to ballyhoo our culinary scene: Today, Pagosa Brewing Company, Avalanche Cheese Company, Ritual Chocolate, Serendipity Confections, Dancing Pines Distillery, Leopold Bros. and Syntax Spirits were all named as finalists vying for a 2013 ... More >>

Joy Wine & Spirits will host a chili extravaganza this Sunday

Joy Wine & Spirits's second annual Chili Cook-off will take place this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. in the parking lot behind the shop at 1302 East Sixth Avenue. The family-friendly block party and competition features an impressive lineup of local restaurants: Fruition, Barolo, Mizuna, Table 6, Potag ... More >>

Photos: A first look at Al Lado, chef Richard Sandoval's new Latin wine and tapas bar

For the past three years, chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval, who owns 35 restaurants around the world, including five in Denver and two in the mountains -- the most he's opened in any state -- has been methodically planning one of his newest concepts: Al Lado, a Latin wine and tapas bar that re ... More >>

Four (possibly) surprising factors fueling Denver's Fernet fever

Something interesting happened at the delicious end of three recent meals -- at Root Down, Frasca Food and Wine and twelve restaurant -- everyone at our table enjoyed a round of Fernet. We'll admit it: Denver's seemingly boundless fascination with Fernet is kind of blowing our minds. Seems like so ... More >>

Leopold Bros. reveals plans for expansion, a tasting room and a new spirit

Early last week, when I met with Todd Leopold at Steuben's, he was wearing oatmeal-colored overalls that sniffed of absinthe, which may or may not have been the reason why customers coming in and out of Steuben's stopped to introduce themselves and shake his hand. But Todd, who, in 2007, along with ... More >>

The Denver FIVE culinary stars will cook at the James Beard House on September 19

Last September, I spent a whopping 24 hours in New York City, mostly in the kitchen of the James Beard House, where the FIVE, a coterie of local chefs and cocktail kings, strutted their talents to a sold-old cognoscenti of foodniks -- one of whom claimed that it was the most fun she'd ever had at a ... More >>

Round two with Josh Monopoli, chef de cuisine of Black Cat & Bramble & Hare

Josh Monopoli Black Cat 1964 13th Street, Boulder 303-444-5500 www.blackcatboulder.com Bramble & Hare 1970 13th Street, Boulder 303-444-9110 brambleandhare.com Part one of my interview with Josh Monopoli, chef de cuisine of Black Cat and Bramble & Hare, ran yesterday; this is part two. Favorite ... More >>

Liquid porn: Sean Kenyon showcases his new Squeaky Bean cocktails

Sean Kenyon isn't the kind of guy to shy away from the spotlight -- or the liquor cabinet. The Denver-based cocktail kingpin (or bartender, as he prefers) has been slinging drinks for 26 years, and he's incredibly good at it, racking up contest titles and accolades around the world, sitting on the b ... More >>

Rainy day pick-me-up: Missionary's Downfall at Adrift

Just when we thought summer-like weather was here to stay, we woke up today to find that last night's rainstorm lingered and outstayed its welcome like the last drunk patron at the bar. And since the prospect of staying cooped up inside more than two days in a row makes us crazy, we're looking for a ... More >>

Justin Lloyd creates a local gathering place at Star Bar

When Justin Lloyd inked the deal on Star Bar almost two years ago, he hadn't been behind a bar for fifteen years. His bartending skills, he admits, were a little rusty. "I bought Star Bar because I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny, but without being on the ground floor, you lose the connecti ... More >>

Beer calendar: Upslope Foreign Stout at Euclid Hall; Leopold Bros rye-aged porter at Yak & Yeti

Breckenridge Brewing has joined fellow Colorado breweries Odell, Great Divide and Oskar Blues in offering four-packs of some of its limited-release beers. The brewery will start with 471 IPA and 72 Imperial, a double chocolate cream stout made with chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory; it ... More >>

Dagstani & Sons Pear Vanilla Preserves is a Good Foods finalist...and available today

The Good Food Awards has announced the finalists in its second annual national celebration of products that are "tasty, authentic, responsible." And the list includes not just several local brewers and spirit makers, but Dagstani & Sons, "A Very Fine Fruit Company" that makes small-batch fine fruit ... More >>

Vodka makers hope pure spring water from Colorado pushes them to the top shelf

Leopold Bros. Distillery gears up to release a Fernet

Leopold Bros. Distillery​We're always excited to see what Scott and Todd Leopold, the brothers behind Denver's Leopold Bros. Distillery have dreamed up for their next project. Between special barrels of whiskey for restaurants like Vesta Dipping Grill, fruit liqueurs and fruit whiskeys, absint ... More >>

Jake Norris's departure from Stranahan's has distillers and bartenders talking

Eric HesslerLadies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails at Stranahan's.​Jake Norris was there from the start of Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, so when he left last month -- eight months after the Colorado-based company was sold to Proximo Spirits -- it got a lot of people in the ... More >>

Bitter Bar bartender Burton Daniel advances to national Barenjager cocktail competition

​Colorado's bartenders keep upping our state's cocktail credibility, competing in national contests and besting some of the country's most formidable spirits professionals to bring big prizes home to the Rocky Mountains. The latest accolade? Burton Daniel, a bartender at Boulder's Bitter Bar ... More >>

Is Stranahan's the punk rock of whiskey? Ask the bartender...

​Growing up in New Jersey, I was a punk-rock kid. I started with Iggy and the Stooges, the Ramones and the Clash, and moved on to Bad Brains, Fear, the Misfits, early Bad Religion, then into NY hardcore, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, etc. As the '80s progressed, so did my punk-rock fervor. I re ... More >>

Marnie Ward of Avenue Grill wins the Colorado Cocktail Contest

​Visit Denver's Rich Grant got a call last year from a reporter for a national magazine who was looking for the quintessential Colorado drink. But while this state is swimming in craft beer, the tourism booster came up dry on the hunt for a Colorado cocktail.

Review preview: Rackhouse Pub

Mark Manger​We just finished up the Colorado Cocktail Project, during which distillers and bartenders from across the state gave lectures, poured samples and, ultimately, created the ultimate Colorado Cocktail: the Tree Line, concocted by the Avenue Grill's Marnie Ward, who bested nine other m ... More >>

Ask the bartender: Meet Kristian Naslund of Dancing Pines Distillery

​The Colorado Cocktail Project, with its mission to create the official Colorado Cocktail, will celebrate this state's most liquid assets at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Sunday and Monday, June 26-27. We've already profiled many of the bartenders who've submitted recipes for the contest; ... More >>

TAG gets ready to unveil a summer cocktail list

TAG​Last month top-notch bartender James Lee gave up his Salida gig to return to the Front Range, taking over as the beverage director at TAG, Troy Guard and Leigh Sullivan-Guard's flagship Larimer Square eatery. He's spent the last few weeks getting his feet wet, learning the spirits list an ... More >>

Steuben's hosts a Picnic on the Patio tonight

Cassandra Kotnik​Steuben's will be hosting a Picnic on the Patio tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. The feast, which will be served family-style, includes drinks inspired by the Leopold Bros. and a whole lamb. Tickets are $50; for more information, call 303-830-1001 or go to www.steubens.com. For infor ... More >>

Ask the bartender: Meet Adam Dunbar, Colorado Cocktail contestant

​Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource ... More >>

Eat and drink free at this week's Justice League party

​Last week, we divulged the details of this Thursday's Justice League of Street Food party, a Halloween bash that will feature the usual crew of food trucks, which includes the Little Orange Rocket, the Inventing Room, Sully's Slice Truck, the Cupcake Truck, Biker Jim's, Steuben's, the Biscuit ... More >>

Today: Celebrate Earth Day, food and sustainability across the city

A Flickr photo.​There are so many food-related events on Earth Day -- some focusing on sustainability, some just happening to fall on April 22 -- that there's certain to be one that appeals to you, whether you're a hard-core vegan environmentalist or a carnivore driving a gas-guzzling Hummer. ... More >>

Culinary calendar for the week ahead: Earth Day specials across the city

​The big news in food this week is Earth Day; you'll find a variety of Earth Day specials at various area restaurants, plus a screening of Food, Inc. on PBS to kick things off the night before. Here's a taste of what to expect: Monday, April 19: Dine out today at Dino's, 10040 West Colfax Av ... More >>

Today: Benefits with tortillas, wines, auctions and more

A Flickr photo.​Whatever your passion or palate, there's a culinary benefit for you today. First up is Tortillas for Tepeyac, a tortilla-making contest in which twenty local leaders will test their skills in a benefit for Clinica Tepeyac. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sta ... More >>

Culinary calendar for the week ahead: Wine dinners and Breakfast for Boobs

A Flickr photo.​The upcoming week is overflowing with wine tastings and dinners, many to benefit great causes, but there's also a long-awaited beer release, the continuation of the Green Routes tour and much more taking place in Denver's culinary scene. Here's a taste of what's ahead: Monday, ... More >>

Tonight: Slow Food benefit dinner at Arugula Ristorante

​The Slow Food movement has been gaining momentum for years, and tonight, Arugula Ristorante, at 2785 Iris Avenue in Boulder, will host a benefit dinner for the local Slow Food chapter. You can expect local products -- in fact, the Arugula staff has nicknamed the dinner, "Eating local in Col ... More >>

Tonight: Mixologist Monday at TAG

​We love it when restaurants try new things -- like TAG's Mixologist Monday, which will feature special guest bartender Michael Martenson of Ron Zacapa Rum (plus TAG bar manager Mike Henderson). Anytime between 5 and 10 p.m. tonight, the 'tenders will take you through an array of tasty cocktai ... More >>

Stranahan's Old Fashioned at the Rackhouse Pub

Stone Fruit Martini at Venue

Mountain Mojito at Primebar

Bijou Cocktail at Vesta Dipping Grill

Vesta giving away twenty happy hours

Vesta Dipping Grill, at 1822 Blake Street, is launching its own "Colorado Stimulus Plan," and giving away a month of happy hours -- a total of twenty in June (one every Monday through Friday through the month). According to Vesta's announcement, the owners (who are also responsible for Steuben's) "f ... More >>

Andrew Schutt takes his heavenly menu to new heights

Denver's Leopold Bros. distillery gets mad props

A Flickr photo. The Leopold Bros. distillery in Denver got a shout-out in Saturday's Washington Post. Columnist Eric Felten, author of the weekly column "How's Your Drink?", called its gin the best of the new, craft-distilled American gins trying to give well-established British gins a run for their ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, April 13 edition

Photo by Soren McCartyThat music was Boss. This town rips the bone from your back. Today in Backbeat Online: • Over the Weekend: Bruce Springsteen at Pepsi Center. • Record Store Day preview: Odds and sods, Blitzen Trapper-style. • Flobots' Jonny 5 rallies the troops for higher ed. • Mr. M ... More >>

Absinthe Absent From Shelves

The wormwood wonder may be legal now, but good luck finding any in this city.