Sean Kenyon

Reader: If I get charged by the pound, it's not pizza

How about some pizza to soak up all the comments still coming in about Jenn Wohletz's "five cocktails only dickheads would order," as well as Sean Kenyon's response? While Lori Midson has everyone guessing about a pizza covered with apple slices, Jenn Wohletz visited Beau Jo's, which just celebrated ... More >>

Best New Bar: Our winners over the past dozen years

We've spent a lot of time in bars since the first Best of Denver issue made its debut in 1984, and sometimes we even remembered to give awards to those bars. One of our most popular categories? Best New Bar, snagged this year by Ace. Some years we didn't make an award in this category, and other yea ... More >>

Williams & Graham wraps up new food and cocktail menus for the holidays

Williams & Graham just celebrated its first birthday. And although the new take on an old-style speakeasy at 3160 Tejon Street hit some bumps on the road to opening -- including a liquor-license snafu -- the path has been clear since it opened last November. In fact, the place is usually packed, a ... More >>

Reader: Bars with badly dressed bartenders are toilets -- and I don't drink from the toilet

Sean Kenyon knows how to get attention -- whether he's pouring a perfectly composed cocktail at Williams & Graham or the Squeaky Bean, serving up his opinions on this blog, or sending out a fast tweet, as he did recently when he told bartenders to quit wearing tank tops behind the bar: "I don't want ... More >>

The Squeaky Bean opens tonight, but is still waiting for its liquor license

Getting the State of Colorado to sign off on the Squeaky Bean's liquor license has been an exercise in extreme patience for owner Johnny Ballen, manager Steve Gallic, chef Max MacKissock and the rest of the Bean bunch, who, as we reported Monday, were still waiting on a liquor license sign-off signa ... More >>

Video: Johnny Ballen, head bean of the Squeaky Bean, gives us a sneak peek of the new space

For those of you who have been begging for an update on the re-sprouting of the Squeaky Bean -- and there are a lot of you -- we've got that and more, thanks, in part, to quirky king bean Johnny Ballen, who, we now know, may have been a used car salesman in a previous life. For the past few weeks, ... More >>

Denver's ten best new bars

The metro area gained so many liquid assets in 2011, we had to do a lot of drinking before we could choose the winner of our Best New Bar award for the Best of Denver 2012. And even then, the awards kept spilling out for other new spots, including Best Neighborhood Brewery, Best Place to See a Grow ... More >>

Denver's ten best new bars of 2011

This year was a banner year for new restaurants -- as we noted in this week's Year in Review, nearly 300 new places have opened since January 1. Dozens of them included bars, and many more new dives, cocktail lounges, pubs and piano bars gave us still more reasons to go out drinking. Here, in no pa ... More >>

Reader: Bartender profiles pour out deserved praise -- another round!

​For the past two weeks, Laura Shunk has been going behind the bar every Friday to interview a local mixologist. First up was Brian Smith (above) at Pinche Taqueria; Joshua Smith of TAG and Williams & Graham was featured last Friday. And Brian M is ready for another round:

Stranahan's Rob Dietrich talks about what it's like to take over as head distiller

​Last month, after Jake Norris left Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, the homegrown company that was sold late last year to Proximo Spirits, Rob Dietrich was named head distiller. After I chatted with Jake Norris about why he left, I decided it was important to talk with Dietrich. And in an inter ... 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.

Colorado Cocktail Project will leave you shaken, possibly stirred

​Café Society's obsession with the quest for a Colorado cocktail dates back to the day when Rich Grant of Visit Denver got a call from a reporter for a national magazine who was looking for the quintessential Colorado drink to include in a story about landmark libations. But while some towns ... More >>

Ask the bartender: Meet Ted Palmer of Roundhouse Spirits

​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 >>

Ask the bartender: Meet Rory Donovan of Peach Street Distillers

​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 >>

Ask the Bartender: Meet Allie Geppert, 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 >>

The Euclid Hall pig heist: The final smackdown in photos

​There was no brawl, no last-minute demands, no squealing and no bloodshed. Instead, at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Euclid Hall, two monkey-masked men jumped out of a van, raced up the stairs and delivered a pig -- a pig for ransom that had been stolen in broad daylight just over a week ago at Union ... More >>

Ask the bartender: Meet Raffi Jergerian, 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 >>

Ask the Bartender: Meet Kevin Burke, 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 >>

Ask the bartender: Meet Tyler French, our first 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 >>

Ask the bartender: The sun rises on Japanese whisky

​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 >>

Ask the bartender: Whisky without the "e," from A to Z

​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 >>

Ask the bartender: Denver is not Margaritaville

​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 >>

Ask the bartender: Wake up and smell the cocktails!

​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 >>

Ask the bartender: Thank Alexander the Great for rum

​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 >>

Celebrate the end of Prohibition at Denver's oldest bar

My Brother's Bar occupies a building that's been a saloon for over 120 years.​Yes, the Buckhorn Exchange boasts liquor license number 1 -- but that's because the venerable restaurant was first in line after Prohibition ended in 1933, when new liquor licenses were issued. The oldest saloon in t ... More >>

Ask the bartender: Sean Kenyon delivers a punch

​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 >>

Ask the Bartender: What's the ideal Colorado cocktail?

Sean Kenyon mixes it up.​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 Be ... More >>

A tequila-hazed food-porn pictorial from last night's dinner at Colt & Gray

​Until recently, Olmeca Altos, a 100 percent blue agave tequila from the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico, had only been available outside of the United States, but in July of this year, the double-distilled agave juice was introduced stateside -- specifically in Chicago and Denver -- and ... More >>

Ask the bartender: How to make a Manhattan

​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 >>

Ask the bartender: All about bourbon

​em>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 Resour ... More >>

Ask the bartender: Sherry, baby!

​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 >>

The week in Cafe Society bloggery: Best GABF T-shirts, Chef and Tell with Roberto Diaz, hosts behaving badly and a new bar manager at Steuben's

​ Behold the highlights from this week's Cafe Society blog:

Steuben's chef Brandon Biederman on that whole local, sustainable, green movement and the woman who weighed her food

Lori Midson​ Brandon Biederman Steuben's 523 East 17th Avenue 303-830-1001 www.steubens.com This is part one of Lori Midson's interview with Brandon Biederman, exec chef of Steuben's. Part two of that Q&A will run in this space tomorrow. Brandon Biederman is having a difficult time coming ... More >>

This week in Cafe Society food bloggery: To drink or not to drink vodka, Justin Brunson, cupcakes, TAG | RAW BAR and turkey legs

Lori MidsonJustin Brunson, owner and chef of Masterpiece Delicatessen​ Behold the best highlights from this week's Cafe Society blog: 1. Sean Kenyon, the no-holds-barred bar baron at Steuben's, takes on vodka -- specifically whether or not it's run its course -- in this week's Ask the Barten ... More >>

Randall Layman's Tales of the Cocktail, round four

Randall Layman, a bartender at Vesta Dipping Grill, is just back from New Orleans, where he attended his first Tales of the Cocktail. We'll be printing his dispatches all week (read the first installment here). Taryn KapronicaSailor Jerry​ Day four: Sleeping in again (don't close your curtain ... More >>

Randall Layman's Tales of the Cocktail, round three

Randall Layman, a bartender at Vesta Dipping Grill, is just back from New Orleans, where he attended his first Tales of the Cocktail. We'll be printing his dispatches -- here are the first and second installments -- all week. Day Three: With the curtains closed tight over the window in my room an ... More >>

Randall Layman's Tales of the Cocktail, day one

Taryn Kapronica​Randall Layman, a bartender at Vesta Dipping Grill, is just back from New Orleans, where he attended his first Tales of the Cocktail. We'll be printing his dispatches all week. Day one: Passing the Superdome and several cemeteries before landing in the epicenter of Bourbon S ... More >>

No One Goes Hungry at Share Our Strength

Randall Layman of Vesta Dipping Grill wins Sailor Jerry's Rum cocktail competition

Rob ChristensenSecond place Adam Hodak, first place Randall Layman, and third place Ken Kodys, with judges Lisa Hare and Sean Kenyon​Last night, Sailor Jerry's rum hosted a different kind of cocktail contest. These events normally take place in quiet rooms of trendy restaurants, where particip ... More >>

Colt & Gray's Noah Heaney wins USBG Manhattan Cocktail Classic

​Two months ago, Colt & Gray bartender Noah Heaney barely edged out another Colt & Gray barman, Kevin Burke, in a sudden-death mix-off when the two tied for first at the Colorado chapter of the US Bartender's Guild Don Q rum competition. The prize: a trip to New York to compete in the Manha ... More >>

Behind the Bar with Randy Layman at Avenue Grill

​ Randy Layman began working at Avenue Grill seven years ago and convinced his twin, Ryan, to join him there four years ago. The identical (except for Ryan's longer beard) bartenders poured kick-ass cocktails together, doubling your fun, until November 1 -- when Ryan moved across the street to ... More >>

Hey, bartender! Time to gin up some gin recipes

​ Colorado Bartenders Guild (COBG) is looking for bartenders with noggins full of gin ideas for the Hendrick's Gin Cocktail Competition. To enter, a bartender needs to concoct a cocktail that includes the base spirit of Hendrick's Gin (at least 1.5 ounces), with a maximum of seven ingredients ... More >>

Tonight at Lola: The Denver Five roll out the first of five dinners

Denver Five chefs​ Keegan Gerhard (D Bar Desserts), Troy Guard (TAG), Tyler Wiard (Elway's in Cherry Creek) and Matt Selby (Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben's) will join host chef Jamey Fader at Lola, 1575 Boulder Street, tonight at 6 p.m., when all five chefs will convene in Fader's home kitc ... More >>

Taste of the Nation mixologists shake, stir and pour for a good cause

Lori MidsonHoney smoked peach cocktail from TAG's Jared Boller At last night's Taste of the Nation event at Mile High Station, nine Colorado mixologists muddled, shook, stirred, poured, begged, stole and offered bribes to the throngs of charitable party-goers who voted with dollar bills and tokens ... More >>

Sober and not-so-sober observations from the Taste of the Nation

Lori MidsonStaff from Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben'sYesterday afternoon, Denver's best chefs rolled out the culinary red carpet and rubbed tongs with smitten admirers and other do-gooders who showed up in droves at Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation, a charity event that benefits anti-hunge ... More >>

Food Fête

Eat, drink and be merry at Taste of the Nation.

Stirring victory for Anika Zappe

colfaxavenue.comShe's #1: Anika ZappeMembers of the Colorado Bartenders Guild took first, second and third at the Bombay Sapphire regional cocktail competition on Tuesday night. Coming in third, Mike Henderson of TAG; second, Sean Kenyon of Steuben's and Vesta Dipping Grill. And in first place? A ... More >>

Colorado Bartenders Guild hosts first cocktail competition

For Colorado bartenders, taxes aren't the only thing due on April 15. That's also the deadline for submitting recipes to the first cocktail competition of the year organized by the Colorado Bartenders Guild (COBG). And I'll be helping to judge the results at 6 p.m. April 26 at Trios Enoteca, along w ... More >>

A saucy toy drive at Steuben's

Steuben's will host a toy drive to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission tonight, beginning at 9 p.m. and running until about 2 a.m. And if you donate a toy, not only does God give you a pat on the back, but you receive a free cocktail or Great Divide beer! The cocktails are creations by eight of ... More >>