Star Bar Makes Stars of Its Bartenders in Cheeky Video Series

While our social media feeds were mostly filled with chicken Caesar wrap videos last month, we also took note of one bar’s top-notch creativity.

In recent weeks, downtown watering hole Star Bar has been making stars out of its bartenders through a cheeky new video series shared mainly on Instagram, though a few have made it to TikTok as well. The campaign was created to promote the neighborhood haunt’s new cocktail menu (and it seems to be working – after all, even Westword is talking about it).

Far from the typical social media campaign with polished shots of artfully crafted drinks and mixology tutorials, Star Bar’s campaign features short skits packed with pop culture references and parodies designed to make you laugh out loud – and hopefully stop by for a drink.

Perhaps the most memorable of the series to date is a video of a bearded Sabrina Carpenter impersonator dancing around to the pop star’s hit song, Espresso, appropriately promoting the bar’s new espresso martini (named, you guessed it, the Sabrina Carpenter).

Other videos have included a spoof on how to make a spicy margarita where bartender Cait Leary uses enough tequila to kill a small horse and jokingly strains the margarita through her hands; and a remake of Die Hard (which the bar team claims is a Christmas movie) spotlighting the John McClane, made with a blend of bourbon and rye whiskeys, allspice, beet syrup and apple bitters.

“Everyone kind of does the same cocktail photos at every bar, and they’re very beautiful, but I think it’s kind of played out,” says Les Baker V (a.k.a. Sabrina Carpenter herself), a bartender and the mastermind behind the social media campaign. “[Our campaign] is more so about having fun.”

Baker, who also has a background in video production and helms Planet 5 Films, handles the filming and editing, but the campaign is a team effort. They brainstorm concepts together, match ideas to personalities, and batch-shoot several videos at a time, often on their days off.

“It takes a village,” Baker continues. “I storyboard everything first — the storyboards are pretty ridiculous — and then there’s plenty of improv once we start shooting.”

The social media pivot also marks a tonal reset for Star Bar’s online presence, which Baker describes as “very bland” before the takeover. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, both online and in person.

“People come in asking if Sabrina’s working tonight,” he says with a laugh. “Customers reference the videos…it’s definitely been a very steady tick [in business] since we started.”

Perhaps most importantly, the content has helped bring bodies through the door during the slow season.

“Winters are terrible for us,” Baker admits. “So we thought, let’s start this now. Let’s try to get people in earlier, engaged earlier, maybe for a cocktail or two.”

Star Bar’s new menu features nine cocktails ($12 each) and two shots ($8 each). The lineup blends modern classics like a Penicillin, Hot Toddy and Spicy Marg, with playful curveballs like the Patagonia Sour built with Trakal (a Patagonian spirit Baker describes as “what would happen if a brandy and a gin had a baby”) lime and bitters. It’s already become the menu’s best-seller.

The shots also lean into Star Bar’s twisted sense of humor with the Fountain of Youth, mixing Trakal and Red Bull Juneberry; and the Well of Death, made with Empirical Doritos Nacho Cheese spirit (yes, that’s a real thing), honey whiskey and Cholula – which Baker lovingly describes as tasting “like a melted Dorito.” 

There’s even La Vieille Ferme wine for $8 a glass, which the team promoted with a remake of Lonely Island’s Dick in a Box – but it’s Cock in a Box (Warning: NSFW).

Beyond the jokes, the campaign is resonating because it’s undeniably homegrown and acutely on brand. It captures Star Bar’s no-frills, divey spirit while presenting playful, well-shot content that’s resonating with its audience. 

“All five of us [bartenders] want the bar to succeed,” Baker earnestly expresses. “We want to make a space where people can come have fun, no matter what they’re looking for. It’s not ‘come for this’ or ‘come for that.’ It’s just, come and have fun.”

Star Bar is located at 2137 Larimer Street and is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit thestarbardenver.com.