And who was on hand to drive home the cork, or "bung," as it is apparently called, but Mayor John Hickenlooper -- a man who gets to do all the cool stuff around town.
As a founder of the Wynkoop Brewing Company, Hickenlooper is familiar with the pioneering of both run-down Denver neighborhoods and alcoholic beverage brewing. At the Stranahan's celebration, he spilled stories and talked business with Stranahan's head man and co-founder Jess Graber, as well as head distiller Jake Norris.
But the highlight of the afternoon was when Hick helped fill the commemorative barrel and then used a wooden mallet to drive home that bung.
Afterward, Hick signed the barrel, which will be aged for two years and then donated to a charity of the mayor's choice. Norris says bottles of Stranahan's have sold for eight times their value at charity auctions, so he and Graber and Hick hope to raise a lot more money with an entire barrel, which holds roughly 220-250 bottles.
Of course, they may have to wait a little longer than two years, as Hickenlooper joked, because in April 2011, he'll likely be running for re-election and he wouldn't want to be accused of exerting undue influence - straight up or on the rocks.