To compliment my list of stoner food in the city, Denver also has some truly “unique” cocktails. From crazy liquor combinations to garnishes galore (and my personal favorite, the Pickle Shots from Retro Room), here are the most creative libations you’ll find when it comes to drinking in the Mile High. Perhaps these are partially why the Denver dating scene is so meh?
A shot that really packs a punch—Refinery’s Buzz Button: the perfect mix of bold and buzz-worthy.
Buzz Bombs
The signature shot of the Refinery, a buzz bomb (or button) is a shot of Cherry vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. It would go down easy like a jolly rancher if it weren’t for the weird flower you have to imbibe first. Called a schezwan button (just like the Chinese food), the bud has a grassy, earthy taste you chew and swallow. Almost immediately, your mouth experiences a buzzing / numbing sensation like a holistic version of novocaine. In India, the flowers are used to flavor chewing tobacco and in Colorado, it does give you an electrifying sensation that lasts for a few minutes. Akin to the tingling sensation of a 9-volt battery, it’s cool to try, but I’m not really sure why people would ever do it more than once.
Scorpion Shots
Retro Room is best known for its pickle shots and scorpion shots (that you can add to any of their delicious infusions), is also a machismo bar where bros love to challenge each other to down the dead scorpions. And in case you were in need to a trim, Retro Room also offers men’s haircuts. Yeah, I don’t get it either, but it’s a good place to pregame.
Wyman’s #5 brings Chicago to Denver with a White Castle slider garnish.
Bloody Marys Not Just For Breakfast
The main Blackhawks bar in town for my fellow Chicagoans in Denver, Wyman’s #5 is known for serving pretty legit deep dish pizza…and a bloody mary garnished with a White Castle slider. Since the closest actual White Castle to Denver is located across state lines, whether they source those delectable little patties from the frozen foods section of the grocery store or somehow air lift them in is a mystery I don’t want to know the answer to.
Once You Pop, You Don’t Stop
There are no two buts about it; Troy Guard loves cooking with pop rocks. From his hamachi pop rock creation at Tag (RIP) to drinks at Los Chingones, there’s something about those magical little candies that add an extra layer of flavor and flair. My favorite cocktail has since been retired, an iced Fireball with pop rocks that somehow tasted like an alcoholic chai latte, but he’s also had variations that sound just as deadly like a tequila, pop rocks, Mexican coke fiesta in your mouth.
Adult Milkshakes
A delicacy found all over town, indulge in your inner child with the boozy Grasshopper at Steuben’s (if you can stand to get Oreo crumbs all over your nose, it’s impossible not to), or opt for the Kentucky Woman at TAG Burger Bar, which is a little treat made of bourbon, milk, sea salt caramel, and strawberry ice cream. Yes, it is as good as it sounds.
Adrift’s tropical escape in a glass will transport you straight to the islands.
Tiki Time
If you thought tiki bars only came with beachfront locales, think again. Adrift (owned by the Little Man team so you know it’s gonna be bomb) is a hidden gem on South Broadway that serves flaming punch bowls in custom-made skull glasses and delicious frozen drinks. The Chi-Chi is my personal favorite, which is made of vodka, macadamia nut liqueur, pineapple juice, coconut, and demerara. Their new tropical brunch also has an interesting spam and eggs plate to pair it with (tastes like pork belly, I promise!).
The absinthe fountain at TAG wasnot your average after-dinner drink—more like a one-way ticket to the dark side. Probably good it’s gone lol.
The Absinthe Fountain – RIP
This one time, on a really bad date, I ordered the absinthe fountain at TAG solely to entertain myself. Technically an after dinner drink; it’s actually a “put you on your ass” drink. That’s all you really need to know about that – it’s there and it’s deadly.
Purple Margarita (aka. the Rocky-rita)
If you’re looking to root-root for the home team, the Purple Margarita is the signature drink of the Rockies. Started by the Rio, they have a limit of three because they pack a punch. No one knows exactly what flavor it is, but they are colored with butterfly pea flower so you could consider them healthy-ish and a delightful slushy purple drank. Plan to get in line early because drinking is a favorite pastime at Coors Field (it’s certainly more interesting than the baseball game). Pro Tip: If you don’t have a ticket to the game, it’s the best way to show your fandom. A few other spots around town have created their own take on the classic like Rally Bar in McGregor Square and Kachina Cantina.
Playful food and serious drinks, mimosa towers are a signature creation of the Lobby that keep the whole table happily hydrated. Available with standard OJ, more exotic flavors like pineapple or grapefruit, or super hippy-dippy with kombucha, they are indeed bottomless beverages. And you can rejoice because brunch isn’t just on weekends. They’re available any day of the week until 3 p.m. as long as you bring at least five people.
Denver is finally getting into the freakshake game thanks to the Yard. This place is all about over-the-top, indulgent milkshakes that redefine drinks as desserts. With a menu that includes crazy concoctions like the Rocky Mountain with “chocolate rocks,” The Cereal Killer, the Unicorn and the Mermaid these drinks are pure decadence in a jar for the camera eats first crowd. The options don’t stop at shakes—there are sundaes, cookie dough jars, and even pints to take home, all featuring over-the-top toppings like brownies, donuts, and candy galore. But be prepared to drop some cash—these creations range from $10-18 each, making them just as much a treat for the eyes as the stomach.
Hockey Woes (RIP)
Sadly this is no longer offered, Pepsi Center bring it back!
My absolute favorite drink in Denver came with an air of exclusivity, being that you could only get it in the Land Rover Club, the club-level seating at the Pepsi Center for an Avs or Nuggets game. Called a White Water Whiskey, it was made of Breckenridge White Whiskey, cayenne pepper, maple syrup, and simple syrup, which sounds like a disgusting combination a drunk Canadian would come up with but somehow manages to hit the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I could literally down them like water and one day will mess around with the proportions long enough to make my own version.
Drink Up Denver
Whether you’re chasing clout, chaos, or just a chemically-induced buzz that makes your mouth feel like a science experiment gone rogue (looking at you, buzz bomb shots), Denver’s drink scene delivers. These concoctions may be ridiculous, but so is adulting—so bottoms up to sipping outside the lines.
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