Denver’s bar scene is always hopping, and three local bars and one Boulder restaurant have award nominations to prove it.
The 13th Annual Spirited Awards recognizes excellence in the hospitality industry specifically in bars and the cocktail industry across the world. And nominations for this year’s regional finalists have been released and three Denver bars and one Boulder establishment have been added to the nominee list.
The awards are divided into regional categories across the globe, and Colorado found itself mentioned in both the U.S.A. West and U.S.A. East categories.
In the U.S.A. West category, Occidental is up for Best High Volume Cocktail Bar. Located at 1950 W. 32nd Ave., Occidental has a counterculture, punk rock atmosphere with open seating. The rebellious little sister to Williams and Graham, a Spirited award winner itself, Occidental mixologists put on a show as they shake up carefully crafted and inventive cocktails.
Citizen Rail at Kimpton Hotel Born, a steakhouse right behind Union Station in the Kimpton Hotel, has been nominated for Best Hotel Bar in the U.S.A. West category. Spirit-forward cocktails and a rotating drink menu with lots of Colorado-brewed beer make the bar stand out. The daily (2:30-4:30 p.m.) happy hours and wood-fired, meat-centric dishes have made this trendy place stand out as a downtown Denver favorite.
Death & Co snagged a nomination for Best New Cocktail Bar in the U.S.A West region. Death & Co is an expansion of New York City’s East Village hot spot and has stepped up Denver’s cocktail game. Located in the main lobby of the Ramble Hotel, Death & Co features an extensive drink list of over 30 cocktails, big windows, and comfortable lounge seating.
In Boulder, longtime local favorite Oak at Fourteenth was nominated in the U.S.A. Central region for Best Restaurant Bar. The Pearl Street location provides a gorgeous mountain backdrop to enjoy seasonal desserts and fresh cocktails, along with house-made and bottled sodas.
A toast to these businesses for making the list of top spots in the country, let’s hope one of them brings home a win for Colorado!
Top 10 finalists for the awards will be announced on June 12, and the 13th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony will take place on July 20 at the Tales of the Cocktail industry event held in New Orleans, Louisiana. You can check out the full list of worldwide nominations here.
Have any of our readers visited any of the nominated watering holes? Do you have a favorite Denver area bar or local cocktail you want to share with us? Sound off in the comments.
