Where to Enjoy Festive Holiday Cocktails in Denver

When the chilly Denver air carries the sound of bells, you know the holiday season is near. Local bartenders are warming up their cocktails with fall spices, nuts, and fruits to keep things merry and help you relax during all the hustle and bustle. Here are a few of these Yuletide spirits and where to find them.

Bourbon Espresso Martini
Zengo and La Biblioteca
Get a caffeine buzz with this new cocktail (pictured below) at Riverfront Park neighbors Zengo and La Biblioteca. Consider the cocktail a warm pick-me-up to keep you going during the busy holiday season. (1610 Little Raven St.; 720-904-0965)

Chai tea always keeps the chills away, but this one (pictured above) has been spiked. Enjoy a unique cocktail made with bhakti chai, tart apple juice, and Old Forrester whiskey. The apple juice is steamed with the chai until hot, then poured over a shot of whiskey. It’s garnished with cinnamon and a cinnamon stick for little holiday zest. (1553 Platte St.; 720-428-8565)

Spice things up for the holidays with a special punch at the Thirsty Lion downtown. The drink features Jack Daniels Fire Whiskey, pear puree, Wyder’s Pear Cider, and lime garnished with cinnamon and a pear slice. This drink has a warm bite to go with its sweetness. (1605 Wynkoop; 303-623-0316)

The Controlled Burn
Kachina Southwestern Grill
How about a hot margarita? The bar at Kachina in Westminster has concocted a nuclear holiday cocktail. The Controlled Burn is a unique margarita made with house made scorpion tincture. The scorpion tincture, combined with Milagro Silver, lime, pineapple, and green chartreuse makes for a ‘hot’ cocktail that works from the inside out. (10600 Westminster Blvd.; 303-410-5813)

This frothy treat will warm up those holiday shoppers in chilly Cherry Creek North. The blend is made with Botanist Gin, Leopold Bros. Three Pins Alpine, lemon, and eggwhite. Enjoy the large firepit at the bar’s cozy outdoor patio. (150 Clayton Ln.; 303-253-3000)

The Brown Palace atrium is festooned in beautiful holiday décor. Even if you don’t have a room, you can still enjoy cocktails in the atrium including this signature cocktail, the Macaroon, made with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Amaretto Di Saronno, and Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur. This mélange will leave you swooning in holiday spirits. (321 17th St.; 303-297-3111)

Enjoy this cocktail at the cozy bar inside the Hotel Teatro. The drink is one of the bar’s special barrel-aged cocktails made with Breckenridge Bourbon, pumpkin spice simple syrup, and Cocchi Sweet Vermouth. (1100 14th St.; 720-889-2128)

This festive cocktail features spiced rum, Cointreau Fresh Lemon, sour, and cinnamon in a creative holiday mix just in time for your holiday party. (1735 19th St., Ste. 100; 303-296-0800)