Denver bars recognized as best in the West with Spirited Awards
DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado is known for its award-winning locally brewed beer and a culinary scene that is constantly getting awards of some kind. And the local bar scene has proven to be worthy of awards too.
The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announced its 18th annual Spirited Awards, which honors excellence in the beverage industry.
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“The Spirited Awards is crucial to our industry, not only as an award but also as an appreciation for every Regional Top 10 Honoree’s hard work and effort, which eventually motivates them to reach higher,” said Symphony Loo, Spirited Awards Asia Pacific Co-Chair.
The Spirited Awards are comparable in the bar scene to that of the James Beard Awards for the food scene.
The awards include bars in different regions of the U.S. and regions across the globe, covering multiple categories like best bar team, best cocktail bar, best hotel bar, best restaurant bar, best new bars and more.
A few bars in Denver were among those recognized as some of the best in the Western U.S.
The Yacht Club, a bar located at 3701 N. Williams St., was recognized as one of the top 10 best cocktail bars in the Western U.S. and was also awarded for having one of the top 10 best bar teams in the Western U.S.
Best U.S. Bar Team – U.S. West
Accomplice Bar — Los Angeles, CA
Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
Employees Only Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA
Highball Cocktail Bar — Phoenix, AZ
Navy Strength — Seattle, WA
Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
Strong Water Anaheim — Anaheim, CA
Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
True Laurel — San Francisco, CA
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
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Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
Baby Gee — Long Beach, CA
Capri Club — Los Angeles, CA
Foreign National — Seattle, WA
Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
Highball Cocktail Bar — Phoenix, AZ
The Doctor’s Office — Seattle, WA
Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
Trick Dog — San Francisco, CA
True Laurel — San Francisco, CA
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
Two other Denver bars were recognized as some of the best new cocktail bars in the West.
Bars Hey Kiddo and Ok Yeah share a building at 4337 Tennyson St. Ok Yeah is like a speakeasy to Hey Kiddo. According to the website, the two spaces have a “different experience, a different menu, and different vibe for you and your party.”
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Hey Kiddo is described as a “true American restaurant” with a menu highlighting in-house fermentation, well-sourced protein, local grain, and a zero-waste kitchen mentality, according to the website.
Ok Yeah is in the back of the building and focuses on cocktails curated to suit the customer’s mood.
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
Aphotic — San Francisco, CA
Bar Next Door — Los Angeles, CA
Cavaña at LUMA Hotel — San Francisco, CA
Dark Room — Seattle, WA
Dirty Pretty — Portland, OR
Donna’s — Los Angeles, CA
FYPM — Phoenix, AZ
Hey Kiddo — Denver, CO
Ok Yeah — Denver, CO
STOA — San Francisco, CA
Hey Kiddo was also acknowledged as a recommended restaurant in Colorado by Michelin Guide.
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The Spirited Awards are decided by a committee of revered bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers who evaluated the nominated bars based on structured criteria, according to the website.
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