Experience the Best Denver Whiskey Bars – Go to Whiskey Row in Arvada

Ott’s World Blog - September 2022

Looking for a real Whiskey Row Denver experience? I’m not talking about a simple restaurant that happens to serve a few whiskey drinks…yawn. I’m talking about a real 3 block area in Denver Metro where you can experience the largest combined whiskey inventory in the state (and one of the largest in the nation), PLUS, there’s even a nearby whiskey distillery. The answer to where to find the best Denver whiskey bars is in Olde Town Arvada.

Olde Town is home to the largest and best Denver whiskey bars. They have an inventory combined of over 2300 different types of whiskeys. Not only do they have the rarest of rare whiskeys to try, but they also have barrel-select bottles that are unique just to their bars and pallet.

I don’t think many people know just how unusual it is to have this big of inventory in such a small area, which is exactly why I’m introducing you to it! But first – let’s start with some basics.

What is Whiskey Row

• What is a Barrel Select Whiskey

• Denver’s Whiskey Row – Sip the Best Whiskey in Denver

  • Schoolhouse Kitchen and Libations Has Denver’s Largest Whiskey Inventory

    • Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Whiskeys – No!

    • Schoolhouse Whiskey Events

    • Whiskey Recommendations from Schoolhouse

  • Bluegrass Lounge Pays Homage to Kentucky Bourbons

    • Buy a Barrel Select Bottle

    • Bluegrass Lounge Whiskey Events

    • Whiskey Recommendations from Bluegrass Lounge

  • StockRoom Speakeasy and Spirit Wines Provisions

    • Don’t Forget the Whiskey Cocktails

    • Stockroom Whiskey Events

    • Whiskey Recommendations from Stockroom Speakeasy

  • But Wait There’s More Whiskey – Talnua Distillery

    • Single Pot Still Whiskey Distilling

    • Talnua Distillery Events

What is Whiskey Row

Whiskey Row refers to a block-long stretch in Louisville Kentucky from 101-133 W. Main Street that once served as home to the bourbon industry. Now, many places around the US call themselves whiskey row when there are a couple of whiskey establishments in close proximity. There are also restaurants that have taken the name too. However, the only place you’ll find a real whiskey row in Denver (and all of Colorado) is in Olde Town Arvada where you have Bluegrass Bourbon Lounge, Schoolhouse Restaurant, and the Stockroom Speakeasy all in a 3 block radius.

What is a Barrel Select Whiskey

Upon visiting the Olde Town Arvada whiskey bars, I heard a lot about the Barrel Select bottles, so I set out to learn more about this elite whiskey purchasing process. The first thing I learned is that Barrel Selects (also referred to as barrel picks) are the latest trend in American whiskey – it’s basically a way to get rare whiskey to the masses.

Typically, a whiskey like Woodford Reserve is made from thousands of barrels combined together and proofed down to 90 proof so they can sell to bars, restaurants, and shops. However, each barrel is like a snowflake, each different in its own way due to the barrel aging process. That’s why serious whiskey bars generally want to be able to choose their own barrel instead of just getting the ‘standard blend’ because they trust their own palette. People who pick barrels generally have a very advanced pallet for whiskey; they know what they want instead of letting someone else make that choice.

Therefore, a barrel select is when a whiskey expert tastes the bourbon straight from the barrels and selects which one they like best. Then they buy the entire barrel (normally around $10,000) yielding 160 to 200 bottles depending on the length of the barrel. Effectively this makes their bottle of Woodford Reserve completely unique to them – a whiskey unicorn.

Finally, they put their ‘stamp’ (aka special label) on the bottle making it completely unique to the owner. This really is an investment in the best whiskey, and pretty typical of people building up a whiskey collection or top whiskey bars.

Read the FULL ARTICLE from Ott’s World here