A toast to Denver’s bar scene is in order after two local establishments were named finalists in a prestigious national cocktail competition.
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The Peach Crease Club in RiNo and Rougarou in Five Points are two of the four bars contending for ‘Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar’ at the 20th annual Spirited Awards, the competition announced earlier this month.
That means Denver has a 50% chance of bringing home the title.
The Peach Crease Club, opened last November near Mission Ballroom, serves culinary-inspired drinks in an audiophile-friendly atmosphere. It’s owned and operated by local powerhouse cocktail couple Alex Jump and Stuart Jensen. Rougarou debuted last August from the creative forces behind Yacht Club, another award-winning Mile High City haunt. The concept is billed as a tribute to the American South.
The other two finalists in the category are schmuck. in New York City and Vandell in Los Angeles. Winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony in New Orleans on July 23.
Started in 2007, the Spirited Awards celebrate “outstanding individuals, establishments, products, media, and leaders who continue to inspire the global cocktail community,” according to the announcement. The competition is part of the renowned Tales of the Cocktails conference, which convenes the world’s leading mixologists every summer.
“As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Spirited Awards, we are proud to recognize this year’s finalists and honorees whose creativity, dedication, and leadership have elevated cocktail culture around the world. Their contributions not only set new standards of excellence but also inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals,” Ryan Chetiyawardana, Spirited Awards International Chair, said in a statement.
Denver is no stranger to the spotlight there. In 2024, the hot dog-slinging dive bar Yacht Club was honored as the Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar. Yacht Club and two other Denver spots, Lady Jane and Semiprecious, were nominated as semifinalists in this year’s competition, as well.
Jump and Jensen of Peach Crease said in a social media post that the recognition was validating, given the work it takes to open a bar in today’s economy and because locals belly up to get more than just drinks.
“Bars have always been community hubs. Serving delicious beverages is only a small factor of what makes a world class bar,” the post read in part. “We are proud to be a new pillar of community here in Denver alongside many other wonderful establishments that have laid the groundwork before us and continue to do so.”
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