First Sip — the fun, beverage-focused spinoff of Boulder County restaurant week that debuted last year — is back for its second year. From April 26 to 30, grab a drink at one (or several!) of the dozens of Boulder County bars, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and other small businesses that will be participating in this year’s event.
First Sip — which is produced by the team behind First Bite — shines a light on the county’s top-notch and ever-evolving beverage scene, which ranges from carefully curated craft cocktails to refreshing craft beers to booze-free mocktails and more.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting First Sip again,” says Jessica Benjamin, owner of Savor Productions, which puts on First Sip and First Bite. “Last year was remarkable to welcome over 9,000 patrons throughout the weekend and we are excited to build on that momentum and showcase even more compelling menus this year.”
So far, this year’s First Sip participants include:
- 740 Front Street
- Avanti F&B
- Basta
- Bohemian Biergarten
- Bootleg Betty
- Boulder Spirits by Vapor Distillery
- Café Aion
- Dagabi Cucina
- Dedalus Wine Shop & Market
- Dry Storage Bakehouse
- Gemini
- Ghost Box Pizza
- The Greenbriar Inn
- Hazel’s Beverage World
- The Hungry Toad
- Japango
- Pizzeria Alberico
- Postino WineCafé
- R Gallery & Wine Bar
- Rayback Collective
- Roadhouse Boulder Depot
- Rosetta Hall
- SALT
- Sanitas Brewing
- The Sink
- Stella’s Cucina
- Süti & Co.
- T/ACO
- Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
The participating restaurants, bars, breweries and distilleries are offering an array of packages and specials. For example, Basta is doing a beverage-centric tasting menu that includes drinks like their take on a martini (made with gin, aquavit, spring onion and herbs), a radler (made with lager, pineapple and rum), a sour (featuring agave spirits, a carrot-ginger shrub, citrus and chili) and a bitter (with rhubarb amaro, fennel, pine and strawberry). If you want to do just drinks, the cost is $55 per person, but for an additional $45 you can also munch on Basta’s recommend food pairings, like oysters, pork rillettes and cavatelli pasta al roberto.
Newly opened Postino, meanwhile, is offering buy one, get one glasses of wine throughout First Sip, while Sanita’s is doing a $10 beer tasting menu that includes Bandito Mexican lager, Sanitas IPA, saison and Jim’s ESB.
If you’re not drinking, you can still enjoy yourself, as there are several non-alcoholic offerings, too. Dry Storage, for example, is doing a $13 spring flight of iced espresso kumquat thyme, raspberry vanilla matcha and hibiscus limeade.
“This event is a great way to showcase the incredible talent and creativity of our local beverage industry and dining scene, and we can’t wait for everyone to come out to enjoy all that Boulder has to offer,” says Benjamin.
First Sip will also honor an outstanding bartender with this year’s Badass Bartender Award. You can nominate your favorite drink-slinger now through May 1, with the winner being announced on May 3. Bragging rights, plus $250 and a variety of gifts from First Sip partners, will go to the winner.
You can view the full list of participating venues and see their First Sip menus online. Cheers!
