From cocktail bars and breweries with seasonal sips to cozy tea houses and chocolate shops serving hot drinks, Boulder County beverage outposts sure know how to warm up a crowd come winter. Whether you’re looking for a mug of decadent hot cocoa, a spiced cocktail, a hot toddy, a rich chocolate porter or a comforting cup of tea, here’s where you can find the absolute best soul-warming beverages in Boulder and its surrounding environs.
Jungle: Snow Globe
2018 10th St. in Boulder
Jungle, an island-inspired bar tucked off Pearl Street, has transportive powers. Enter into this swank, foliage-filled cocktail lounge and you’ll feel like you’re vacationing in the tropics. Adding to the escapist allure, general manager Cassidy Bradley created this fantastical cocktail called “The Snow Globe” that’s encased in a bubble of cinnamon smoke. The spiced cocktail is made with Bounty Aged Rum, Avua Amburana Cachaça (which has warm, woodsy notes), pear, cinnamon and lemon.
Piece, Love & Chocolate: PL&C Hot Cocoa
805 Pearl St. in Boulder
(303) 449-4804
A hot chocolate hot spot, Piece, Love & Chocolate serves its velvety smooth hot cocoa with vanilla bean whipped cream and homemade marshmallows. Chocolate lovers can also enjoy thick, European-style sipping chocolates that come in an array of tasty flavors ranging from salted caramel to honey lavender.
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar: Espresso Martini
928 Pearl St. in Boulder
(303) 444-1811
Espresso martinis have made a comeback that’s as strong as the ‘80s-era cocktail itself. Enjoy one of these classic coffee cocktails at Jax. “Made with a shot of Coda espresso, Ketel One vodka, house-made almond syrup and house-made coffee liqueur, it’s the perfect closing stanza to a meal,” says Jax manager Fabio Stefani.
The Post Chicken & Beer Lafayette: Empress 1908 Gin Martini
105 West Emma St. in Lafayette
(303) 593-2066
postchickenandbeer.com/lafayette
Colorado-style fried chicken and beer is the name of the game at this Lafayette outpost. But definitely save room for this gin martini, too. This frothy cocktail stars indigo-hued Empress Gin, which, thanks to the inclusion of ginger in the botanicals, has a nice wintry flavor profile.
Centro Mexican Kitchen: Apple Hot Toddy
950 Pearl St. in Boulder
(303) 442-7771
A departure from Centro’s margarita-centric menu, this sipper is the perfect thing to keep you warm on the year-round covered patio as you take a break from shopping on Pearl Street. The hot toddy is made with Old Forester Bourbon, as well as apple, honey syrup, lemon and cinnamon.
Jill’s Restaurant and Bistro: The Julien Old Fashion
900 Walnut St. in Boulder
(720) 406-7399
stjulien.com/eat-drink/jill’s-restaurant-and-bistro
From the fireplaces to the live music to the spa offerings like a gemstone chakra balancing treatment, a staycation at St Julien is sure to stave off any winter blues. For a warming nightcap, you’ve got your pick of well-balanced cocktails. The house old fashioned is a good choice. It’s made with Woodford Rye, housemade bitters and perfectly sour Italian Amarena cherries.
The Root Kava Co.: Kavas and Teas
1641 28th St. in Boulder
(303) 856-3851
Enjoy kava, small-batch kombucha or a rotating selection of herbal teas at The Root Kava Co. For a winter pick-me-up, try a kava drink like the Ghostbuster, which has more than a dozen juice flavors including grapefruit, passionfruit, blueberry, guava and citrus.
Stem Ciders: Banjo
Try some at Acreage, 1380 Horizon Ave. in Lafayette
(303) 227-3243
Stem Ciders teamed up with Denver’s Laws Whisky House to create this dry and crisp winter cider. The cider was aged in bourbon casks for eight months, which gives it notes of toffee and caramel without exhibiting any residual sweetness. The cider has a light and refreshing finish.
Boulder Dushanbe Tea House: Afternoon Tea
1770 13th St. in Boulder
(303) 442-4993
A crown jewel of Boulder, afternoon tea just feels like a special treat at the Dushanbe Tea House. The tea spot has a long list of black, green, herbal, puerh, oolong and white teas. But during chilly spells, the peppermint, cinnamon and tangerine, chamomile and hazelnut teas are extra comforting. Afternoon tea is traditionally served from 3 to 5 p.m.
Boulder Beer: Shake Chocolate Porter
Find it at boulderbeer.com/beer-finder/
Using a blend of five different grains, this rich layered porter creates cascades of velvety flavors blending notes of cream, cacao nibs, coffee, rich milk chocolate and caramel. The porter has a dark roasted aroma that’s best enjoyed by the fireplace.
The Kitchen American Bistro: The Longness of Autumn
1039 Pearl St. in Boulder
When it comes to well-balanced, seasonal craft cocktails, The Kitchen consistently delivers. Exhibit A: This tequila cocktail, which is a nice segue into the chillier months. It’s made with a walnut blanco, spiced pear liqueur, chili liqueur, lime and grapefruit. The cocktail is available at The Kitchen and Upstairs Cocktail Lounge.
Avanti Food and Beverage—Boulder: Winter Warmer Cocktails
1401 Pearl St. in Boulder
In addition to hosting the uber-festive Christmas pop-up bar “Miracle on Pearl Street,” Avanti’s rooftop bar is slinging $8 boozy “winter warmers” all season long. For hot cocoa lovers, there’s a Finnish Hot Cocoa that comes with a crown of whipped cream. Or, you can get an Irish coffee, hot toddy, or mulled wine with brandy and winter spices.
Deki: Spiked S’Mores
802 S. Public Road, unit E in Lafayette
(303) 284-3683
S’mores—but make ‘em boozy! This Lafayette distillery has a seasonal cocktail menu with delicious winter cocktails, including the Spiked S’mores drink that’s made with steamed milk, chocolate, bourbon and topped with charred marshmallows and graham crackers. Other dessert-inspired cocktails on the winter menu include a gingerbread martini and Hot Apple Pie made with spiced rum, cinnamon liqueur and apple cider.
Abbott & Wallace: Peppers & Palms
350 Terry St., Suite No. 120 in Longmont
720-545-2017
Home to Longtucky Spirits, Abbott & Wallace Distilling in downtown Longmont is a “grain-to-glass” distillery. The cocktail menu features classic and inventive signature cocktails like the Peppers & Palms drink that’s made with a Pueblo chili-infused rum, lime and Falernum, which brings notes of ginger and clove.
Spruce Farm & Fish: Ginger Pear Fizz
2115 13th St. in Boulder
(303) 442-4880
Skip the partridge, but imbibe with something from the pear tree. The Ginger Pear Fizz from Spruce Farm & Fish inside Hotel Boulderado is made with Breckenridge Gin and St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur and topped with ginger beer. Other seasonal drinks at hotel outposts include an Herbal G&T with rosemary lavender syrup and the Pumpkin Spice White Russian.
Dry Land Distillers: Hot Buttered Rum
519 Main St. in Longmont
(720) 600-4945
For a decadent winter treat, warm up with a hot butter rum at Dry Land Distillers’ patio or tasting room. The agricole style of Dry Land’s rum lends itself nicely to the richness inherent in this classic holiday drink that’s made with butter, spice and brown sugar.
300 Suns Brewing: Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout
335 1st Ave. Unit C in Longmont
(720) 442-8292
Released at the end of November, the Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout boasts cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa nibs and black onyx cocoa. The rich stout has a trio of peppers that make it extra warming.
