At what point does a bar become a persons favorite bar. I have recently read that bars are in fact starting to die out as the younger generations prefer to live a life free of alcohol, and more too them, what ever third space seems to call to you do so; but for those of us still around, still interested in my question, stick with me for a moment. I remember years ago, 2022-ish I think, going with my friend to meet up with some friends and friends of friends in a local Denver park and listened to girl tell me her favorite bar was the Dirks Bentley Whiskey Bar in LoDo Denver, a place that is neither Country, Whiskey, or even a Bar, as it really is, and I mean look this up if you don’t trust me, equal parts ‘state college fraternity back yard during pledge week’ meets club for 18 year olds. Wrap the whole thing in a bow where the only music playing is country hip hop and whose tables, floor, furniture, and bathrooms are all somehow the same level of ‘sticky’. I will admit, she was cute and I was looking for some form of connection given my current dry spell from physical or emotional connection, but I simply didn’t have the guts to tell her I hated her favorite bar. In fact as of me writing this I STILL hate that bar.
When I hear Dirks Bentley Whiskey Bar, I cant help but think ‘Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea’, all things in that statement being false except for the words North Korea.
But once again I am not here to bash on a place that having been only once and paid 12 dollars for a Coors light to then have within a minute, a drunk early 20 something year old bump into me and spill onto me the contents of his tiny foam cup (which by the smell was menthol flavored tobacco spit chew mixture) was enough for me to realize I may end up being the first person, but maybe not last person, to murder a stranger in Dirks Bentley Whiskey Bar.
I was more curious as to why it was her favorite bar. She responded she liked the country music they played (my brain recalling a couple hours of 2021 Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, and Cardi B playing into the night) her love of the decor (me thinking to the open condom wrapper inside the hole of a cornhole platforms outside when another friend pointed it out to me after having said touched condom wrapper by accident), and then her statement of the “cheap drinks”. Once again, flabbergasted at paying NFL Stadium price for a slightly cold, 12 oz Coors light, only to respond to the bartender that I only wanted ONE with accompanying finger in the air when they said it was 12 dollars.
But it was her favorite bar. I then followed up with a question I think is actually an important one when faced with someone who I think did not quite grasp my question. If you had friends come into town, where would you take them to get a drink. In which case she once again responded, Dirks Bentley Whiskey Bar, because its so much fun, and that we should go there some time. I am sure you have already guessed the answer I gave, while polite, due to my previous feelings on the location. I did however invite her to my favorite bar.
For me this bar is both the bar I take people to when they visit from out of town, and also in general my favorite bar. It has food, good food too, which makes it all the better, but it leans into its grime and divey-ness which takes all illusion of the experience of being high end out, and focuses on easy, simple, and unassuming.
Vesper Lounge in Denver Colorado. Right off Grant and 7th street in CapHill. It holds some of my favorite memories with friends and loved ones. It is even where I held my going away party before leaving to move to Mexico. Cheap beers, cheaper whiskey, and an energy about the whole place that is kind and fun.
I have a few stories about my favorite bar, maybe ones I will share if and when I am back there. But I do hope one day you visit my favorite bar.
*The service is slow and you will finish your first drink before they get close to coming to get your second order. I suggest ordering two of whatever you get when you snag the servers. Its cheap, don’t worry.
Casual Entropy 