Top Fall Drinks in Denver

Autumn in Denver blossoms with fall colors and tastes from top restaurants around the city. Head bartenders get creative with seasonal fruits, spices and liquor mirroring the trend of hand-made infusions and ingredients. Expertly blended with top-shelf liquor and fresh citrus, these cocktails are a taste of fall in a glass.

Central Bistro and Bar (Credit, Ellen Marchman Larkey)

Central Bistro and Bar
1691 Central St.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 477-4582
www.centralbistrobar.com

Central Bistro recently expanded its menu and cocktail list firmly cementing the restaurant as a prime LoHi destination. This month, Central launches a whiskey program with more than 150 American-made bottles behind the bar. Autumn Leaves combines American-made rye whiskey with Caol Ila Scotch and Masala Chai Syrup, garnished with a dehydrated apple slice.

Parallel 17 (Credit, Ellen Marchman Larkey)

Parallel Seventeen
1600 E. 17th Ave.
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 399-0988
www.parallelseventeen.com

Parallel Seventeen, the bustling uptown bistro, recently launched a new wine and cocktail menu. Owner Mary Nguyen has added boutique wines, house-made infusions and a selection of unique cocktails. One of the favorites is The Uptown Manhattan. A contemporary take on the classic cocktail with house-infused chamomile whiskey, this drink is shaken with sweet vermouth and served up with a cherry.

Old Major
3316 Tejon St.
Denver, CO 80211
(720) 420-0622
www.oldmajordenver.com

Everything at Old Major is done right, from the amazing menu to the expansive list of specialty cocktails. You can usually even get the very knowledgeable bartenders to custom make something exciting just for you. However, while you are there, you have to try the Kevin Bacon Maple Boulevardier for a truly special cocktail. It's filled with Spring 44 Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, Campari Liqueur and Carpano Antica Vermouth, mixed with maple syrup and topped with a Denver Bacon Company bacon rim. Bacon and maple syrup in a cocktail? Yes please. Or for something a little sweeter, check out the Everything's Coming Up Millhouse for house-infused spiced Wild Turkey Rye with lemon and orange soda. Now that sounds refreshing.

Related: Top Tasting Menus in Denver

Courtesy of The Matador

The Matador
3496 W. 32^nd Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
303.561.2855
www.matadordenver.com

The Matador Restaurant and Tequila Bar recently arrived in Denver. A highly anticipated addition to Highlands Square, the restaurant offers fresh Mexican along with a curated selection of more than 100 tequilas. With October still offering warm days, the Tamarind Margarita provides a refreshing blend of aged tequila, fresh lime juice and Tamarind puree with a cinnamon sugar rim. The restaurant offers a selection of top-shelf margaritas with fresh purees. Park yourself at the Mexican hacienda-inspired bar and you'll have a perfect perch to enjoy the bustling neighborhood.

Zengo
1610 Little Raven St.
Denver, CO 80202
720.904.0965
www.richardsandoval.comZengo, the newly redesigned restaurant in Riverfront Park, is focused on shiso for the fall cocktail menus. Shiso is an Asian culinary herb that brings a taste of both basil and mint to cocktails. Zengo's Shiso-Jito creates a mojito-based cocktail combining fall flavors of shiso leaves, Fuji apple wedges, fresh lime and topped with club soda. Zengo, the Latin Asian restaurant by Robert Sandoval, is a great place to start the night or enjoy a leisurely Saturday or Sunday with its incredibly popular brunch.

Related: Top Summertime Desserts in the Denver Area