The past three weeks in pictures...

So, we've been busy. WAY too busy. You'd think writing a little blog and posting some pictures would be easy. But it's not. Well, not when you're bartendering, mixoogoling and sitting at everyone else's bars on your days off. Your COBG has been all over our city, and instead of boring you with the details, we thought some pictures might sum it up real well(ish).

42Below Cocktail World Cup Regionals

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Tanqueray 10 Gin Seminar with Aka Wine Geek

COBG Bowling Mixer....sorry, we were really more interested in strikes and tequila than taking pics.

Colorado Cocktail Project Showcase at the MCA Denver

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FEB 3 - Tanqueray TEN Gin Tasting and Comparative Cocktail Clinic!

ATTENTION ALL GIN LOVERS (or heck...even likers)!

It's official...on Thursday, February 3, 2011...AKA Wine Geek Steve Olson, along with Andy Seymour and Leo DeGroff will be presenting an exclusive, industry-only gin seminar, comparative tasting and cocktail clinic (seriously, say that ten times fast) from 1-3 pm. The Wine Geeks will host a sit-down tasting of gins, explore the history of this great spirit and showcase the drinks that are shaping the category today. Light appetizers will be provided by TAG Restaurant and fun will most certainly be had by all. Unless you're lame.

Anyone who has signed up, or is thinking of signing up for B.A.R. in April or musing about taking the 5-Day B.A.R. certification in New York should plan on attending and cramming your brain full of gin knowledge. It's an afternoon of everything you ever wanted to know about gin, but were afraid to ask.

DATE: February 3, 2011
TIME: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
PLACE: TAG Restaurant Underground – 1441 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80202

Space is limited. Please RSVP to: alejandro@akawinegeek.com

We'll see you there -
COBG

Just Announced - The Colorado Cocktail Project & Showcase

You've read about it in the Westword and heard grumblings about it from our V.P., Mr. Sean Kenyon.

Now that it is set in stone, it's time to announce...

The Colorado Cocktail Project

This free, evening showcase with Colorado Distillers Guild will be held on Monday, Feb 7th at 7pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art. This is the launch of the first annual Colorado Cocktail Project, a one-of--kind collaboration between the Westword, the MCA, the COBG and the CDG. This is an opportunity for COBG members and affiliates to sample all of Colorado's Spirits in one place. It'll be a fantastic night that will lead up to the Colorado cocktail contest to end all contests. Fourteen Colorado distillers will be on-hand to showcase their fantastic spirits in a night filled with complimentary appetizers, cocktails and good ol' fashioned Colorado cheer.

When: Monday, Feb 7th @ 7pm
Where: The Museum of Contemporary Art
             1485 Delgany Street Denver, CO 80202
 
After the showcase, local bartenders will head back into the lab with the spirits they've picked to use for their own signature Colorado Cocktail. That cocktail must be featured in your establishment from March 15th - June15th. During that time the panel of judges as well as the general public will be able to try the drinks and vote online (website to be released soon). This will be heavily promoted by the Westword and will insure publicity for all establishments involved. The field will be narrowed to 10 finalists who will compete at the MCA in late June during a gala cocktail event. The winner will take home the rights to brag about the biggest prize in Colorado history...creating THE OFFICIAL COLORADO COCKTAIL.

More details will follow. We just wanted to make sure everyone marks this amazing event on their calendars.

The COBG Goes Bowling!

Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me

Look at this girl. Look at how excited she is to be bowling! The thud of the ball, the crash of the pins, the sheer triumph in knowing that someday her mom may stop dressing her like a Christmas-themed Easter Egg.
 



Now look at this bottle of Olmeca Altos.

It's dressed much better than that little bowling girl. Now imagine yourself in those weird velcro shoes, standing in triumph as you take down a 7-10 split. Imagine rewarding yourself with a shot of Olmeca Altos after you high five your bartending peers. Sounds like a freaking blast...don't it?

We thought so too. So, as the first official event of the COBG New Year, we decided to partner with Olmeca Altos and thow ourselves a good ol' fasioned BOWLIN' BASH.

Get off work. Come back from Breck a little early. Tell your momma not to wait up. Most importantly, leave your shakers at home and join us for a night of strikes, gutters and glory at Elitch Lanes on Sunday, January 30 at 8:00 pm. We're extending this invite to all current COBG members, COBG enthusiasts, or bartender-types who are curious about the COBG and the upcoming year, so please, feel free to bring your co-workers and friends for a night that will seriously be a hell of a lot of fun. See you there!

WHAT: A FREAKING BOWLIN' BASH
WHERE: Elitch Lanes
                3825 Tennyson Street
                Denver, CO 80212-2107
WHEN: Sunday, January 30 @ 8:00 pm

If you don't mind... please send us a little email if you're planning on attending so we'll know if we need to hire a bouncer.

ROOT Cocktail Competition Just Announced!

We know you've been playing with this amazing new spirit from Philly's Art In The Age, but now it's time to show off whatcha got. ROOT and The Squeaky Bean have teamed up to throw a night of competition and community, and we're all invited. 

When: Monday, January 31 - 7:00 pm
Where: The Squeaky Bean - 3301 Tejon Street

Although the cocktail competition is only open to one bartender from one venue (bars, if you haven't gotten an official competition form from your rep, please send an email to coloradobartendersguild@gmail.com if you or one of your bartenders are interested), there will be food and $5 drink specials throughout the competition. Come by and support your favorite local bartender as he or she trys to take home the gold.

Stuben's Food Service & COBG Rocks The Tots!

Congrats and a big THANK YOU to everyone who came out on Monday night to help us raise more than $2000 and more than 400 toys for Denver's Salvation Army. For those of you who missed out on the event of the year (yeah, I'm talking to you), more than 15 of Denver's Best Bartenders came out to sling Tiki Drinks to some of our favorite industry professionals. Thanks to Stueben's, Randy Layman and everyone else who rolled up their sleves for this awesome event.

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Submissions for the 42Below Competition Due Monday, December 20th

A Note From Mark Stoddard - 

Hello Fellow Colorado Bartenders!!!!

Just wanted to remind you that there are 6 days left to submit your cocktails to be selected for the 2011 42 Below Cocktail World Cup!!!

 It's easy to submit your drinks online, just go to
http://usa.cocktailworldcup.com/Entry

Submit as many cocktails as you want to better your chances of being selected to compete in the Regional Finals at the Blue Bird Theater in Denver on Sunday night, January 23rd!!  Cocktails will be selected by a blind panel of judges from the USBG in Las Vegas.  I submitted three online last year, not knowing which one would be chosen.

The top two placing bartenders in Denver on Sun, Jan. 23rd we be flown to NYC to represent Colorado in the US Finals. You'll be put up in a fat hotel in Manhattan, styled out, and roll to the best bars in NYC (milk & honey, PDT, Mayahuel, Death & Co, Pegu Club) with VIP status after the competition.

Chances of you winning the trip to NYC are very good since the top 2 move on and the free trip itself is worth submitting a cocktail. And if you advance on to New Zealand, you get an all expense paid trip and the best week of your life!

U.S.A  Round One - January 23, 2011 Blue Bird Theater - Denver, CO
U.S.A  Round Two - February 13, 2011 Final Competition - NY