Union Lodge No.1

This was a unique experience as our first pre-​prohibition bar.
The flaming drinks were both strong and yummy.

We came here for a late dinner. My experience here was generally turns out great. Since we heard that weekend night must get packed.
We decided to get it a go on Wednesday night, which proved to be a great choice as there was no wait. As we came in, we’re very lucky that we have a vacant seat. The atmosphere was fine & it was really bit loud for what I expected.
The service was impeccable and we were very well taken care of– The waiter was awesome, attentive and willing to give us recommendations and suggestions. Each we ordered was really nice. As to be expected our drinks aren’t cheap, but they aren’t that expensive. The price is worth it, for the effort and drinks that made for us. It is awesome place that I’ll certainly back to.

So happy to have finally made it in to this place. Such a cool vibe. Small, cozy, chic. No TVs. Classy people. Classy drinks. We had a seasonal drink «The Watermelon Man» and a classic Negroni (for Negroni Week) and they were both superb. Watching the bartenders work is such a show! Hand-​carved giant ice balls, glass tapping, muddling, and more. House-​infused bitters and syrups. This is the epitome of craft cocktails.

This proabition style bar has character and great drinks. The staff is very friendly and want to make sure you order a drink that you like. They will even recommend a drink based off your preferences. The environment us very cozy and the drink menu is really interesting because it talks about the history of each drink.

This is a small, cozy, pre-​prohibition bar with excellent ambience. Being pre-​prohibition era means you are going to find craft cocktails, hand– carved ice, and some wonderful flavor combinations, but you won’t get an umbrella drink here. :-)
I don’t even order gin fizz drinks anymore, because most bartenders either don’t know how to make them, or can’t make them anywhere near as good as the BV in San Francisco. Anyway, I decided to give it a go here as it was featured on their menu, and OMG it was AMAZING! It had a nice stiff head, and the perfect combination of ingredients, just enough sweetness to make it enjoyable, but not overly sweet! Honestly, it was perfect!
Give this place a try if you have the opportunity, and you won’t be disappointed!

Quaint and cozy spot with unique drinks.
Whether you’re looking for whisky, vodka, sweet, or savory, the staff can recommend something to please.
Every drink has a story that brings its own variety of flavors, and the staff and service are fantastic. We came here because of the great reviews, and it did not dissapoint.

Totally snuck into a hidden corner, like its ambience and theme reflect. Maybe a speakeasy style bar, but a little more cosy and welcoming in an area of downtown devoid of any bars with character.
The bartender… Shropshire…I forgot his name but know where he is from was talkative and engaging, always a good thing.
We were recommended to come here from a bartender from another bar, so you have to know its good.
DT

The watermelon man is possibly the most innovative bourbon cocktail I’ve ever had — clean and fruity, but not sweet, playing elegantly with the natural flavors of the bourbon. The Ramos gin fizz is painstakingly assembled and perfectly balanced, and the whisky cocktail (admittedly hard to screw up) is properly served with a single, giant, slow melting cube. Combine the excellent drinks with the speakeasy atmosphere (as in, they only have one vintage beer on tap, do NOT ask for vodka, and the stools are a little rickety), and you have a bar I would drop in on once a week.

First of all, you come here for a cocktail and the heritage of the establishment. Both are worth every 5 stars.
The location resembles something from an older era — the 1800s perhaps? They have a fantastic, older US flag on the wall with exposed brick and dim lighting. Low volume music also plays in the background while mustached, suspender-​wearing «mixologists» make drinks. It’s definitely worth coming to with 1 – 2 of your friends or with your date.
The drinks are fantastic and unique. Every drink has a story and tailored to bring a variety of flavors. No matter what you’re looking for: whisky, vodka, sweet, savory, the staff can definitely recommend something that will please you… and light you up (they’re strong).
I pick places that have a certain uniqueness to them. Something specific that sets them apart and as far as fancy cocktails are concerned in Denver, Union Lodge is top.

Yep. Good. Great. Sold. Give me more of this shit, just weaponise it and put it in a canister and jack it into my arm and I’ll mainline it like a new wonderdrug that the vagrants haven’t found out about yet and the rich are still scared of and the government doesn’t know how to control.
The best bit? Each of the bartenders have their own signature cocktail and it’s listed on the last page of the menu. I had the Jack, or the James, or something beginning with J — I think, it was pretty potent — anyway the guy was English and had dreads and the cocktail had bourbon and blackberry and it was like rambling through the brambles on a winters day with a shotgun tucked up in the crook of your arm and the Hound of the Baskervilles is on the loose but you know you have his measure, you’ve never been more confident of anything in your life and ye cats it was strong, each sip warmed the gullet and imparted the wisdom of the universe on its way down.
Now this is a bar, goddammit.

I loved this bar! Came here because of Unilocal reviews during a work event. The place is very small but quiet (which I like) and they have an electic mix of drinks. Got the Gin Fizz, which was yummy and had a big foam bubble on top. Also got some drink that you are only allowed to order one of because it’s so strong. That one was really strong and cool to watch them make. They light it on fire and pour it back and forth in a glass. Friend liked the Milwaukee, which reminded me of an Old Fashioned. Relaxed environment and I’d def be back if I’m ever in town again. Bathrooms are outside and require a code.

I’m a huge cocktail nerd, and have been to almost all of the Unilocal-​certified cocktail bars in Denver.
And Union Lodge 1 takes the cake.
Reverse dry shaking with homemade berry tincture havin’ ninja tricks give us people some of the best drinks Denver has to offer
Lovely drinks, lovely staff, and a wonderful intimate environment. Don’t come here so I can have it to myself

Knowing I would be in downtown Denver for a weeklong trip I needed to bookmark a few spots to wet my whistle after long days of talking, listening, and intense work debates.
Union Lodge No.1 popped up during my search, I bookmarked it, and a few days later I was bellied up to the bar. I will admit the vibe here is great and the service is fun, fancy free and loaded with classic moustaches. They only serve old school cocktails here, no wines, no beers, and you can pretty much count out doing Jagerbombs and tequila shots as well. Which is good because the people here will get less fighty.
All of the classy cocktails here are fixtures from the early 1900s, and not looking to get too highfalutin, I went with a Sazerac. This is a whiskey based drink that comes with a touch of bitters, absinthe, and a sugar cube. Usually there’s a lemon rind or an orange peel added as well, but this depends on the bartender’s recipe or whatever is closest. It wasn’t the best Sazerac I’ve had, a little heavy on the absinthe and light on the whiskey. My drinking buddy enjoyed her Knickerbocker, but also stated that it was a little heavy on the syrup.
Their menu is filled with gallons of drinks that I still need to try and the next time I’m in Denver, the Union Lodge No.1 will be my number one place to start.

If you want a lovely craft cocktail and a show, grab a seat at the bar here!
We luckily snagged a couple of seats at the bar, but it was a tight fit. The drinks are double or triple what I would normally pay, but they are delicious and watching them make each drink is super entertaining. They chop the ice for drinks in a highball glass, shake up any cocktail that is frothy and even light stuff on fire for the rusty nails.
My only criticisms are that is is too tiny and a little pricey. But, I guess that weeds out the riff raff? I enjoyed a Kate’s (I think) cocktail and I requested a recommendation based on my drink preferences. I was made a floral drink that was fabulous. Both cocktails were a challenge not to drink quickly as they were so delicious. The employees were all friendly and the vibe was a little high brow but welcoming. I would also say if you can’t sit at the bar, come back another time. Part of the price must be the free show.
If you are feeling fancy, I would definitely check this place out!

I like this place very much. I like whisky very much. The bartenders are attentive, pour flaming drinks, and carve the ice cubes. Most of the drink are made with whisky or rye. There are a few gin and rum drinks. They make their own tonic, they have so many bitters and their straws and toothpicks are made of metal. It’s not too dark, they have a lounge chairs and high top chairs with tables.
It was pretty busy on a Wednesday night. But we were served fairly quickly. I started with a seasonal special, Nick’s. It’s a whisky cocktail with licorice, white peppercorns among other ingredients I don’t remember, wasn’t my favorite but the Manhattan was pretty tasty. The place wasn’t too loud and the crowd was welcoming.
If you’re a whisky drinker, this place not one to be missed!

Hands down one of my favorite bars in Denver.
It’s hard not to appreciate anyone who truly is passionate about what they do and taking pride in their craft. The attention to detail in their drinks is hands down on another level.
Ordered a few old fashioned and they start it by chipping a chunk of ice from a large block. And slowly chirping it into a round piece for your glass. I’ve had plenty of old fashioned, but this was the first I’ve had where someone really paid attention to every detail.
Their menu consist of true old style cocktails crafted to perfection and they way they are meant to be savored. What’s even more amazing is the owner giving the bar tenders their own say on the drink menu and letting each bar tender craft and add their own idea so everyone to order.
Service was impeccable, friendly, and eager to answer any questions. Safe to say I can’t wait to come back.

Awesome cocktails made with a foot in history and packed with the finest bitters, liquors and accompaniments.

This place is so much fun. The entire bar, from the beverages to even the ice, is styled as if it were operating during the pre-​prohibition era. The amount of time and effort put into the drinks makes for incredibly good libations. The staff were friendly and professional, even answering my incessant questions!
When you visit, you have to try the old fashioned and the red and blue blazer.

This place gets major points for the ‘cool’ factor. The bar itself is very nice… A large wooden bar that is fun to look at with several skilled bartenders. It is like a hipster paradise. They have an extensive list of cocktails. I ordered a cocktail that they light on fire and skillfully pour between two mugs while still on fire… it was so cool! The show itself was worth the 16 $ price tag. The bartender said the drink tastes like hot Apple pie… this thing tasted like pure gasoline… so strong. I think I almost died trying to drink it. My friend’s drink was also super crazy strong. If you are into very strong drinks and an awesome atmosphere, this is your place. If you like more girly drinks, this is not your place.

I would pretty much drink any drink a bartender at Union Lodge made for me because every single time they’ve made a drink for me it has been exquisite.
Their focus is craft cocktails from the late 19^th century and so you won’t find any vodka, beer, or wine in this joint, but you will find delightful concoctions ranging from the very-​easy-​to-​drink things like Juleps and Sours to the still-​pretty-​easy-​to-​drink house creations or Knickerbockers.
The atmosphere is dim in the best way and super cool with exposed brick walls, small seating areas, and a long (for the space) bar that puts you front and center of the cocktail making. Sit at the bar if possible and be delighted watching ice cubes being chipped off big blocks and take in all the ingredients on display.
No food is served here so be sure to have plans for dinner before or after.
All-​in-​all this is a new Denver favorite!