Whiskey and History Tour
History is more fun over drinks!
On this 3 hour walking tour of Downtown Denver, you’ll find out about Whiskey and Denver History! Denver was truly the Wild West, founded over a barrel of whiskey where dreams and fortunes were made, won, and lost.
We’ll start at Denver’s oldest Irish Pub, learn about and sample Irish Whiskey. You’ll learn about the local whiskies that settled the West and the roles they played in the founding of the city. We will stop in a modern saloon for a Rye/Whiskey/Bourbon/Scotch tasting and end at a local distillery where we will taste what they have to offer. Along the way you’ll hear tales of the pioneers that made Denver what it is today!
We like to say this is a Light History Tour with drinking, not a pub crawl or an exam prep class. Expect a lot of fun History and a variety of Whiskies. We end the tour at a local distillery (Tour value is $20 and is included in the price) where you can sample their aged spirits and see how they’re made.
Total amount consumed is between 6 - 10 ounces of High Proof Whiskies.
MUST HAVE VALID I.D., if you do not have a VALID I.D. no refunds will be given. VALID I.D. is REQUIRED for entry into all establishments. Must be 21+ and up only.
ALL SAMPLES AND TASTINGS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE. Tour needs at least 4 participants to start, FULL REFUND will be given if minimum guests is not met.
SMALL GROUP MAX OF 10 GUESTS
WHO SHOULDN’T TAKE THIS TOUR: IF YOU’RE A WHISKEY, BOURBON, SCOTCH SNOB AND THINK EVERY STOP IS GOING TO BE GOLDSPOT, SINGLE BARREL E.H. TAYLOR AND 23 YEAR OLD EVAN WILLIAMS, THIS TOUR IS NOT FOR YOU. This is light fun history for a variety of tastes, we taste some excellent products along the way.
$80 per person Thursday - Saturday
Looking for a private Whisky/Bourbon tasting for the holidays? Why not get the entire room to yourself! Your own bartender and Whisky/Bourbon/Scotch expert will taste your way into everyone’s hearts for your company party, holiday outing or get together!
The private room holds 19 seated, about 30 for cocktail hour.
Send us an email for booking inquiries at info@denverlocatours.com
What to Expect?
You will meet your experience creator (aka local guide) outside or inside Nallen's Irish Pub (depending on the weather). After a brief introduction, we will dive into the histories and stories of how Denver got its start.
Stop 1: Nallens Irish Pub* - Learn about the origin of Whisky and sample Irish Whiskies.
Walk to the next stop (30 - 45 minutes) and along the way hear tales of Outlaws, Conmen, forgotten tales and the history of whiskey here in Denver.
Stop 2: Modern Saloon - Learn about American Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye and perhaps some Scotch. (we taste from 4 - 6 expressions here)
Stop 3: Tour ends at a Distillery, tour the facility and sample their spirits.
What's Included?
Small Group Tours are defined as: Number of guests on the tour will not exceed 15 guests. You have the potential to be on this tour with other people you do not know. Please see our private tour page if you would like a tour with your party only.
Expert experience creator (Aka local guide)
All samples and tastings
Guided 3 hour trek through time, events, and historic places
Will I enjoy this tour even if I don’t drink or like Whiskey?
Yes! Every stop has a full bar and drinking is not required!
Where do we meet or park?
When: 3 pm Tuesday - Sunday
Meet: Nallen’s Irish Pub 1429 Market St, Denver, CO 80202
Nallens Irish Pub is located at 1429 Market St, Denver, CO 80202. Your guide will be holding a sign that has the Whiskey History Outlaws Logo. If you don't see them right away, just ask the bartender about the tour. Please try to arrive before the scheduled start time for check-in. Google Maps Directions
End: Mile High Spirits
Duration: ~ 2.5 - 3 hours (if participating in the Whiskey Tasting please expect tour to be 3+ hours)
Distance: ~ Walk about 1.5 miles
Price: $60 per person. Price includes samples and tastings. You can purchase drinks or whiskies on your own at each stop.
Please check the FAQ section below for parking
The Starting and Ending location are different. Tour ends 1.5 miles from starting location.
Cancellation policy
You may cancel up to 24 hours before the beginning of the start time for a full refund. We understand that there are times when things happen, and we take those on a case by case basis.
FAQ
+ Are Drinks included in the price?
All tastings and samples are included in the ticket price. If you'd like you can purchase the drinks of your choosing at each stop. Your guide will give your some great suggestions and recommendations of what to try along the way. There are no substitions or refunds for the whiskies and tastings.
+ What will I learn on the tour?
The history of Whiskey, Bourbon and Scotch, tales of early Denver and some of it's famous inhabitants.
+ Start Location and Parking
On nice days we will meet outside NallensIf you have questions on the starting point, please call or text us 720-778-1170. The guide will be there 15 minutes prior to start time, tour starts promptly at 3 p.m.
On days with rain, snow, freezing temperatures, we will meet inside. If you have questions on the starting point, please call or text us 720-778-1170. The guide will be there 15 minutes prior to start time, tour starts promptly at 3 p.m. If an alternate starting location is necessary, guide will contact you day of.
Nallens Irish Pub is located at 1429 Market St, Denver, CO 80202. Your guide will be holding a sign that has the Whiskey and History Logo. If you don't see them right away, just ask the bartender about the tour. Please try to arrive before the scheduled start time for check-in.
We recommend ridesharing, getting dropped off, or riding bikes to the start location.
PARKING NEAR NALLENS IRISH PUB
There is a parking garage right across from the pub. It only accepts credit/debit cards, so please be prepared. Meters don't provide sufficient time.
PARKING DOWNTOWN
If parking downtown, please give yourself extra time to find parking. It's difficult to find parking, so we recommend the website/app ParkMobile We don't recommend a meter downtown as the time runs out too quickly.
Link to ParkMobile website/app
+ Is this tour only for Men and Adults?
This tour is for everyone who would like learn more about the history, origins, and outlaws of Denver as long as they are 21+. All genders, races, and people of different backgrounds shaped Denver into the city it is today. We encourage everyone to join. For those that do not drink, drinks are optional.
+ What happens if I'm late?
The tour starts promptly at scheduled time. We ask that your party arrives 10 - 15 minutes prior to start time to check in and ensure the tour doesn't start without you. We start on time as many of our guests have planned around the tour and delays might make them miss their plans or we will have to leave out fun stops, facts, or skip sights that many want to see. We can try to guide you to where the tour will be, however there is no refund once the tour has started.
+ Is the Tour still held in bad weather?
Rain, snow, or shine our tours take place everyday of the week. We do reserve the right to cancel dependening on weather or other unfoerseen events. Good thing Denver experiences over 300 days of sunshine. Just be sure to check the weather and dress appropriately. In cases of extreme weather, please call and inquire about cancellation, or your guide for the day will try to contact you.
+ Denver Like A Local Tips:
Bring goverment issued I.D. (Colorado does not accept vertical I.D.'s) or Passport.
Dress appropriately for the weather and bring a jacket as we walk several blocks at a time. As they say here in Colorado, if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes.
Wear comfortable shoes.
We encourage you to bring water and sunscreen.
Arrive on time so you don't miss anything!
+ How big are your tour groups?
Our tours are small groups with 15 guests maximum per tour. *Please note a minimum of 2 guests are required to start the tour.
+ Are tour guide gratuities included in the price?
We are often asked — is it appropriate to tip our guide at the end of the tour and what a reasonable amount might be? While we have considered including such gratuities in the overall ticket price, we always come back to the belief that recognizing excellent service is a personal matter. Gratuities are welcomed and appreciated which typically range between 15-20%.
+ What should I bring?
Please prepare, we make every effort to avoid direct sun, but it is not always possible. Please wear sunscreen, bring an umbrella if the weather calls for it, a refillable water bottle if possible (staying hydrated is a good thing). Please make sure that you bring a valid I.D. and a mask. (Colorado does not accept Vertical I.D.'s)
Most of all, bring a sense of adventure, your love of history, and your drinking hat!
+ I am a Local, should I take the tour?
Absolutely! Denver is a rapidly growing city where new things pop up everyday. We love to be a tourist in our own town and so should you! We've done a lot of historical research so you don't have to!
+ Can I book a private group tour?
Yes, we do offer private tours. Please email us directly for more information on pricing. For Private Tour inquiries, please click here.
““We had so much fun on this tour! My fiancé and I and another couple took this tour with Will as the guide and we really enjoyed it. We all opted for the optional drink package and would highly recommend it if you like craft beer and good whisky. It was well worth it! The places we stopped to try the whisky and craft beer had some pretty cool history to them. Will taught us some interesting outlaw history about the city of Denver While also making it fun and adding in some surprises and games. He also gave us great recommendations about current establishments that had great food and whisky. If you are in Denver and looking for a fun walking tour we highly recommend this tour! Will also told us about some other upcoming other themed tours they will be doing so we will definitely be back!”
- December 2019
”The tour was so much fun. William the guide was very knowledgeable about history. He was fun and had many surprises. The whiskey was great, the walk was good. It is definitely a tour to take.”
-December 2019”