Top 10: Colorado Apres Ski Destinations

TOP 10: APRÈS SPOTS

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS FOR A WELL-DESERVED, POST-SKIING DRINK

Four Seasons Vail

1. REMEDY, Vail

Located inside the Four Seasons, Remedy Bar offers an upscale but casual atmosphere for an après-ski experience. With amazing mountain views through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Remedy also has a spacious patio with fire pits that blaze year round. The cocktail menu draws inspiration from a 19th-century apothecary. The Medicine Cabinet, made with Weller ‘Remedy Barrel Select’ bourbon, maraschino, Pimm’s, green chartreuse and carpano antica, is a good example. Stop in Wednesday between 3 pm - 5 pm to order from the Après Whiskey Cart which provides table-side cocktail service.

2. 6TH ALLEY, Arapahoe Basin

The hundreds of mugs that adorn the ceiling of 6th Alley at A-Basin belong to the select few that are members of the ‘Mug Club.’ For $45 you get your own personal mug which gets you one free beer to kick off the season and $1 off beers and bacon Bloody Marys all season long. While the mugs are likely sold out already (plan ahead for next year, they go on sale the morning of opening day), the bar is popular even if you aren’t part of the club. Only open during ski season, there is live music every Saturday.

3. BACHELORS LOUNGE Beaver Creek

Cigar aficionados might want to check out Bachelors Lounge in The Ritz- Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. The only cigar lounge in the area, the adults-only lounge has a heated terrace that is open every day. A well-stocked humidor offers around 200 cigars; you can also bring your own for no cutting fee. The newly-launched happy hour from 5:30 pm - 7 pm offers specials on beer, wine and cocktails.

4. THE NEW SHERIDAN BAR, Telluride

Step back in time and get a dose of history with your après-ski libation at the Historic New Sheridan Bar. The oldest bar in town, it has a gorgeous carved mahogany bar and Telluride’s only commercial wood-burning fireplace, guaranteeing cozy confines to kick back and relax. The bar has rotating specials, pool tables and foosball along with

occasional live music. If you’re in need of a pick me up, try the Flatliner, a combination of Stoli Vanilla Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua and a shot of espresso.

5. J BAR, Aspen

Located off the lobby of the Hotel Jerome, J Bar has long been a draw for people from all walks of life and has propped up some notable names including gonzo journalist and novelist Hunter S. Thompson (it’s said he used the bar as a make-shift office during his run for Pitkin County sheriff). As for what to drink, the bar offers craft beers, vintage-inspired cocktails and a range of wines as well as the well-known Aspen Crud.

6. ULEY’S ICE BAR, Crested Butte

Uley’s Ice Bar, which, as the name implies, is made out of ice, is located at the base of Twister Lift in Crested Butte. The namesake of the bar and restaurant is Uley Sheer, a past resident and bootlegger in the area. Sheer made a living illegally selling his homemade tipples until the Gunnison County jail was in need of a cook. Known for his cooking skills, Sheer was arrested for his unlawful pursuits and brought to the jail to become the cook.

7. ALLRED’S, Telluride

Located just off St. Sophia Gondola Station, Allred’s is an upscale restaurant that offers stunning views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Sitting pretty at 10,535 feet, Allred’s is a great option for dinner, but for something a little easier on the wallet, visit for an après-ski drink or snack. The views from both the restaurant and bar are some of the most stunning around, so try to arrive before the sun sets. The bar opens daily at 3 pm during ski season and because it is ski-in ski-out, trendy ski attire is de rigueur.

8. HECK’S TAVERN, Tabernash

Don your best skiwear and head to the upscale Heck’s Tavern. Located at the luxurious Devil’s Thumb Ranch, the menu offers comfort dishes including a wagyu chicken-fried steak and chicken and dumplings. There is also a range of cocktails, wines and beers on offer, so grab a drink and get cozy next to the roaring fire to defrost after a day on the slopes.

9. APRÈS HANDCRAFTED LIBATIONS, Breckenridge

With a name like Après, you would expect this bar to be a popular hangout in the afternoons during ski season, and it is. With a pretty wide range of cocktails and over 40 draft and bottled beers, the menu has something for all tastes (ask for a beer from the “giving tap” which donates 10 percent to a different Colorado nonprofit every month). The winter warmer cocktails are great if you are particularly chilled. Located right on Breckenridge’s quaint Main Street in a late-19th century historic building, this spot also allows you to bring in your own food.

Jamie Jaye Fletcher

10. AJAX TAVERN, Aspen

There is no shortage of places to see and be seen in Aspen, but Ajax Tavern, at the base of Aspen Mountain, is one of the most happening places in town every afternoon during ski season. The masses flock to the bar to enjoy après-ski drinks and listen to live music. The Little Nell’s trendy yet casual restaurant also offers some fantastic dishes including a great tomato soup and grilled cheese; the Ajax wagyu double cheeseburger; and a generous potion of muscles. Start every meal with the truffle fries, a dish that has been a mainstay for two decades, and well ahead of what is now a trendy menu addition (read more on page 14).

@WESTOF105 | #CrosstheMeridian