“It’s the perfect white-girl-wasted drink,” our companion declares, holding up a glass of wild strawberry basil lemonade at Derailed Pour House. “In the summer, it’s the perfect patio and drink, and in the winter…”
She trails off, distracted by the music providing the soundtrack for our visit to Derailed. She serenades the downtown bar with a song that has since faded from memory. We are greatly amused by her tipsy delight over this alcohol infused pink lemonade at the bougie-looking bar we are hanging out at this Saturday evening, and we agree with her. Wild strawberry basil lemonade IS friggin’ delicious.
We are here this night not only for the fancy drinks and greasy burgers (more on that later), but also to check out Derailed’s latest remodeling project. We are impressed (and thankful we decided to change out of our hole-y jeans).
The bar closed for the remodel a few days last week, and only just reopened to reveal their new layout, seating, and lighting.
“(We’re) going for a Denver intimate-lounge style setting with more big, oversized chairs and leather couch style seating, along with new dining height tables, which will lower everything from the pub height you may have been used too,” said owner Lisa Gibson in an email to DGO Mag. “We are working everything around the original 1800s mahogany bar that has become a staple to the building and isn’t going anywhere. So, a chic, modern-rustic feel.”
Our evening at Derailed is set to dark, moody lighting, lit by the glow of candles, small fireplaces at the tables around us, and the radiance of the TV screens above us. The bar lounge is busy with activity – couples hunched over their drinks in conversation next to a fireplace, lone visitors looking for a bite to eat or a steady stream of booze, and groups of friends watching the football game flashing across the screens.
Despite the fancy layout, the vibe isn’t snobby or exclusive. While some are clearly here for an elegant date night, just across from us sits a group of sweatshirt-clad guys in baseball hats who are watching the game at the bar. At the other half side, there are the somber lone drinkers conversing with the bartender.
As soon as we open our drink menu, we find ourselves thrilled with the beverage options. While our friend went for a few glasses of the Wild Strawberry Basil Lemonade, we, though curious to try the Kentucky Kampfire, a signature drink garnished with bacon and orange peel , ultimately decide on a drink called the “I’m Your Huckleberry.” It’s one of the menu’s fall/winter drink specials, made with huckleberry vodka and topped with cinnamon and blueberries. Yes, we are that fancy.
We don’t limit ourselves to the drink menu, though. It has been nearly all day since we have eaten, and we’re extremely eager to get our hands on one of Derailed’s burgers. Our companion opts for the Derailed burger, while we try our luck with the trusty cheddar and bacon burger, which is slathered in barbecue sauce and garnished with a fried onion. Our food arrives quickly, and we aren’t disappointed.
To end the night, we take our server up on their recommendation to try The Porthole – liquor infused with fresh ingredients and served for two people. We are happy to find those fresh ingredients to be fruit saturated with Bacardi rum. We clink our glasses together and cheer our white-girl-wasted time at Derailed.
