Homemade Ingredients

It used to be that a cocktail was booze plus a syrupy liquid plus pre-packcaged fruit juice plus maybe some more booze. No more. Mixologists around town have been creating their own mixes, syrups and juices. No more sticky, sugary syrups with bright neon colors and artificial flavors. Not only do these cocktails taste better, they're actually better for you. In many Denver bars you'll find bartenders who are squeezing their own lemons and limes, boiling their own simple syrups and infusing fruits and spices into vodka, rum and tequila. It all makes for a much better drink.

Photo by Grace Dickinson