Cocktails & Tastes Tour in Colorado Springs

Cocktails make downtown history easier to swallow. This 2.5-hour walking tour links four Colorado Springs drinking spots with small bites, local stories, and a look at the city’s Prohibition past. I like the small group of no more than 12 people, which gives the guide room to explain the drinks and keep the walk social. I also like the mix of cocktail bars, food stops, public spaces, and historic sights rather than one long stretch of bar hopping.

The main catch is food. You receive light sweet or savory pairings at most locations, but this is not dinner. One stop may offer only a simple snack, so eat beforehand if you need a full meal. The tour is also limited to people age 21 and older, and the $94 price makes the most sense if you value four cocktails, a guide, and access to places you might not find on your own.

Key points at a glance

• Four cocktails at four different locations: You sample signature or seasonal drinks across several downtown venues, not the same style of bar four times.
• A compact downtown route: The walk connects The Mining Exchange, Acacia Park, several bars, and views toward Pikes Peak.
• Prohibition stories add context: The guide connects old Colorado Springs, speakeasies, and the city’s current cocktail scene.
• Small bites, not a meal: Pairings are served at most stops, but portions vary and should not replace dinner.
• Personal guide experience: Jason receives especially warm praise for his humor and storytelling, while Beth, Adam, and Heather are also singled out for strong hosting.
• A 4:00 p.m. start: The timing works well for happy hour and leaves you downtown for the evening.

Four cocktails and one easy downtown walk

The tour begins at 4:00 p.m. outside The Mining Exchange at 8 South Nevada Avenue. From there, you walk through central Colorado Springs rather than spending the whole afternoon seated indoors. The route takes about two and a half hours, with stops usually lasting between five and 25 minutes.

I like this format because the drinks have breathing room. You are not rushed through four bars in a single hour, yet the route keeps moving. The walk also gives your guide chances to point out city landmarks and tell stories between pours.

The group cap of 12 matters here. A cocktail tour works better when you can hear the guide, ask questions, and move between tables without a small parade forming behind you. The route is near public transportation, and the start and finish are both downtown, so you can plan the rest of your evening without needing to drive between venues.

The Mining Exchange starts the story

The Mining Exchange is a historic hotel built in 1903 and recently renovated. The tour uses this opening stop to set the scene for downtown Colorado Springs and begin its historical storytelling.

You spend about 15 minutes here. It is not listed as one of the four cocktail locations, so think of it as an introduction rather than your first drink. That is useful after arriving in town, especially if you want some local context before the food and cocktails begin.

The building gives the tour a proper starting point. Instead of meeting at an anonymous bar, you begin with a place tied to the city’s older commercial past. Your guide can use the setting to explain how Colorado Springs developed before leading you into the modern food and drink scene.

AdAmAn Alley adds a quick visual stop

Next comes AdAmAn Alley, a 10-minute visit to an artistic alleyway installed to mark the 100-year anniversary of the AdAmAn Club. This is a short stop, but it breaks up the indoor portions of the tour and gives you a look at one of downtown’s smaller public art spaces.

You should not expect a long guided visit here. The value is in seeing something you could easily walk past on your own and learning why it matters to local life. It also gives the group a few minutes outdoors before the first major food and drink stop.

Four by Brother Luck brings food into the mix

At Four by Brother Luck, you visit the flagship restaurant of Chef Brother Luck, a two-time Bravo Top Chef contestant. The stop lasts about 25 minutes and introduces an innovative Southwestern menu.

This is one of the places where the food side of the tour has real appeal. The exact pairing can change, but the experience is designed to connect a drink with a small savory or sweet bite. You get a sample rather than a full restaurant meal, which keeps the tour moving but also explains why you should not arrive hungry enough for dinner.

I like this stop for visitors who want more than standard bar snacks. It gives the tour a chef-driven element and helps show that Colorado Springs has a food scene beyond breweries and casual pubs. If you are dairy-free or gluten-free, take the warning seriously: this experience is not recommended for those diets.

Acacia Park gives the route a public center

The tour then passes through Acacia Park, one of the first parks in Colorado Springs. The stop takes only about five minutes, but the park has a long role in local public life, with festivals, concerts, a splash pad, and an ice-skating rink among its activities.

This is a brief orientation stop, not a park tour. Its purpose is to place downtown’s bars in a larger setting. You get a quick reminder that the city center is not only restaurants and nightlife. It is also a gathering place for events and everyday activity.

The short pause can be welcome after a cocktail and food stop. You get a bit of fresh air before entering the next venue.

District Elleven is the moody cocktail stop

District Elleven serves cocktails in a dark, old-world-style bar with a back-alley entrance. You spend about 25 minutes here, making it one of the longer venue stops.

This is where the tour leans hardest into atmosphere. The setting feels different from a bright restaurant or open public park, and the hidden entrance supports the tour’s interest in speakeasy culture. Your drink here is one of the four signature or seasonal cocktails included in the price.

I would pay attention to the guide’s explanation rather than treating the stop as only a photo opportunity. The tour’s Prohibition theme works best when the places, entrances, and stories connect. District Elleven gives that subject a physical setting without requiring you to search for a password or solve a puzzle.

Colorado Custom Catering keeps the food casual

Colorado Custom Catering is described as a diner focused on creative comfort food, including gourmet waffles and street tacos. The group spends about 20 minutes here, with a light food pairing expected at the stop.

This is a useful contrast with Four by Brother Luck. You move from a chef-led Southwestern restaurant to casual comfort food, which makes the overall tour feel less like a tasting menu and more like a sampling of local businesses.

Food quality can vary by stop and by the day’s pairing. One direct account found the appetizers excellent across the route, while another felt that two snacks were weak and noted that one location offered beer nuts because it did not serve food. The practical lesson is simple: enjoy the bites, but plan dinner separately.

Pikes Peak appears from downtown

The route includes a five-minute stop to discuss Pikes Peak, also known as America’s Mountain, from a downtown viewpoint. You do not travel up the mountain on this tour. The point is the view and the role the peak plays in Colorado Springs identity.

This quick reference adds a sense of place to an otherwise downtown-focused afternoon. If you are planning a separate Pikes Peak visit, you may appreciate getting a basic orientation first. If mountain views are your main reason for booking, keep expectations in check: this is a short city viewpoint, not a mountain excursion.

Bloom Ultra Lounge finishes below street level

The tour ends at Bloom Ultra Lounge, at 114 North Tejon Street, suite 20. This subterranean bar is decorated with flowers and a polished, playful style. The final stop lasts about 20 minutes and includes the last of the four cocktails.

Ending here makes sense. You finish with a full cocktail venue rather than a quick landmark, and you can stay in downtown Colorado Springs afterward if you want dinner or another drink. The end location can change, so check the final details before you set your evening plans in stone.

The underground setting gives the tour a strong final change of mood. Earlier stops include a hotel, an alley, a park, and a diner. Bloom brings the group back to a dedicated nightlife space with a more theatrical look.

What you actually receive for $94

At $94 per person, this is not a bargain bar crawl. You are paying for four cocktails, food pairings at most locations, a local guide, water at every venue, historical storytelling, and entry into several businesses during a small-group route.

The value depends on how you normally explore a city. If you would order four cocktails on your own, add several snacks, and pay for a guided downtown walk, the price may feel fair. You also avoid the guesswork of choosing bars and can try places with different moods in one afternoon.

The price feels less attractive if you mainly want a full dinner, large pours, or a long stay at each bar. Portions are intentionally light, and the tour is structured around variety. I would book it as a guided happy hour, not as a replacement for an evening meal.

A 15 to 20 percent tip for the tour leader is not included. Plan for that extra amount if Jason, Beth, Adam, Heather, or another guide gives you the kind of personal attention that makes the experience work.

The guide can shape the whole evening

The guide is a major part of this experience. Jason receives repeated praise for being fun, polite, informative, and easy to talk with. His explanations of town history and the bars appear to be a big reason the tour works for many people.

Beth is also praised for hosting a walking tour with local history, locally owned businesses, drinks, and appetizers. Adam is described as informative and attentive, while Heather receives credit for making the Prohibition stories especially enjoyable and approachable.

That range matters because a bar route alone is not enough. The guide has to manage timing, explain the drinks, keep the group together, and make the history feel connected to the places you visit. The small group gives the host a better chance to do that well.

The Prohibition theme is more than decoration

The tour uses Prohibition in the Wild West as a thread running through the afternoon. You learn about the city’s past while visiting places that reflect its present cocktail culture, including a sought-after speakeasy-style venue.

I like the topic because it gives the drinks a reason to exist within the tour. You are not simply moving from one bar to another. You are hearing how a city’s drinking culture changed, then seeing how modern operators play with secrecy, alley entrances, and old-world interiors.

The stories are not a substitute for a dedicated history tour. Still, they give you useful context in short doses, which suits a food and drink outing.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour to adults who like cocktails, small independent businesses, and a guided introduction to downtown Colorado Springs. It suits first-time visitors who want an easy way to find several venues, as well as locals bringing friends from out of town.

It is especially good for couples, small friend groups, and anyone who enjoys hearing stories while walking between tastings. The route is described as easy, and most people can participate, but you should still be comfortable walking through downtown for two and a half hours.

I would skip it if you need a substantial meal, avoid dairy and gluten, dislike alcohol-focused activities, or expect every stop to feel like a major-city cocktail destination. One direct assessment found three of the four venues less impressive than expected for someone used to a much larger city. Colorado Springs offers a smaller, more personal scene, and that is either the appeal or the limitation.

Practical details before you book

You must be 21 or older. The mobile ticket is convenient, and confirmation arrives at booking. The tour begins at The Mining Exchange and currently ends at Bloom Ultra Lounge, though the ending location may change.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather or an insufficient minimum group can also cancel the outing, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

The tour requires good weather because you walk between stops. Wear comfortable shoes and avoid arriving on an empty stomach. Water is provided at all locations, but you will still want to pace yourself across four cocktails.

Should you book the Cocktails & Tastes Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, guided introduction to Colorado Springs nightlife with four different cocktails, small food pairings, and local stories. The best parts are the varied venues, the manageable group size, the speakeasy flavor, and the guides, especially Jason when he is leading the route.

Do not book it expecting a full dinner or a big-city cocktail crawl. You are buying access, context, and variety more than large portions. For the right audience, $94 is a reasonable price for a polished happy hour that helps you find your bearings and leaves you downtown for the rest of the night.

FAQ

How long is the Cocktails & Tastes Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 4:00 p.m.

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at The Mining Exchange, located at 8 South Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs.

Where does the tour end?

The scheduled ending point is Bloom Ultra Lounge at 114 North Tejon Street, suite 20. The ending location is subject to change.

Are food and drinks included?

Four signature or seasonal cocktails at four different locations are included. Light savory or sweet appetizer pairings are included at most locations, along with water. The food is not intended to replace dinner.

Who can participate in the tour?

The tour is reserved for people age 21 and older. Most people can participate, but the experience is not recommended for people who are dairy-free or gluten-free.