This is the last installment of Denver's Top Bartenders Uncovered, a Cocktail Week special series that acknowledges and celebrates the tenders of your favorite cocktail-mixing bars. The three featured here today - Joe Hines of Williams & Graham, Allison Anderson of Frasca, and Bryan Dayton of Oak at Fourteenth- come from different backgrounds and they are sure to make some of the best cocktails one can find. Just as their fellow bartenders in the two previous installments of this series, these three put up with Eater's prying and prodding on everything from their first bar jobs to trends they hate and the worst cocktails they have ever made.
Joe Hines
Birthdate: April 21
Behind the bar at: Williams & Graham
First Bar Job: Bokx 109 in Newton, MA
Favorite Spirit: Changes often.
Worst Cocktail You Ever Made: I make a lot of horrible cocktails, hard to choose just one. It's part of the R&D process of creating something great.
Biggest Bartending Accomplishment: My biggest accomplishment as a bartender has hopefully not happened yet. I am always looking to better my skills and my knowledge behind the bar. I am grateful for all the people I have worked with to get me to where I am today.
Bartending trend you are sick of: Cocktails with too many ingredients.
One thing your guests should know about you: They should know that they are the reason I enjoy being behind a bar.
Allison Anderson
Birthdate: January 19
Behind the bar at: Frasca Food and Wine
First Bar Job: Dazzle in Denver.
Favorite Spirit: Tequila. In mixing, I have a tough time staying away from Aperol, Campari and amari.
Worst Cocktail You Ever Made: A lemon and vodka based cocktail that was essentially a vodka and lemonade. It wasn't terrible, just not ambitious or interesting or creative. I always have that cocktail in the back of my mind in the don't ever embarrass yourself like that again section.
Biggest Bartending Accomplishment: as a service professional, I am most proud of the recent recognition I received on Eater Denver in the Front and Center piece.
Bartending trend you are sick of: Most of them.
One thing your guests should know about you: That they are the most important thing to me.
Bryan Dayton
Birthdate: June 20
Behind the bar at: OAK at Fourteenth
First Bar Job: Juanita's Mexican Restaurant
Favorite Spirit: Tequila
Worst Cocktail You Ever Made: Long Island Iced Tea, I can't ever remember the recipe!
Biggest Bartending Accomplishment: OAK at Fourteenth's cocktail program and amazing food and being named GQ Bombay Sapphire's Most Inspired Bartender in America last year.
Bartending trend you are sick of: Mustaches.
One thing your guests should know about you: I have two beautiful boys and I love to trail run.
· Denver's Top Bartenders Uncovered, Part One [EDen]
· Denver's Top Bartenders Uncovered, Part Two [EDen]
[Photography by Jennifer Olson]