The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
A coffee shop by day and bourbon bar by night might seem a difficult business venture to pull off, but Kentucky-native Sheena Ferguson captured the best of those two worlds when she opened the Bluegrass Coffee & Bourbon Lounge in Olde Town Arvada.
At the heart of Bluegrass is Ferguson’s love of coffee and bourbon—and a sense of Southern hospitality. In the morning, the Bluegrass lures in customers with a full chalkboard menu of espresso drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and a bakery case overflowing with fresh blueberry scones, muffins, and assorted pastries. Friendly baristas offer up a good bit of Southern charm as you choose your preferred cup of joe. (Tip: You can take it to go, but why not settle in for a leisurely sip at the sunny tables next to the enormous front windows.)
Come nightfall, the lounge lends a different vibe. Live bluegrass bands play to patrons surrounding the spacious bar, and friends and acquaintances alike sip and catch up in the sink-to-your-chest armchairs near the windows. The Bluegrass’ menu offers 100 different bourbons sourced from Kentucky to Breckenridge, which customers can taste neat, in flights, or from the well-honed list of cocktails. A signature drink worth seeking out is the Kentucky Coffee, which features Benchmark bourbon, Kahlúa, espresso, steamed milk, Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream, and whipped cream on top.
Don’t love whiskey? Indulge in the other spirits, wine, and craft beer that adorn the beverage list, and try the pizzas and desserts for sustenance. The idea here is to come for what appeals to you—be it coffee, bourbon, live music, or food—and stay awhile.
7415 Grandview Ave., Arvada, 720-476-3950
Correction: This story originally named Drew Gordon as Sheena Ferguson’s husband and business partner. We regret the error.