Where: Pinche Tacos- two Denver locations: 3300 West 32nd Avenue and 1514 York Street.
What: Cheapest (and booziest) Coin Style Margarita in Denver
When: Monday 3pm-10pm,Tue-Sat 11am-10pm,Sunday 11am-9pm
Recommendation: The margaritas are the obvious choice in this place, but don’t forget to try a Mezcal based cocktail like the Oaxaca Shocka or the Calle Alcala. They are both exceptional cocktails made with this uniquely flavored Agave based liquor. Also, hit up happy hour seven days a week from 3-6pm. And all night on Mondays!
It was love at first bite for me the first time I ate at Pinche Tacos. It wasn’t until I had a margarita there that I realized that the quality of the drinks match the stellar food.
Brian Smith oversees the bar program for both Pinche locations and he knows his booze. He leads and educates bartenders in the the Denver community with training and consulting, and he also contributes his time, love, and energy to the Denver FIVE’s beverage team. He has laid a solid foundation for the bar at Pinche Tacos, and it shows!
Smith has created the recipes for the various cocktails and of course-their infamous margarita. Although the sign walking in the door says “Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey,” it is not an overwhelming library of labels. They usually host 20 brands of tequila at a time and revisit them all twice a year in a blind tasting. They only offer “good quality, honest tequila.” And it is flying off of the shelves.
They juice their own citrus daily, which I find extremely impressive because they are serving 15,000 margaritas a month. That’s a lot of citrus, and a lot of tequila. The drinks are strong, the bartenders are friendly, and the food is out of this world.
The house margarita is made with Exotico Blanco Tequila, Citronage (80 proof, mind you) Fresh Lime, Cane Sugar, and a salted rim. Simple, classic, fresh, and delicious. During Happy Hour they are only $4 and only $6 regularly. You won’t get this much booze in a margarita anywhere else.
I was surprised to discover one of the best Old Fashioneds that I have ever tasted was at Pinche Tacos! They have house-made grapefruit bitters that I could buy by the gallon and sip on. It tastes like Christmas and summer had a baby. Outstanding. If you are not a margarita drinker, do not miss this cocktail. Pinche calls it the Older Fashioned and it’s $9.
Tequila and whiskey not your poison? Then order the Ernest Goes to Rio, this Hemingway style daiquiri is a fruity delightful concoction that will bring you straight to the beach. Made with Boca loca Cachaca, Goslings Black Seal Rum, House Grapefruit Liqueur, and fresh lime. It costs $8
The Pinch Sodas were new to me, and they are the perfect answer to these 90 degree days. At the Highlands location, Pinche is doing House-Made Liqueurs in a grain alcohol base. Flavors include Limeade, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Cilantro-Lime, Green Tea, and Mexican Coffee Cream. They are a tasty treat, and extremely deceiving. They are full of booze but go down the hatch like KoolAid. They cost only $5 bucks.
So many cocktails to choose from! I’m just going to frequent this place and go down the menu one drink at a time. I know I won’t be disappointed.
Is Pinche Tacos already your preferred watering hole? Rent a locker and buy a bottle or two to sip on. It costs $100 for six months and the bottles are sold to you for around retail price. You are going to have to be patient though, there is a waiting list for both locations. I love the concept and the community that it builds.
The perfect partner to all of these cocktails are the chips and guacamole. My favorite taco is the Pork Belly, and the veggie tostada is a slice of heaven. All of the food is so ridiculously good that you could camp out at a table and eat yourself into oblivion. I love how the citrusy cocktails beg for the salty, spicy, and fresh cuisine they are serving. This place is legit.
Photos by: https://www.facebook.com/DesignerCrystalRhea