Each year, the publication ranks its top 20 whiskeys of the year based on price, accessibility for buyers and, of course, taste, including scores from a blind panel of international judges.

Old Elk Distillery (253 Linden St., Fort Collins) made the list in 2023 with its Port Cask Finish straight bourbon. It ranked No. 15 out of 20 and received a score of 94 points (out of 100) from the tasting panel. Old Elk was the only local spirits maker on the list, which showcased liquors from a collection of whiskey heavyweights from Kentucky to Scotland and beyond.

“We are very proud to be recognized by Whisky Advocate for our Port Cask Finish Bourbon utilizing our high malt bourbon whiskey. The end product is the culmination of Old Elk’s desire to transcend the industry through innovation,” master distiller Greg Metze said by email. “The award is an honor and tribute to the passionate and skilled people that we have at Old Elk.”

What makes this recipe unique is the way it’s finished. Old Elk takes its straight bourbon and does a secondary aging for 10 months to one year in port wine barrels from Portugal, giving it ripe fruit notes against aromas of oak and sweet honey.

“The palate is redolent with spice and fruit, practically oozing with red berry compote, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and a bit of nuttiness,” Whisky Advocate noted. “Add water, and those chocolate and cinnamon notes become even more vibrant. On the finish, there’s candied sweetness and more spice, both also expanding delightfully with a dash of water.”

Old Elk Port Cask Finish bourbon retails for $90 per bottle. The distillery’s products are widely available at retail liquor stores across Colorado. Drinkers can also buy select bottles online at shop.oldelk.com.

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Fireworks are a quintessential New Year’s Eve event, whether your plans include a raucous party or a chill gathering of friends. Only a couple of cities on the Front Range will be hosting fireworks this year, so they are bound to be prime attractions.

Or you could head to the mountains where many towns will be shooting fireworks off early to accommodate kids (and the cold). Most include a torchlight parade, in which skiers carry flares for a spectacular visual effect as they come down the mountain.

Join us as we count down the 10 best places to see New Year’s Eve fireworks in Colorado.

Downtown Denver

The 16th Street Mall (1001 16th St., Denver) will be the epicenter of the Mile High City’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, with a free, outdoor block party featuring multiple fireworks shows. At 9 p.m. and midnight, fireworks will illuminate the skyline and DJs along the promenade will play a soundtrack to the 8-minute show. Live music will continue between displays, too, for NYE revelers in the area.

Find more information at denver.org/event/new-years-eve-fireworks/108069/.

Parker

Douglas County celebrates New Year’s Eve with a fireworks-inspired drone show at EchoPark Stadium (11901 Newlin Gulch Blvd., Parker) starting at 7 p.m. Attendees will be able to watch from the parking lot and because no food or drinks will be for sale, they can also bring their own.

Find more information at douglas.co.us/event/new-years-eve-drone-show/.

Keystone

The best spots for viewing Keystone Resort’s NYE fireworks display, which starts at 7 p.m., will be at the base of River Run Gondola and River Run Village (100 Dercum Square, Keystone). That is, unless you choose to go night skiing, in which case you can take in the spectacle from the slopes.

Find more information at keystoneresort.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/events-calendar.aspx.

Copper Mountain

Skiers celebrating the end of the year with laps at Copper Mountain can join a party in the Center Village (206 Ten Mile Circle, Frisco) that kicks off with a torchlight parade at 6 p.m. and ends with fireworks at 10 p.m. A DJ will spin tunes as vendors sell food and drinks at this free, family-friendly event.

Find more information at coppercolorado.com/things-to-do/events/december-events/new-years-eve-2023.

Vail

The Vail Ski and Snowboard School kicks off the NYE fun with a torchlight parade down Golden Peak (75 S. Frontage Road, West Vail), followed by fireworks that will be visible throughout the mountain town. The parade starts at 6:15 p.m. and fireworks start at 6:25 p.m.

Find more information at discovervail.com/event/new-years-eve-torchlight-parade-fireworks/.

Beaver Creek

The Winter Circus comes to Beaver Creek Village (26 Avondale Lane, Avon) to add a little wonder to this New Year’s Eve. The party starts with a 6 p.m. “ski down” the mountain, during which 200 skiers equipped with glowsticks will traverse the slopes down to the base where aerialists, contortionists, jugglers, break dancers, and fire dancers will be performing. Enjoy food and drinks until fireworks go off over Beaver Creek Mountain at 10 p.m.

Find more information beavercreek.com/explore-the-resort/activities/beaver-creek-events.aspx.

Aspen

Fireworks will illuminate the sky over Aspen Mountain at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Before the show, stop by the outdoor pedestrian mall in downtown (at the intersection of Mill Street and Cooper Avenue, Aspen) to enjoy music, firepits, hot chocolate and entertainment such as winter fairies and stilt walkers (noon to 3 p.m.). Or head to the Aspen Ice Garden and go ice skating for free from 3 to 6 p.m. (233 W. Hyman Ave., Aspen).

More information at aspenspecialevents.com/new-years-eve/.

Snowmass

So you’ve watched a torchlight parade, but have you ever participated in one? Snowmass invites intermediate skiers ages 8 and up to join its New Year’s Eve torchlight parade – no lift ticket required. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and cascades down Fanny Hill before a fireworks show at 10 p.m. To watch the festivities, head to the Snowmass Base Village (84 Carriage Way, Snowmass Village).

Find more information at gosnowmass.com/event/nye-torchlight-parade/.

Telluride

Dual torchlight parades will descend from the peak of Telluride Ski Resort down the mountains to the town center and to Mountain Village starting at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks follow the parades and visibility will be best from the Mountain Village core (670 Mountain Village Blvd., Mountain Village), which is also a public consumption area. That means you can grab a beer to-go from one of the bars to enjoy during the show.

Find more information at telluride.com/event/new-years-eve-torchlight-parade-fireworks/.

Steamboat Springs

Snowcats decorated with lights will help Steamboat Springs ring in 2024. The snowcat parade precedes a torchlight parade and fireworks to cap off the evening. The free event runs 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the base of the ski resort (2305 Mt. Werner Circle, Steamboat Springs).

Find more information at steamboat.com/things-to-do/events/new-years-eve-fireworks-and-light-up-snow-cat-parade.

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Typically, Olander would let the soil rest through the winter months, but in recent years he’s begun experimenting with new varieties of barley that have been specifically adapted to withstand cold temperatures. Growing in the winter means the crops will absorb precipitation through the spring, a vital advantage as weather in the Western U.S. continues to get hotter and drier.

As the proprietor of both Olander Farms and Root Shoot Malting, which supplies Colorado breweries and spirit makers with locally grown and malted grains, Olander has to innovate to sustain his family’s 97-year-old farm. About five years ago, he began taking proactive steps to prepare for what he expects to be the next big challenge: the water crisis.

That looming threat was enough to begin cultivating the winter-friendly Lightning, Thunder and Buck barley without yet having customers for them.

“I can see the writing on the wall just with everything going on with water in Colorado. There’s a possibility of a reduction in our allotment and also the possibility of not having runoff we typically see from snowpack,” Olander said. “That’s why I’m trying to be ahead of the game.”

As the Colorado River continues to dry, local barley growers and maltsters are seeking out creative solutions to sustain their businesses in the face of climate change. Some are embracing nontraditional and drought-resistant grains while others are investing in technology to become more efficient. Their innovations aim to reduce water usage and bring the supply chain for craft beer and spirits closer to home, in hopes of ultimately building a resilient ecosystem that supports farmers, brewers and distillers in Colorado.

In 2022, local farmers grew 4,440,000 bushels of barley, the sixth most in the nation, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. A large portion of that is purchased by Coors Brewing, which contracts with around 800 growers in the Western states and Canada, according to the company’s website.

But Colorado is also home to several craft malthouses that kiln and roast barley for smaller brewers and distillers to use in making beer and liquor. Still, buying local has yet to become the norm since craft malt usually fetches a premium price.

Brewer Eric Larkin has been working with Troubadour Maltings in Fort Collins to procure custom malts since he opened Cohesion Brewing Co. in Denver two years ago. It’s not the cheapest option, but it works because the brewery specializes in specialty Czech-style lagers.

Larkin’s other options would be to import malt from Europe or use European-style malts grown in the U.S. While sourcing local might present unique challenges, the benefits of keeping his dollars in the local economy outweigh any potential downfalls, Larkin said.

“Every crop I get from Troubadour, the malt changes and I have to make adjustments in the brewhouse,” he said, acknowledging it’s easier for a small operation that focuses on a limited portfolio of styles to do that. “Keeping your dollars with local and small producers, the impact it can have really multiplies. It stays a little closer to home. That idea has always been really valuable to me from an economic standpoint and environmental standpoint.”

Spreading the gospel of local grain

The nonprofit Colorado Grain Chain aims to spread that ethos more widely with a variety of projects that connect local producers and makers, and incentivize collaboration. For example, the organization is currently building a digital marketplace where farmers can connect with companies or entrepreneurs seeking to purchase locally-grown grains.

Project manager Lisa Boldt, who also co-owns Primitive Beer in Longmont, sees a unique opportunity to amplify the Grain Chain’s message in the beverage space. That’s why the organization recently offered $4,000 “microgrants” to brewers and distillers who used novel grains in a new product.

Cohesion and WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley received one grant to team up on a special release, Foamies Czech-style pale lager, using custom malts from Troubadour. The beer debuted in August and a second batch is due for release in November.

WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez earned a grant to experiment with a Munich wheat from Root Shoot Malting, with which it created a Dunkelweizen-inspired beer called From the Fields. Steamboat Springs’ Routt Distillery, another grant recipient, leveraged a trial batch of barley grown in Montrose by Proximity Malts for its new West Slope Sarvis Gin, which also features locally foraged sarvisberries.

Perhaps the most intriguing microgrant project came from Dune Valley Distillery in Mosca, which will release a vodka made from quinoa in January. The distillery, which opened this summer in the historic Mosca Community Hall and Gymnasium, shares a campus with a local food hub and a potato and quinoa processing plant. It specializes in making potato vodka specifically because of the resources at its disposal, said managing partner Nicholas Chambers.

“The local food approach is that you learn to consume what’s grown right near you,” Chambers said. “We are at literally the center of North American quinoa right here. It’s such a good crop for us because of low water use and it fits with our valley.”

Reducing water usage

One underutilized opportunity Audrey Paugh, marketing and networking specialist at the Grain Chain, sees for beverages is in millet. Colorado is the country’s top producer of proso millet, a gluten-free and drought-tolerant ancient grain. The state is also home to Grouse Malt House, one of the few U.S. maltsters dedicated to gluten-free grains.

Twila Soles founded the company with her late partner in 2013 after years of having celiac disease and being dissatisfied with gluten-free beer options. Malting even gluten-free grains requires a lot of water. Recently, Soles upgraded her system to include a steep tank that uses up to 40% less water than her original equipment.

Soles sources most of her grains within 200 miles of the malting facility in Wellington and has seen her producers weather unpredictable and sometimes devastating growing seasons.

“Using a crop (such as millet) that takes less water to thrive is important now and will be even more important as climate change continues to impact weather patterns,” said Soles, whose biggest Colorado client is the gluten-free Holidaily Brewing Co. “I’m hopeful that the use of more drought-tolerant crops for craft beer grows.”

In Alamosa, Jason Cody knows the value of diversifying crops and revenue streams. Cody saw firsthand the desire for local, craft malts when he opened Colorado Malting Co. in 2008. At one point, Cody had more than 100 breweries waiting for the opportunity to buy his products. The venture saved his family farm, which first began growing barley for Coors in the 1990s.

But business has slowed amid economic pressures and larger companies cashing in on demand for cost-effective malts. So these days he focuses on serving a niche base of distillers and brewers.

Water usage is always top of mind for Cody, who manages the 300-acre farm his ancestors purchased nearly a century ago. In 2018, Cody began making original beers at his Colorado Farm Brewery, which highlights sustainable practices from grain to glass. He grows and malts his own grains, uses an original strain of yeast and recycles all the water from the brewing process to irrigate his farm.

“Every single gallon of water we use in the brewery that goes down the drain, goes out to the center pivot irrigation sprinklers and is injected into the line that the sprinkler is running on,” Cody said.

An added bonus: The brewery’s wastewater repeatedly tests high in nitrogen, sulfur, potassium and other compounds that reinvigorate soil, so he needs fewer fertilizers to keep the ground healthy.

Back in Berthoud, Olander has yet to malt last year’s winter crop, so he doesn’t know what it tastes like or if brewers will be interested in using it. Olander is hopeful Lightning in particular will be an apt pilsner-style product and catch on, but he’s not waiting for feedback to continue his experiment.

Last year, he planted 15 acres of Thunder, 15 acres of Lightning and seven acres of Kernza. This year, he planted 20 acres of Lightning and 10 acres of Buck.

“We decided, let’s roll the dice and go with Lightning,” he said. “Hopefully winter treats everything well and they’ll survive.”

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The couple announced the birth of their daughter, Amora Princess Wilson, on Monday, a day after the Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers.

“2 wins in less than 24 hours!” Russell Wilson posted on Twitter, adding the baby made her debut at 9 pounds and 1 ounce.

AMORA PRINCESS WILSON
9lbs 1oz
We Love You so much! @Ciara

2 wins in less than 24 hours! pic.twitter.com/UbhZJMIA3T

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) December 11, 2023

Amora is the fourth kiddo to join the bunch. The Wilsons share a daughter Sienna, 6, and a son Win, 3. Ciara’s first child, 9-year-old Future Zhair, is with her ex, Future.

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Denver is brimming with New Year’s Eve events, whether you want to attend an all-inclusive soiree, a concert or a casual party. And the holiday falling on a weekend this year makes it even more worthwhile to celebrate.

Here are 15 places to say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024. A bonus: If you end up near the 16th Street Mall on New Year’s Eve, pop outside to enjoy a fireworks show, which will illuminate the skyline at 9 p.m. and midnight.

Swanky soirees

Denver NYE Black Tie Party

Don your best formal attire and ring in the New Year in style at the Denver NYE Black Tie Party. Guests get to enjoy an open bar, music from local DJs and cover bands, and Vegas-style casino games. There will also be a complimentary photo booth, midnight balloon drop and party favors.

Dec. 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Asterisk Event Center, 1075 Park Ave. West, Denver. Tickets cost $135 at newyearsevenight.com.

Denver New Year’s Eve White Rose Gala

The Roaring ‘20s are back in fashion as the theme of the 2023 White Rose Gala. Live entertainment will spotlight music and dance from the era. Decor and dress will reflect that timeless quality, too. Additional attractions include selfie stations and a speakeasy for VIP ticket-holders.

Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis St., Denver. Tickets cost $99-$149 at newyearspartydenver.com.

New Year’s Eve Dance Extravaganza

Dust off your dancing shoes and start the New Year off on the right foot at the Dance Extravaganza, which features multiple ballrooms with bands playing a variety of music styles such as bachata, swing and salsa. The event includes dance lessons as well as free-for-all fun, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. Tickets cost $40 at eventbrite.com.

Denver NYE Cocktail Party

Looking for an all-inclusive soiree? Look no further than the Denver NYE Cocktail Party. DJs and bands will play in multiple ballrooms at the Sheraton hotel downtown, where guests can also enjoy an open bar, casino games, photo booths and more.

Dec. 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver. Tickets cost $110-$210 at nyenightdenver.com.

New Year’s Eve at The Tropicana

The Colorado Mambo Orchestra will be bringing the heat to The Brown Palace and transforming the venue with its Latin- and Cuban-infused jazz tunes, led by renowned musician Raul Murciano. (You might know him from the Miami Sound Machine with Gloria Estefan.) The party includes light bites, desserts, a champagne toast and enough sonic heat to make you forget the Colorado winter.

Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa, 321 17th St., Denver. Tickets cost $250-$825 at eventbrite.com.

NYE concerts

Decadence Colorado

Outside of summer festivals, there’s hardly a bigger EDM event in the U.S. than Decadence Colorado. The Denver-based New Year’s Eve party at the Colorado Convention Center welcomes the genre’s biggest DJs, producers and groups, including the city’s own Illenium (who this summer headlined at  Empower Field at Mile High). The 2024 installment also features Red Rocks headliners such as Zeds Dead and crowd-movers like Two Friends, Mersiv, Subtronics, Steve Aoki, Sofi Tukker, Sidepiece, Ganja White Night and influential dubstep act Skrillex.

Dec. 30-31 on two main stages. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver. Tickets cost $109-$359 at decadencenye.com.

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club at the Hi-Dive

A beloved country-punk tradition, Slim Cessna Auto Club’s NYE shows bring the Gothic folk sound that Denver is known for to intimate crowds for a raucous, two-night run. It’s a gritty tent revival through the funhouse mirror, with glowering, preacher-like stage presence and figurative brimstone aplenty. Swaggering, thunderous instrumentation. Cowboy hipsters. Mortality! In other words: true, ungentrified Denver.

9 p.m. Dec. 30-31 at the Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway in Denver. Tickets cost $25 per night or $40 for both at hi-dive.com.

CloZee at Mission Ballroom

French DJ and, recently, Denverite CloZee is an international EDM headliner having one of her biggest runs yet in the Mile High City this holiday season. Her pair of shows at this sterling RiNo venue are packed with guests, including Vincent Antone, Yoko and Daggz (Dec. 30), and LYNY, Super Future and Pheel (Dec. 31).

8 p.m. Dec. 30-31 at Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. Ages 16 and up. Tickets cost $85-$99 at axs.com.

Itchy-O NYE at Summit

This massive Denver ensemble, which invokes fiery ritual and release as much as dark rhythms and melodies, is taking over LoDo venue Summit for what promises to be a bacchanal with (a) soul. Known for its outlandish costumes, glowing instruments and in-crowd performances, Itchy-O is a unique Denver act that must be seen (and heard) to be believed. Its NYE show is pitched as a celebration when the “ancient and avant-garde merge into a symphony of sensory upheaval.”

9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Summit, 1902 Blake St. All ages. Tickets cost $41.25-$58.50 at concerts.livenation.com.

Neal Francis at the Ogden

Chicago R&B act Neil Francis plays a mean keyboard as he’s backed by airtight percussion, electric guitar and rubbery bass, his tastefully detached vocals meditating over it all. Live, the band is another potent backside activator, leading crowds through sweaty bliss and funky, ’70s-flecked dance numbers that sport as much texture as they do melody. There’s every chance this will be a legendary concert.

8 p.m. Dec. 31, with the Texas Gentlemen, Ogden Theatre, at 935 E. Colfax Ave. 16 and up. Tickets cost $45 at axs.com.

Casual affairs and family-friendly parties

The Improper Circus

Ring in 2024 with help from aerial performers, fire breathers, stilt walkers and tarot card readers when the Improper City bar in RiNo transforms into a circus for the last night of the year. The ticket price includes a welcome drink, complimentary big-tent snacks like popcorn, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Improper City, 3201 Walnut St., Denver. Tickets cost $35 at eventbrite.com.

NYE on Tap

Denver brewery Bierstadt Lagerhaus plans to host a New Year’s Eve party sure to delight beer and cocktail drinkers alike. The all-inclusive ticket price buys access to an open bar featuring Bierstadt lagers as well as liquor, an appetizer buffet and a champagne toast at midnight. A DJ will also be onsite spinning tunes.

Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake St., Denver. Tickets cost $99 at eventbrite.com.

NYE Family Carnival Extravaganza at Bounce Empire

The title of this event hints at the scale of Bounce Empire, a sprawling inflatables “theme park” marketed as a DJ-driven party-pad as much as a kiddie-birthday destination. This event combines both, with full access to the huge inflatable slides and jump houses, as well as full bars and adult chill rooms, plus a full menu and other programming.

8 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 31 at Bounce Empire, 1380 S. Public Road in Lafayette. All ages. Tickets cost $39 at bounceempire.com. 

Downtown Aquarium New Year’s Eve Family Celebration
Sharkey, the Downtown Aquarium’s mascot, will be on hand as the cultural attraction, restaurant and venue welcomes folks for its buffet, balloon drop, contests and giveaways for kids. Reservations are required; call 303-561-4450 to secure one. Multi-course dinners are available for $45.

Seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 700 Water Drive in Denver. All ages. Tickets cost $26 for kids 10 and under, and $46 for everyone else. Reservations are available online. aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver.

Roaring ’20s New Year’s Eve

Fortissimo’s dueling piano bar will make good on the promises of its brand name – which means “very loud” – with a raucous New Year’s Eve party. Dress the part for this Roaring ’20s-themed event and prepare to belt out sing-along songs into 2024.

Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Fortissimo Dueling Pianos, 891 14th St., #110, Denver. Tickets cost $35-$70 at eventbrite.com.

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The whiskey maker, which was founded in 2004 and has often been billed as the first new distillery to open in Colorado since Prohibition, plans to debut a new tasting room, Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge, sometime this winter in Aspen, according to the company.

This “marks our first outpost beyond our Denver distillery and tasting room, and it is being designed to be the ideal environment for fans, already made and new, to experience our award-winning American single malt whiskies – and to say thank you to those who helped start it all,” the company, which is now owned by beverage giant Proximo Spirits, added.

Stranahan’s was co-founded by longtime Aspen resident, millionaire, physicist and entrepreneur George Stranahan and former volunteer Aspen firefighter Jess Graber. The story goes that Graber was part of a team that responded to a fire at Stranahan’s barn, and that the two got to know each other after that and hatched a plan to start their own whiskey distillery.

They did just that in 2004, at 2405 Blake St., in Denver, before buying their own building and moving the operation to their existing location at 200 S. Kalamath St. New Jersey-based Proximo bought the company in 2010; Stranahan himself passed away in 2021.

Details on the new location are slim, though the Aspen Daily News reports the bar will take over the former Aspen Pie Shop, at 307 S. Mill St., downtown. Stranahan’s is currently hiring a head chef to lead the creation of “alpine-inspired bites” from a kitchen onsite.

Stranahan’s will join another soon-to-open bar and restaurant at the MOLLIE Aspen hotel, which partnered with Gin & Luck, owners of Death & Co., to create the food and beverage program.

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That’s a quote from a member of an organization called Love Has Won in a new HBO docu-series, entitled “Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God.” The group is, by most accounts, a cult that grabbed headlines in April 2021 after the mummified remains of its leader, Amy Carlson, known as Mother God, were found in a sleeping bag wrapped in Christmas lights near Crestone, Colorado.

But that was hardly the first time Love Has Won ended up in the news. Over the course of a decade-plus, the group gained exposure by spreading its message by live-streaming on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. In 2020, Love Has Won fled Hawaii under police escort after Carlson’s claims to be the deity Pele sparked outrage among locals.

HBO’s docu-series chronicles the life and death of Carlson through interviews with current and former members, footage from the group’s extensive online archive and conversations with her family members, including the two children Carlson left behind when she moved to Colorado on a whim to – in her words – chase her life’s mission.

The three-part documentary is well worth a watch, but for those who don’t have three hours to dedicate to it, here’s a quick primer on the Love Has Won cult.

What are the beliefs of Love Has Won?

As the leader of Love Has Won, Carlson was believed by her followers to be the mother of all creation and a living god who energetically processed all the world’s traumas on behalf of Earthly people. Members of the cult referred to her as Mother God and believed she lived numerous past lives as Joan of Arc, Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe.

Many of the group’s beliefs relied on metaphysical elements, such as energetic vibrations, five dimensions of reality, a galactic council and starships. They believed Carlson did not die but rather “ascended,” meaning she left her physical body, to save humanity. In preparation for achieving their own ascensions, members of Love Has Won ate and slept very little. They often consumed drugs and alcohol.

The group was also known to repeat political conspiracy theories that aligned with QAnon, such as the baseless belief that cannibalistic liberal pedophiles run a global child sex trafficking ring.

What is the group’s connection to Colorado?

Love Has Won set up a “mission house” near Crestone, technically in the town of Moffat where they lived, and conducted live-streams and business for several years.

Additionally, the group rented a large cabin in Salida, where the most devoted followers lived and where new recruits were brought upon arriving in Colorado. The group moved between California, Oregon and Florida at various times.

How did the group make money?

Love Has Won raised donations while live-streaming online, offered services such as “etheric surgery” sessions for a fee, and sold house-made supplements, including colloidal silver. They made hundreds of thousands of dollars this way, according to the HBO series.

How did Amy Carlson die?

Carlson died from natural causes after years of alcohol abuse, opioid use, anorexia and chronic ingestion of colloidal silver, according to an autopsy report from the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.

Members of Love Has Won believed she suffered from cancer and was paralyzed from the waist down; however, she never visited a doctor or a hospital to confirm those diagnoses.

Seven members of the cult were arrested in connection with her death, but the charges were ultimately dropped.

Is Love Has Won still active?

After Carlson’s body was found, Love Has Won rebranded and reemerged under the moniker 5D Full Disclosure. Its members still publish videos, podcasts and other content.

How to watch the docu-series

The three-part docu-series, “Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God,” is available in full on Max.

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But for 2024, the company’s travel experts have recommended one place in Colorado that should be on every vacationer’s bucket list.

Boulder is one of 24 places to land on Fodor’s “Go List” for 2024 and one of just two destinations in the United States. The other is Cannon Beach, Ore.

Fodor’s praised Boulder’s accessibility to recreation and nature, enticing outdoor enthusiasts with 30,000 acres of city-owned open space for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and tubing. The story also noted the allure of Pearl Street’s al fresco dining options, the majesty of the Flatirons and the innumerable craft breweries worth their pint.

All that and a nod to Coach Prime, who led the University of Colorado football team on a nationally spotlighted journey this season. (We’ll give Fodor’s a pass for perpetuating the myth about Colorado’s 300-plus days of sunshine since we agree there’s nary a bad time of year to visit.)

“Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or simply looking to flock to a beautiful city nestled amidst nature, Boulder needs to be on your list,” the publication said.

Other places Fodor’s thinks travelers should visit in 2024 include Nelson, British Columbia; Botswana; Cape Verde; Franschhoek, South Africa; Ifrane, Morocco; Coron, Philippines; Sri Lanka; George Town, Malaysia; Kakaban Island, Indonesia; Stanley, Tasmania; Queenstown, New Zealand; Albania; Bergen, Norway; Rouen, France; Sighișoara, Romania; Copan Ruinas, Honduras; Negril, Jamaica; Puerto Escondido, Mexico; Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay; and São Paulo, Brazil.

On the other side of things, Fodor’s suggested in its 2024 No List that people stay away from nine over-touristed areas of the world, including two in the United States: San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in California and Lake Superior in the Midwest.

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The beloved Mexican food spot, El Tepehuan, at 3495 S. Broadway, plans to shutter on Dec. 31 as its owner, Graciela Corral, retires, according to an announcement shared by her son, Miguel Corral.

The restaurant, endearingly called El Tep by locals, dates back to 1978 when immigrant Jose David Corral of Sinaloa, Mexico, used his hard-earned money to “achieve his dream to open his own business,” according to the restaurant’s website. He named it El Tepehuan as an homage to his mother’s indigenous tribe.

In 1987, Jose Corral died in a car accident and his wife, Graciela, took over and ran the business for 36 years. She also oversaw its relocation between 2015 and 2017.

Speaking by phone, Graciela Corral said she kept the restaurant open after Jose’s death because she needed work and thought having her own business would be the best opportunity. El Tep weathered several economic downturns, not the least of which was the COVID-19 pandemic, which Corral described as “difficult.” But the local community stepped up with support, ordering to-go food and drinks.

“I will miss the customers and workers. For me, it’s like family,” Corral said. “To the customers, thank you for everything, for support for 45 years. Thank you, thank you for everybody.”

Over the decades, El Tep became known for its highly coveted green chile and other specials. In 2008, The Denver Post lauded the eatery’s signature House Special in a dining review.

“Every item in the combo was, if not astonishingly fantastic, nonetheless a solid throw-down, gimme-more, don’t-talk-to-me-I’m-eating keeper. Fresh, flavorful, spicy and just naughty enough, from the spicy red chile Colorado to the melty-velvety cheese over the beans to the plump, meaty beans themselves,” dining critic Tucker Shaw wrote at the time.

Corral’s retirement plans include spending more time with family, including her kids and grandkids. And while she won’t have a restaurant, she expects to continue sharing her love through food.

“They like (when) abuela cooks for them,” Corral said.

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And if you’re looking to get into the Christmas spirit – emphasis on spirits – there are numerous pop-up bars decking the halls. Here are 10 places bartenders will be making a drink, shaking it twice. Your choice whether it’s salty or spiced.

Plus: One booze-free holiday pop-up that’s great for the whole family.

Avantiki

Open now through Dec. 29

The rooftop space at Denver’s Avanti Food & Beverage food hall will be transformed into a pop-up called Avantiki, a beach-inspired destination where the vibes are warm and the drinks are strong. Libations come served in hula-clad Santa mugs and other fun vessels to match the vibe. Entry costs $5 and benefits CHOW or the Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness program, which supports mental health and wellbeing in the service industry. While Avanti in Boulder won’t be as decked out with baubles and lights, it will serve the holiday menu of drinks.

Located at Avanti Food & Beverage, 3200 Pecos St., Denver. avantifandb.com.

Big Holiday Energy

Open now through Jan. 1

The spirit of Christmas saved Call to Arms Brewing Co. in Denver. That’s according to the owner, who considered throwing in the towel after several tough pandemic years. But luckily for holiday revelers, he didn’t and now the brewery goes all out hanging Christmas trees from the ceiling, decking out a Hanukkah room, and tacking up lights in nearly every corner for that perfectly twinkling selfie. This year, Call to Arms is building the pop-up around the theme of Christmas movies.

Located at Call to Arms Brewing Co., 4526 Tennyson St., Denver. calltoarmsbrewing.com.

The Christmas Pop Up Bar

Open Fridays and Saturdays now through Dec. 23

Ho-ho-how many shots do you think it would take for Santa to stumble down the chimney? Find out at Mile High Spirits’ seasonal pop-up, aptly named The Christmas Pop Up Bar. Located in the distillery’s barrel room, the bar serves four unique holiday shots. Entry is free, but a reservation is encouraged since spots are limited.

Located at Mile High Spirits, 2201 Lawrence St., Denver. eventbrite.com/cc/christmas-pop-up-bar-shots-with-santa-2852319.

Festivus for the Rest of Us

Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays now through Dec. 31

Up on the rooftop, reindeer pours. That’s the scene at BurnDown on South Broadway on Thursday through Saturday nights during the pop-up Festivus for the Rest of Us, hosted on the restaurant’s third-floor rooftop bar. Starting at 6 p.m., locals can find libations such as a frozen negroni and peppermint Irish coffee and toast to the season with skyline views.

Located at BurnDown, 476 South Broadway, Denver. burndowndenver.com.

Miracle

Open now through various dates depending on location

Born as a single location in 2014, Miracle popularized the concept of holiday-themed pop-up bars and led a worldwide proliferation of festive libations to be sipped among over-the-top decor. Miracle comes to six different locations in Colorado this year, each with the same menu of seasonal beverages, like the Christmas Cricket (tequila, vanilla liqueur, mint amaro, coco pandan, mole bitters) and the Snowball Old Fashioned (rye, gingerbread, bitters, orange essence). Because they’re so popular, most encourage or require a reservation.

Located at Cousin Pat’s Pub & Grill (451 S. Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park), The Eddy Taproom & Hotel (1640 8th St., Golden), /pôr/ Wine House (836 Main St., Louisville), The Post Chicken & Beer (1002 S. College Ave., Fort Collins), Trainwreck (812 S. Sierra Madre St., Colorado Springs), and Union Station (1701 Wynkoop St., Denver). miraclepopup.com.

Mistletoe Lounge

Open now through Dec. 24

Those who shop local at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market can reward themselves with a festive drink at the Mistletoe Lounge, a new addition to holiday happenings at the shopping center. Inside a heated tent, bartenders mix up Hot Toddys, Mocha Martinis, hard cider and a variety of non-alcoholic hot chocolate recipes to enjoy alongside the hustle bustle. Stop by on a Saturday to catch some live music.

Located at the Fillmore Plaza at Cherry Creek North, 105 Fillmore St., Denver. cherrycreekholidaymarket.com/mistletoelounge.

Sippin’ Santa

Open now through various dates depending on location

As a tropical counterpart to the ever-popular Miracle pop-up, Sippin’ Santa has been delighting drinkers with a beach staycation since 2015. The pop-up takes over three bars in Colorado this year, each serving cocktails that are equal parts holiday and vacation. That includes the Surf Nut, a blend of Puerto Rican rum, coconut water, coconut cream and apricot brandy; the Merry Spritzmas, featuring prosecco, aperitif, port wine, cognac, falernum, lemon and bitters; and the namesake Sippin’ Santa with rum, lemon, orange and a gingerbread mix.

Located at Allusion Speakeasy (323 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs) Ay Papi (248 Detroit St., Denver), and Bernard’s Tiki Room at The Arvada Tavern (5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada). sippinsantapopup.com.

Sleigh Bar

Open now through Dec. 24

Before you take part in McGregor Square’s seasonal offerings like ice skating and drag shows, stop by the Sleigh Bar at Milepost Zero to add some pep(ppermint) to your step. The pop-up bar returns with cheeky drinks like the Hot Co-Ho-Ho (vodka or whiskey mixed with Mexican hot chocolate) and the Yellow Snow (Smirnoff Ice with lemonade). On Mondays, all drinks are $2 off.

Located at Milepost Zero, 1601 19th St., Suite 150, Denver. mcgregorsquare.com/events/sleigh-bar.

Snowdrift

Open now through Dec. 30

Physically in Denver, mentally on a warm Caribbean island. That’s the energy at Snowdrift, which takes over Adrift tiki bar with an abundance of decor and specialty eats and drinks. Adrift is known for its sharable punch bowl cocktails and this season’s festive flavor is the Ho Co-Co Gingerbread Nog, a mix of multiple rums, raspberry liqueur, coconut cream, gingerbread syrup, lemon juice and spices. Bring two to three of your best buds to share it with.

Located at Adrift, 218 S Broadway, Denver. adriftbar.com.

Tinseltown: The Christmas Speakeasy

Open now through Dec. 30

Expect cocktails and carols when you slip into Tinseltown, billed as a Christmas speakeasy because it’s hidden on the third floor of a building near the 16th Street Mall. Tickets ($15) are required for entry to this 90-minute holiday experience. Rumor has it Santa’s elves will be there for photo ops.

Located at The Venue at Denver Pavilions, 500 16th St., Suite 320, Denver. viralventuresusa.ticketspice.com/tinsel-town-denver.

Bonus one for the kids: Santa’s Little Man Factory

Open now through Dec. 31

So you can’t find a babysitter for the kiddos? No sweat. The holiday pop-up Santa’s Little Man Ice Cream Factory trades 21+ cocktails for family-friendly treats and entertainment, including ice cream-making classes, cookie decorating and gingerbread houses. All that plus an indoor slide and appearances by the big man himself. Pair it with Little Man’s seasonal ice cream flavors like eggnog, gingersnap and candy cane for a buzz minus the booze.

Located at Little Man Ice Cream Factory, 4411 W. Colfax Ave., Denver. littlemanicecreamfactory.com.

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