Let’s get this out of the way: 5280 loves covering all things spirits, from Colorado’s craft brewing scene to Denver’s best bars and recipes on mixing up our favorite cocktails around town. All of that imbibing means that we appreciate it when bartenders come up with new ways to surprise us.

Take, for instance, the increasing number of low-alcohol drinks we’ve spotted on menus, like Root Down’s Grand Torino, a mix of vermouth, Grand Marnier, grapefruit, lime, bitters, and rosemary that rings in at only 8.9 percent ABV. (For comparison, a glass of wine weighs in around 12 percent ABV and cocktails tend to be more potent than vino.) Or Oak at Fourteenth’s Eater Does It (Aperol, Grand Marnier, honey syrup, Kila Cava, and house made bitters). We liked Oak at Fourteenth’s low-alcohol blend so much, we asked mixologist Alexandra Parks to teach us how to recreate it at home:

Mix It: Oak at Fourteenth’s Eater Does It from 5280 on Vimeo.

Read more about Oak at Fourteenth in March’s “Best New Restaurants” story.

Bonus: Craft brewers are taking note and producing lower ABV brews, too. Expect to see plenty of sub-5 percent ABV styles released this year. Do you have any favorites? Tell us in the comments below.

THIS STORY WAS PART OF 5280’s 20 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

Additional comments do not enter you into the giveaway, which ended March 26, 2013.

Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner is a Denver-based writer and the former Articles Editor for 5280.