Denver’s whiskey story is best on foot.

This 3-hour tour mixes tutored tastings with Denver history, so you’re not just hopping bars—you’re learning why the Mile High City became a whiskey stop. I love the small-group feel, and I like that you get guided sampling at every location, not random sips. One thing to plan for: you’ll walk about 1.5 miles, so wear comfy shoes and expect city sidewalks, not slow scenic strolling.

You meet up at Nallen’s Irish Pub at 3:00 pm, then work your way through a distillery-minded downtown route that ends at Mile High Spirits. Your guide—often Will, known as Whiskey Dick—keeps the pace relaxed, answers questions, and ties the pours to the people who shaped Denver’s alcohol history, from early whiskey dealers to old-West characters.

Quick take: what makes this tour worth your afternoon

• Four stops of strong variety: Irish whiskey, then big-aisle tasting options, then a distillery finish
• A guide who tells the story with humor (including Denver history beats you can actually picture)
• A distilling behind-the-scenes ending at Mile High Spirits, not just another bar
• Small group (max 10), which usually means more time to ask questions and compare notes
• All tastes included (plus soup, an Old Fashioned-style cocktail, and a whiskey flight)

What $99 buys you in Denver whiskey terms

For $99, you’re paying for three things: guided history, coordinated tastings, and a distillery-style experience at the end. The key value is that sampling is built into the route. You’re not hunting menus, paying separately for flights, or guessing whether your tastes match what a bar happens to pour that day.

The tour also includes all fees and taxes, and it’s designed as a short walking afternoon. That matters in Denver, where distillery/whiskey spots can be spread out. Doing it as a guided route saves time and keeps the story connected stop to stop.

If you like whiskey but also like the why—how it’s made, how it’s marketed, and how Denver became a real player here—this price starts to feel fair fast. If you only want casual drinks with no learning component, you might feel like you’re paying a bit for the structured format.

The 3-hour walking format (and why the route keeps moving)

This is a walking tour, paced for a 3-hour window with breaks inside the venues. The route is manageable for most people, but the tour asks you to be okay walking about 1.5 miles total. That’s not a marathon. Still, it’s enough distance that comfortable shoes beat cute shoes.

You also get a practical rhythm: you start at Nallen’s Irish Pub, then move through Denver’s whiskey and cocktail scene, and you finish with a distillery operation tour and tasting at Mile High Spirits. The walk is part of the fun because it ties neighborhoods together, rather than treating each stop like a separate ride-share mission.

Pro tip: bring water into the schedule mentally. You’re tasting more than one pour, and the day will feel better if you stay hydrated between stops.

Stop 1: Nallen’s Irish Pub and whiskey history that starts with Ireland

Your tour starts at Nallen’s Irish Pub on Market Street. Nallen’s is described as Denver’s only true Irish pub and also the oldest—so it sets the tone right away. This first stop is where the tour leans into origin stories: Irish whiskey history, and how the style became what it is.

You’ll get Irish whiskey tastings here, guided so you’re not just grabbing whatever looks interesting. The point is to understand what you’re tasting and why it fits into the larger whiskey family tree.

What I like about starting here is the grounding effect. By the time you reach later stops, you can compare flavors with context. You’ll notice differences more clearly, instead of treating every pour like a new mystery.

Stop 2: Dairy Block and Seven Grand tastings in a whiskey-forward setting

Next you head to the Dairy Block area, with Seven Grand as the tasting anchor. Seven Grand is known for having an enormous selection—over 750 types of bourbon, scotch, and whiskey—so this stop could easily turn into choice overload.

That’s where the tour structure helps. You don’t try everything. You sample a select few as you move along, with your guide helping you match pours to the history and styles you’re learning.

This stop also has a nice practical benefit: it gives your palate a broad “middle chapter” between Irish origins and a distillery behind-the-scenes ending. If you’re the type who likes to compare by region (or by production approach), this is the stop where you’ll likely start building a personal ranking of what you like best.

Potential drawback: if you’re the kind of person who hates tasting in guided groups, this stop can feel like it’s happening quickly. The payoff is that it keeps the whole tour moving and makes sure you’re not stuck deciding what to order while everyone else passes time.

Stop 3: Mile High Spirits for a behind-the-scenes distillery moment

The final stop is Mile High Spirits at 2201 Lawrence St, where the tour shifts from history-and-tasting to hands-on distilling context. This is more than a bar stop. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the operation and learn about the distilling process while sampling the products.

Ending at a distillery is smart because it answers a question many people have after learning about whiskey types: so how does it actually become whiskey? You’ll get that link between the story and the process, which is one reason this tour earns such high marks.

I also like that you’re not rushing out at the end. The distillery visit is the “close the loop” finale—history earlier, mechanics now, then sampling to confirm what you learned.

The tasting lineup: soup, an Old Fashioned, and a whiskey flight finale

This tour includes a set sample menu, and it’s built around classic whiskey-adjacent comfort.

• Starter: soup of the day with Irish whiskey
• Main: an Old Fashioned (the original cocktail)
• Dessert: a whiskey flight, either a set of three or you can create your own

That flight portion is a big deal for value. Sampling is the core of the experience, but giving you control over what you taste makes the tour feel more personal. If you tend to prefer bourbon over scotch—or the reverse—you can steer the ending instead of ending up with three pours you don’t want.

If you’re traveling as a couple or with friends, this is also where you’ll likely compare notes and settle little debates like which style fits your day best. And because the tour includes all tastes and samples, you won’t have to do that budgeting math mid-afternoon.

Your guide matters: why Will/Whiskey Dick is a highlight

A common thread in the experience is the guide’s storytelling style. You’ll likely hear the tour associated with Will, nicknamed Whiskey Dick. His role isn’t just to pour drinks. He ties Denver’s past to whiskey culture with a mix of humor and concrete details.

It helps that the information comes with visuals and room for questions. That matters because whiskey is sensory. You need some guidance to translate flavor into something you can remember later.

This isn’t the kind of tour where you pass buildings and get a tired script. The best part is how the guide makes the history feel like part of the city you’re walking through—outlaws and whiskey dealers, plus small details that help you see downtown Denver differently.

Where this tour fits best (and who should skip it)

This is a great match if:

• you like whiskey and cocktails and want a guided tasting format
• you enjoy history that connects to real places, not just dates
• you want a short 3-hour activity that doesn’t require planning a bar-hopping night yourself

You might want to choose something else if:

• you don’t want to walk around downtown at all (about 1.5 miles is part of the deal)
• you only want a drink and don’t care about learning how the styles connect or how distilling works
• you’re extremely sensitive to alcohol flavors or strong spirits (this is a tasting tour by design)

If you’re doing a first visit to Denver, this tour also works well as an orientation experience. You’ll pick up restaurant and bar pointers along the way, and you’ll know where to go next because you’ve already seen the neighborhood rhythm on foot.

Practical tips so you enjoy the full tasting without stress

A few simple moves can make the day smoother:

• Wear shoes made for sidewalks. You’ll do about 1.5 miles total walking.
• Plan your transport like it’s a bar day. This is an afternoon with tastings; don’t make your life harder by relying on careful driving.
• Come hungry-ish, not starving. There’s a starter soup, a cocktail-style main, and a flight, but lunch isn’t included. You’ll likely want a light snack either before or after.
• Take notes on what you like. Whiskey can blur together fast. A quick jot after each stop helps you remember your favorites.

If it rains, don’t panic. You might get a poncho-style assist from the guide, and the tour is built to keep things moving even when the sky misbehaves.

Is this tour worth booking? (My honest call)

Yes—if you want a Denver afternoon that mixes tutored tastings with real local story. The strong points are clear: small group size, multiple tasting stops with variety, and an ending that connects history to the distilling process at Mile High Spirits.

At $99, it’s not a budget-only activity, but the inclusion of all samples, plus the structured flight and the distillery experience, makes it feel like a fair use of time for a whiskey-focused traveler.

Book it if:

• you want to learn while you taste
• you like walking downtown and moving between real venues
• you want a guided route that doesn’t require you to research three different places on your own

Skip it if:

• you’re not into tastings or you hate alcohol-heavy experiences
• you need a fully seated, zero-walking schedule

FAQ

How long is the 3 Hour Whiskey and History Tour?

It runs about 3 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $99.00 per person.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Nallen’s Irish Pub, 1429 Market St, Denver, CO 80202, and ends at Mile High Spirits, 2201 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80205.

How much walking is involved?

The tour indicates most participants can handle walking about 1.5 miles.

What tastings are included?

The tour includes all tastes and samples. You’ll have Irish whiskey tastings at the first stop, tastings at the Seven Grand stop, and a distillery-style sampling at Mile High Spirits.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but there are places to grab snacks along the way.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers, and it’s described as a small group walking tour.

What happens if weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. The tour can also be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn’t met, with a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Free cancellation is available if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.