El Perro Negro, a new cocktail bar dedicated to agave spirits, is slated to open this fall in Breckenridge at 216 South Main Street, Unit #1. Liquor licensing records show the business has received its license, making a big step towards opening its doors.
The project comes from owner Joe Vandal and partners Scott and Sarah Howard, who share a love for Mexico and cocktails. Vandal, a self-described “Agave Nerd,” has nearly 20 years of experience running agave bars and building cocktail programs. The Howards bring business experience from Denver.
Their 1,100-square-foot basement venue will focus on rare tequilas, mezcals, and other Mexican spirits, paired with high-technique cocktails and a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Private-batch selections from producers like Vago, Macurichos, Real Minero, Volans, Cascahuin, and Arette will anchor the program. Food offerings will be limited to snacks.
Permits are in motion and construction is in progress. The plan is to host a few soft-opening evenings for friends, then roll into a grand opening shortly after, tentatively in October. Vandal said that hiring is ongoing, and job postings online show the business is looking for bartenders and servers.
“Our goal is to bring our favorite bars from Guadalajara and Oaxaca to Breckenridge—the culture, the agave, the food, and the music. When you walk through El Perro Negro’s doors, you’re our amigo, part of the pack. Expect high-brow cocktails with a low-brow attitude, every bottle hand-selected to share the distiller’s vision and heart. We want to be the kind of place where you feel so comfortable you lose track of time, while having the time of your life,” Vandal told What Now Denver.
