Poisoned By Me: Denver’s Newest Haunt on East Colfax

Denver’s queer bar scene has a fresh, darkly alluring addition: Poisoned By Me, a newly acquired establishment. Owner Kat Mora Vega, a seasoned bar industry veteran, is breathing new life into the space, promising a blend of craft cocktails, community, and a touch of the macabre—without any of the drama that was attached to the space before. 

“I’ve been in the bar industry for over 10 years,” Vega explains passionately. “I don’t like to say the exact year because I’m like, Prince; I don’t need to tell my age, but I’ve been a bar lead and bar managing for a few years now, and moving on in other people’s bars, there’s only so much more space for you to grow in this industry. So I was like, I should be my own boss and start working for myself rather than working for somebody else.”

Vega’s journey to Denver was a winding one, spanning from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Texas. However, the unique building layouts and vibrant community in Denver drew her back. “I decided to broaden my search because I remembered that Denver has basement space, so you kind of get two buildings in one,” she says. “ And I really want the cocktails to be the star of the bar.” 

While the bar has a history as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community, Vega technically isn’t part of the community. emphasizes her role as an ally. “It’s a happy accident that happened. And I like to consider myself an ally in the community, because I have family members that are part of the queer community, and so didn’t want to take the space away from anybody in the area,” she states. In addition to being a Latinx woman and an ally, Vega also mentions that the bar is family-run. She works with her brother, and once her mother moves to Denver, she is hoping to add food offerings to the menu. 

When Vega first took over the space, formerly Blush & Blu, then Cocks on Colfax, the community was up in arms, assuming that this space had some sort of connection to previous owner Jodey Bouffard, whom the community has accused of creating a hostile and unsafe space with bars. However, Vega insists she has no connection at all to Bouffard and purchased the property from Texas through a listing agent, having no idea of the local stigma attached to the space. Her business is registered under Belladonna Group LLC, and Vega alleges the location registration is in the works.  

Poisoned By Me is set to continue its legacy as a welcoming space with a mix of familiar and new events. “What we have right now is the open mic on Wednesdays, and then we have karaoke on Thursdays and Saturdays,” Vega details. “I would love to get a DJ in here on Fridays and do a Sunday Day party. For Fridays, since this was originally one of the last lesbian bars in the United States. I was thinking about doing a ladies night so that the lesbian community still has the space to call their home.”

The bar’s name and aesthetic reflect Vega’s fascination with the darker side of history and mixology. “I decided to call it Poisoned By Me because cocktails are poisonous,” she explains with a playful grin. “Herbs and flowers are beautiful, but when used correctly, they can also be a little bit poisonous. I like the dark, macabre stories and there was a lady in Italy in the 1600s, and women would go to her so she could help poison their husbands, who at that time (because of all the arranged marriage and lack of women’s autonomy) were basically their abusers. I feel like she saved the lives of a lot of women. I’m going to get a portrait of her and put it behind the bar to make her the madame of Poisoned By Me.” 

Beyond the captivating backstory, Vega is committed to delivering exceptional drinks. “I like to infuse,” she says, emphasizing her dedication to craft. “About 90% of our syrups are going to be made in-house. I like to infuse alcohol for the cocktails as well. So we’re going to have some infusions coming in here, and hopefully the rest of the staff will be able to start creating as well. 

She’s also focused on creating an inclusive atmosphere, including offering creative mocktails. “Just because you can’t have alcohol or don’t want alcohol doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a good mocktail,” she affirms. “So some of the distributors I’m partnering up with, they have good NA options as well.”

As for the future, Vega is keeping some surprises under wraps. “I do want to decorate, but I want it to be a surprise, though, because I want people to walk in and be like, Oh, OK,” she teases. “I’m also bringing a new concept to Denver. I’m keeping it a secret because once we do that, other bars are going to kind of want to jump in on it, so we want to be the first ones to do it, and it’ll involve the staff. It’ll be like an experience that people can come to for date nights, bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday parties, or if you just want a fun night out with some friends.” 

Vega is also keen to address any concerns from the community regarding the bar’s previous ownership. “I would like to extend my condolences to anybody who was hurt by the previous owner, but I do want to make the energy better here because it is under new ownership,” she says. “I have an open door policy, and I’m here every day that we are open. So if anybody would like to come talk to me, or would like to vent or just come check out the space, they’re more than welcome to.” 

So if you’ve been longing for another spot for community and connection, check out this latest addition to the world of craft cocktails and queer inclusion in Denver.