Welcome to Draft Culture. Last week, we ventured into Front Street, the premier cocktail bar of the Laramie drinking scene. This week, we take a step across the aisle to the historic Buckhorn, known affectionately as the best place to close out on a good bar crawl. The Buckhorn is the oldest bar in Laramie, filled with history and culture, from the bullet-hole in the mirror, to the wide variety of mounts and antiques on the wall, and the
iconic parlor, formerly a brothel until the 50s. Join me on my journey as I try a college-town
classic shot, marvel at historic atmospheres, and everything in between.
The first thing that hits you when you enter the buck is the business of the rustic western-style decor. The walls are lined with deer mounts, taxidermized trophies, and articles detailing the history of the age-old establishment. The bar top itself is a thick slab of carefully engraved and stained wood. The scenes depicted upon the top feature wildlife and nature at its finest, enhancing the Wyoming feel the Buckhorn possesses. The music, a steady stream of classic rock during the week, is calm and casual on most nights of the week; but the classic 2000s pop and club music we all know permeates this scene on the busy weekends. The
parlor and ground floor dancing alike are bustling and busy.
The Buckhorn is not a mixed drink bar or a classic cocktail experience. This bar is for bar crawls and shot seekers. Despite the historic atmosphere, I would consider it to be one of the primary party bars in Laramie, being featured during most bar-hopping trips. The shot I took on this outing was a Cherry-Bomb. Not exclusive to the Buckhorn, but a known classic of the college-aged community, it is nothing more than cherry liqueur and Redbull. The taste is not boozy but rather tastes like cherry-soda, making them a fun choice for anyone who is out to party. The back-bar features a variety of local whiskeys and liquors, also sporting a mango-jalapeno tequila and Devil’s Reserve Jose Cuervo, a rare find in a town like Laramie.
The bartender who greeted me was friendly and offered up a few stories about the bar’s history, encouraging me to talk to the manager and owner. With no menus or food, the Buckhorn serves as a social outing above all-else. It is not a bar where you go to hang out for hours on end having conversations. Despite having a pool table and a small seating area, the Buckhorn is a dance bar for weekend escapades, and it knows that. The rugged atmosphere combined with the fast-paced environment and the dual bar extending into the back floor welcome college students and residents of Laramie who have energy to burn and want an
exciting night.
Overall the Buckhorn is a good experience if you’re in the right mindset. While I wouldn’t recommend it for a casual night out on a Tuesday with friends, if you want a bar that is packed wall-to-wall on the weekend, with fast-paced service and plenty of shot options. Above all else, the Buckhorn is historic, and offers a classic Wyoming experience. As a send off, I encourage all of you once again to drink safe, have fun, and stay
classy.
