Whether you go for the burnt ends or the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, Sauced BBQ & Spirits is upping Livermore’s cool quotient.

Brendan Scanlan and Barrett Gomes freely admit it: “We had no clue what we were doing” before opening Sauced BBQ & Spirits in Livermore. But between the live music every weekend and their own line of whiskeys and sauces to pair with house-smoked barbecue, it’s safe to say these first-time restaurateurs have found the recipe for success Sauced has not only drawn crowds since opening in 2012 but also injected a much-needed shot of energy into the once quiet end of downtown Livermore. Not bad for a couple of first-timers. 2300 First St., Ste. 120, Livermore