TIPSY TOUR LAS VEGAS
From a ‘world renowned’ breakfast martini, to a watermelon shooter out of a cucumber, to a bacon-infused cocktail, to some tipsiness with the best views of the Las Vegas strip, I’d say I had myself a successful tipsy tour around Sin City!
Let’s start by saying that this was definitely not my typical Vegas experience…No pools, no clubs, no cranberry vodka’s…
The ONLY similarity is that I started drinking at 11AM and didn’t stop until the wee hours of the following morning.
Specialty & artisanal cocktails, mixology, fresh ingredients, & infusions were what THIS Vegas trip was all about.
BOUND at the The Cromwell, CLIQUE Bar & Lounge at The Cosmopolitan, 3535 at The LINQ Hotel & Casino, MR. CHOW at Caesar’s Palace, & Mandarin Cocktail Bar at the Mandarin Oriental were all the stops.
Cheers!
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First Stop: BOUND at The Cromwell
Talk about a classy joint. BOUND is The Cromwell’s elegant lobby bar. It brings a whole new meaning to the lobby bar experience.
Famed mixologist, Salvatore Calabrese, one of the world’s most respected bartenders, is behind the cocktail menu. Salvatore worked in Italy, had his own bar in London, and is known for his signature martini cocktail.
With the wide variety of Salvatore’s signature cocktails, you will 100% find the flavors to fit your liking.
Our first cocktail of the day was the ‘Spicy Fifty.’ This cocktail combines the best of sweet & sour in a delicate manner.
Next up, the world famous ‘Breakfast Martini.’ This gin-based cocktail is mixed with the ‘finest orange marmalade’ to indulge your palette with ‘the perfect way to start your day.’ A little bit of breakfast and a little bit of boozy.
Since I skipped out on the coffee, I decide to indulge in one of Salvatore’s exclusive-to-Cromwell espresso cocktails. He produces uniquely flavored coffees with which he creates these special espresso cocktails.
The ‘Madame Moka‘ cocktail hit the spot. Made with champagne-flavored espresso, Hennessy V.S.O.P Cognac, Disaronno, Sugar Syrup, & Spices, this cocktail is just one of five of his espresso cocktails that are a part of his ‘Vegas Never Sleeps’ menu.
The ‘Cromwell Fizz‘ is one of Salvatore’s champagne cocktails, and another favorite! More on the citrus-side of things, made with The Macallan 10 Year Old Fine Oak Whisky, Fresh Lemon Juice, Orange Bitters, Egg Whites, Honey Syrup, & Moet & Chandon Imperial Champagne.
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2nd Stop: CLIQUE Bar & Lounge at The Cosmopolitan
After 4 cocktails at BOUND, I headed over to CLIQUE Bar & Lounge, in the heart of The Cosmopolitan on the casino floor.
Another top-notch tipsy experience!
From their table-side mixology, to the uniqueness of their cocktails, to the array of shooters, bubbles, & aperitifs, you will not be disappointed…it’s just not possible.
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SO – This is me, ready to continue the tipsyness…
This was my table-side mixologist for the afternoon, mixing up anything I wanted…
Talk about service.
I started off my tipsyness at CLIQUE with the ‘Don Sandia‘ Shooter – made with Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Watermelon, Lime, & Tajin, all inside a cucumber. Love love loved it, and so so good!
Next up, and per the recommendation of my table-side mixologist, the ‘Dr. Cel-Ray Pepper‘ cocktail, made with 50 Bleu Vodka, Celery-Peppercorn Shrub, Cucumber, Lemon, Seltzer, & Celery Bitters.
Refreshing refreshing refreshing! – and one of my favorite cocktails from the day!
Another unique cocktail, the ‘Luck Be A Lady,’ made with Kappa Pisco, Apricot, Citrus, Egg Whites, & Peychaud’s Bitters.
Check this one out! The ‘Bow Street Banana‘ (their version of the Smokey Monkey Cocktail). Made with Banana-Infused Jameson Caskmates Irish Whiskey, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, & Chocolate Bitters, served with a slice of Bruléed Banana.
The process of making this cocktail was very entertaining to watch. I felt so undeserving. However, as a part of their ‘Tableside Mixology,’ whenever ordering this baby, you’ll get to watch it all go down!
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3rd Stop: 3535 at The LINQ Hotel & Casino
After the uniqueness of my first two stops; this next venue was right up there too.
3535 is Las Vegas’ ONLY infusion bar, with 35 custom-made infusions, used to make the most unique cocktails on the strip.
Never-before-tasted flavors, various sizes, cocktail flights, & you can even customize your own bottle service.
This spot is seriously a MUST-TRY! The flavors in each of the cocktails that I had were through the roof!
First up, the ‘Wat-A-Pear,‘ made with Watermelon & Rosemary-Infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka, St. Germain Liqueur, & Fresh Watermelon Juice.
The ‘Chai Peanut Butter Cup‘ cocktail, made with chai tea, vanilla bean-infused Ketel One Vodka, RumChata, & Peanut Butter.
So savory and not too sweet, as you might normally get from a peanut butter flavored cocktail. It was perfect.
This next infusion was one of my favorites, and truly unique. The ‘Pig Newton,’ was made with ancho & bacon-infused Jim Beam Bourbon, fig-infused Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Sweet Vermouth, & orange bitters.
Anything with bacon is amazing, and then add that same flavor to a cocktail. Dead. I wanted five of these babies.
I went a little crazy on the cocktails at 3535, so these are some of the other cuplrits that added to my day of tipsiness.
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4th Stop: MR. CHOW at Caesars Palace
What a spot!
Entering through a set of private elevators, it doesn’t feel like you’re in Vegas anymore.
Opened in 2015 in Caesars Palace, this luxurious Beijing cuisine eatery is known for its keen sense of style and design, modern & classic décor, which was felt 100%
In addition to it’s world-class cuisine, MR. CHOW features a selection of champagne and specialty cocktails made with the freshest ingredients.
Additionally, the infamous MR. CHOW champagne trolley is ever-present. Specific to this Las Vegas location, guests are greeted with a unique champagne arrival experience from their first moments in the doors.
My first cocktail at MR. CHOW was the ‘Jalisco Cocktail,’ made with Patrón Roca Anejo Tequila, Passion Fruit Purée, & Chili Pepper.
Very sweet with a touch of spice!
Next up was ‘The Tribeca,‘ made with Fresh Peach & Pineapple, topped with MOET & CHANDON Champagne.
This reminded me of a very very flavorful mimosa!
My last cocktail, which I clearly started drinking before I got a good photo (#TipsyFail), was the ‘Red 22 & Collins,’ made with Fresh Strawberries, Aperol, & Pink Grapefruit Juice.
A little bit of sweet mixed in with some bitterness, provided the perfect flavorful balance.
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5th Stop: Mandarin Bar at Mandarin Oriental
My LAST stop of this amazing-thus-far experience was the perfect ending to an overly tipsy day.
Up on the 23rd floor of Mandarin Oriental sits Mandarin Bar, a small enclave that provides some of THE-BEST views of the Las Vegas strip.
With floor-to-ceiling windows, TIPSY WITH A VIEW was in full effect.
Mandarin Bar’s mixologist & team hand craft fresh original cocktails with a local and Asian twist, according to the flavor & sensation of your preference.
My first drink above the Las Vegas strip was the ‘Cucumber & Cilantro Margarita.’ A fresh spin on the margarita, this vibrant cocktail is made with Casamigos Reposado, cilantro, cucumber, agave, nectar, fresh lime juice, and a dash of egg-whites.
Next up was ‘The Golden Leaf Martini’ created specifically for Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. Another vibrant beauty, this cocktail is made with Hendrick’s Gin, Aperol, muddled mandarin oranges, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and house-made simple syrup.
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Well, that was it.
5 venues, 19 unique & fresh cocktails, 24 hours, and an amazing tipsy experience in Sin City.
All of that should not be allowed in a 24-hour period, because, well, now what?!
Until next time…
Cheers!
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