Speakerboxx
A love for cocktails and a desire to drink in style are the only prerequisites for Club Privé and The Vault at Bellagio. Don’t be intimidated, though—plainly speaking, both lounges are just darn cool experiences.
Let’s start with Club Privé, Bellagio’s high-limit lounge. “Although Club Privé is home to Bellagio’s high-limit lounge, all guests are welcome to enjoy the elevated bar experience,” says Emily McDonald, director of beverage at Bellagio. “Guests can revel in our opulent bar, savor a glass of whiskey or sit back in Club Privé’s secluded lounge and relish the fine cigar selection.”
“The cigar program at Club Privé has an extensive list of offerings that range in the richness of cigars from light-bodied to more robust,” says Craig Schoettler, executive director of beverage at Bellagio. “Some of our top offerings include Montecristo, Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta. It’s truly a well-balanced list for every occasion. If guests come before dinner, we’d recommend a lighter-bodied style such as the Montecristo No. 2. If guests come post-dinner and are looking to wind down in one of the most luxurious spaces, I would introduce them to our robusto cigars and pair it with a nice glass of Scotch.”
Club Privé is a beautiful place to hang out and enjoy one of its specialty cocktails or a fine whiskey pulled from its rich whiskey program. The décor is lush with stunning chandeliers, and the seating is plush and plentiful. Order the apricot-forward Hotel Nacional cocktail with white rum, apricot brandy, simple syrup, pineapple and lime. Fans of lemon should try the Speakerboxx with tequila blanco, Small Hand Foods gum syrup, dry vermouth, Lo-Fi Gentian amaro, soda and fresh lemon juice.
Club Privé
We’ll tell you a secret, too: Across from the entrance to Club Privé, look to the right and you’ll see gaming tables and an alcove with a door and a small placard with a “V” on it. This is The Vault, a true speakeasy with one of the most impressive cocktail programs in the city. (Another revealed secret: search Instagram for The Vault and how to gain access).
“The Vault at Bellagio is its own little oasis within Las Vegas,” Schoettler says. “Guests can experience high-quality cocktails and bites while tucked away in one of the most beautiful spaces. The Vault carries unique spirits from a historical moment in time. We created an experience where guests can enjoy inspirational and experimental cocktails using spirits sourced from throughout the 20th century. Once the spirit is gone, it’s gone forever. … An extensive amount of research and education has gone into creating The Vault’s beverage program to present a best-in-class cocktail destination. Our mixologists have gone through an extraordinary amount of training to learn more about vintage spirits, been given the tools and guidance to craft bespoke cocktails, and, of course, mastered The Vault’s famed signature cocktails.”
Two of those signature cocktails include the Rose Romance with Stoli Elit vodka, St-Germain, Billecart-Salmon brut rose, dragon fruit purée, simple syrup and lemon juice (serves two), and the Vapor Trail, a smoked cocktail with Japanese whiskey, smoked demerara and Angostura bitters.
Rose Romance
Perusing The Vault’s menu, you’ll find cocktails labeled “MP” for “market price.” Yes, these cocktails are pricey but are always an experience and use some of the rarest, most special spirits. “We label vintage cocktails as market price because we are sourcing our spirits from former years,” Schoettler says. “Once a spirit is gone, we find another product from history. For example, we could serve Bacardi from the ’30s this week, then the next could be Bacardi from the ’40s or ’60s.”
Bellagio. 702.693.7111. Club Privé and The Vault
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