Fanny's Fuzz Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Atomic Saloon Show at The Grand Canal Shoppes pushes the boundaries in an evening filled with cheeky naughtiness, slapstick comedy and unabashed pure talent. The production has singing cowboys, nuns, acrobats, dancers and more led by Atomic Saloon proprietress Boozy Skunkton. The Wild West-themed saloon-meets-speakeasy-meets-cabaret is a labyrinth of décor surprises; the venue holds just as much character as the performers you’ll see onstage. Besides the unique talents, what really sets this production show apart from others in Las Vegas is its specially crafted cocktail program, created by beverage director Rustyn Vaughn Lee, and three bars in which to showcase the liquid creations.
Before the show, take some time to visit the intimate Traveler Bar, or the more expansive and center-of-the-action Watering Hole bar and try one of the specialty cocktails, like Lee’s favorite pick, the Japanese Barfight. Mixed with gin, sake, yuzu juice, Sakura cherry blossom liqueur and miso, this cocktail is a depth of well-balanced flavors. “People don’t normally think of miso going into a delicious syrup. More into a savory soup,” Lee says. “But this has more of that umami flavor. It’s a pretty cool cocktail, the ingredients, the miso, it’s just really, really cool and tasty.”
Japanese Barfight Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Another fan favorite is sweet-meets-spiced Where There’s Smoke, a blend of tequila, peach, lime and a chipotle and cinnamon syrup. All syrups are specially made in-house, and fruit juices are freshly squeezed every day. “A lot of the cocktail program that I created for Atomic is building fresh flavors into our syrups,” says Lee. “We try to get drinks into hands of people really fast—that’s our style of service—but we don’t sacrifice flavors and experience.”
And for an over-the-top spirits experience, the impressive towers, a huge vessel for the cocktail, can serve four to six people. A popular pick, named after the show’s host, the Boozy Bramble is a whiskey-based delight, kind of like a modified whiskey sour, mixed with blackberry liqueur, fresh-squeezed lemons, bitters and falernum. If you want to go slightly smaller, try one of the cool-looking flask cocktails. Guests get the cocktail delivered in a glass flask so they can pour a second round themselves. For a peachy-tasting blend, try the Fanny’s Fuzz, a blend of Belvedere vodka, fresh lemon juice, peach liqueur and a housemade syrup that’s an interesting blend of tarragon, green tea and matcha.
Where There’s Smoke Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Lee also paid special attention to building an impressive beer (you’ll find local favorites) and wine list, as well as champagnes; head upstairs from the main floor to the petite Robin’s Nest bar to peruse a menu of the offerings. “It’s a high-level champagne list,” Lee says. “A half-bottle champagne list that’s real special to Las Vegas, and some great beers and wines—just some really nerdy, cool stuff. (It) was a lot of fun building this program; a lot of inspiration for the drinks were taken from the show. No one has this type of cocktail program within a production show.”
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