If you’re looking for an evening of drinking and merriment, let us point you in the direction of SAHARA Las Vegas and to its über-cool CASBAR Lounge. This lounge is a true destination for some of the best craft cocktails, a beautifully designed space with tons of room to relax and live music every evening.
Tim Rita, director of beverage, recently released a brand new menu of signature cocktails, and he shared with us some of his favorites, starting with the 9th Island Mojito. This cocktail, an ode to his home state of Hawaii, is served on draft and made with Kuleana Huihui rum. Rita loves the brand for its use of homegrown Hawaiian sugar cane, which gives the classic mojito cocktail a bump up in flavor. It’s then mixed with the standard ingredients—sugar, lime, mint and club soda. “Vegas being the 9th island, it just made sense,” Rita said.
For those that like the classic Pornstar cocktail, Rita created a PG version, The Starlet, and then upped the ante in flavor and ingredients, resulting in one of the lounge’s most delicious cocktails. The base is Weber Ranch vodka, a brand that takes distilled tequila and distills the spirit again, turning it into vodka. “It pulls a lot of character into the vodka,” Rita said. The vodka is then mixed with Passoa passion fruit liqueur, lime, Madagascar vanilla and served with a glass of KÚ sparkling wine, which you pour into the cocktail.
Rita also took the classic Gold Rush cocktail and twisted the version into the Cali Gold Rush cocktail. The twist is the addition of Argonaut Saloon Strength brandy added to Horse Soldier bourbon and, for a lovely kick to the taste buds, a mango honey syrup and lemon.
For some fun with your cocktail, check out the What’s Your Fancy section of the menu. You’ll be able to choose from two cocktails: the Agave Club, a tequila-based delight; or the Casbar Sour with whiskey. Both cocktails are topped with an egg white foam, and the fun part is a machine the bar uses to stamp pictures on the cocktail that you get to choose from a library of images. You even get the chance to upload one of your own photos to the machine for a real personalized touch.
CASBAR Lounge also offers some only-in-Vegas drinking experiences with its own line of tequila and whiskey. The property purchased a few of its own barrels, and now guests can try the specialty line of Rare Character Presents single barrel series straight bourbon whiskey and the Paladar single barrel 100% reposado. Rita said they’re also expecting their own bottles of Maker’s Mark in October, so be sure to make a return visit.
“The environment is fun, you get the pace of the casino, you have live music and DJs and these fun, playful craft cocktails that are delicious,” Rita said. What more could you want in a night of revelry? –Kiko Miyasato
Tips/Insider Knowledge
• Don’t miss the two daily happy hours from 3-5 p.m. and 8-9 p.m. The specials include 50% off draft cocktails, buy-one-get-one free beers and $5 select shots of spirits like Howler Head bourbon, El Tequileño tequila and Spur vodka.
• Enjoy live music every night starting at 9 p.m., with a rotating lineup of local DJs. Every Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m., enjoy live bands and singers. Admission is always free.
• For a snack, don’t miss the yummy specialty popcorn in flavors like salt & vinegar, buffalo ranch and caramel almond.
• Champagne, red and white wines can be ordered by the glass and bottle, and beer on draft and bottles include stand-out selections like Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Maui Brewing Co. Big Swell IPA, Firestone Walker 805, Montucky Cold Snacks and Guinness.
SAHARA Las Vegas. 702.761.7000. saharalasvegas.com
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