Russell Prunty, bartender at the Gaudi Bar at off-Strip property Sunset Station, is a guy that truly loves his job. Some would say that’s a rare thing, but it’s true. You pick up on Prunty’s genuine charm the moment you meet him.
“I’ve been in this for quite a while, but I’m as fresh as a daisy because it’s a lot of fun,” said the Las Vegas native. “It’s a great industry. You meet people, meet customers from all over the world. It’s the best job I’ve ever had in my life.”
March Madness Martini
Before life as a bartender at Sunset Station (he joined the property when it first opened its doors 20 years ago), Prunty was a piece worker doing construction framing, then one day he and his brother were watching TV. “We were watching Cheers,” he said. “This is a true story. And I go ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be fun to be a bartender?’ It was that simple; it was that simple.”
March Madness Martini
Today, Prunty has created nearly 400 martini recipes, serving his creations at the Gaudi Bar. The bar has become a destination for those wanting to have unusual martinis, or better yet, a martini created right on the spot based on personal tastes. “I want you come up to me at my bar and say ‘Russell, I don’t know what I want.’ That’s exactly what I want to hear. If you give me a little information, I’m gonna give you a really good experience.” (Prunty isn’t exaggerating. This writer loves peanut butter cups—so, Prunty made a martini version of those with real peanut butter. And it was spot on!)
With Prunty, it’s rather simple—he loves bartending, he loves people, and he loves making martinis. “I’m a clown. I have a lot of fun,” he said. “Look, if you’re into what you’re doing, it’s always gonna be a blast.”
In honor of college hoops, Prunty has created new March Madness martinis, including one which will give you a little pucker power. That martini mixes Absolut, sweet and sour, strawberry purée and the juice of four fresh-pressed lemons. “It’s like a sour strawberry lemon drop,” said Prunty. Make sure to check out the delish drink, but don’t stop there, because Prunty can take you on an alcohol-fueled adventure. “At Gaudi Bar, it’s like going on a martini expedition,” he said. “The possibilities are endless.”
