“The goal was always to end up in Las Vegas one day,” says Shannon Stiggins, who moved to town in December. “I just kind of showed up, reached to my contacts and it worked out.”
Stiggins is currently the lead bartender at Spritz Restaurant & Bar at The Venetian. But she didn’t get to her current position at the newly opened outdoor, poolside eatery without some serious clout to back her up.
The New York native has been at the helm of and helped launch more than a dozen bar programs in places like Manhattan, Chicago and Palm Springs, Calif. She has competed in some of the most-recognized bartending competitions in the country, including as a finalist in both Bombay Sapphire’s Most-Imaginative Bartender and Diageo World Class Northeast Regional. Even after more than a dozen years in the industry, and repeatedly being offered management positions, Stiggins still prefers to be behind the bar working her craft.
“I really do still enjoy making the drinks,” she says. “There’s something fun and exhilarating about making cocktails for people. Working and being in the weeds in the service well, it’s fun.”
Besides mixing and creating cocktails, Stiggins’ favorite part of bartending has always been about the people she serves. “I like meeting new people,” she says. “And Vegas is fun because every person you interact with is going to be a new person. I like having people smile when they drink your drink. … Whether I’m talking to someone that I’ve known for 10 years or someone that I’ve known for 10 minutes, I’m making them feel comfortable and I’m able to connect with them quickly.”
Reflecting on her long, successful career, Stiggins says no matter what the future holds, she sees herself in the industry for the long haul. “There’s always passion behind what I do,” she says. “And bartending has always been a passion. I give it 100 percent.”
Libation: Spicy Flamingo
“Spritz is poolside so it has that beachy, St. Tropez style,” Stiggins says. So the cocktail program includes many frozen, refreshing and tropical recipes. For something cool with a slight bite, the Spicy Flamingo is perfect. It’s mixed with Espolòn tequila, fresh lime juice, house-made agave syrup, fresh watermelon juice and a sprinkle of Tajín spice. “It’s a variation on a Tommy’s Margarita but we’ve added watermelon,” she says. “You get the spice but it doesn’t burn and the watermelon juice really cools the cocktail off.” –KM
Benefit: Ask for the piña colada (it’s not on the menu). It’s getting rave reviews as one of the best people have ever tasted.
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