As far as his career, Sam Pulliam got exactly what he was hoping for. From his days studying business management at Bradley University in Illinois to bartending at nightclubs and sports bars in his college town, Pulliam always knew he wanted to work in the hospitality industry, specifically food and beverage. And today, he is—as the beverage director for Circa and Golden Gate hotels in downtown Las Vegas.
“Something about hospitality, the bar industry, always appealed to me—to be a part of a place where people like to have fun,” says the Missouri native, who grew up in Chicago.
After leaving Illinois, Pulliam and his wife made a brief move to Denver, and eventually set their sights on Las Vegas, moving to town in 2015. “Vegas is the hospitality mecca of the world, and that’s always been my passion, so I knew I had to come here,” he says.
Four months after moving here, he landed a beverage manager position at Golden Gate and sister property The D; he also oversaw the beverage program for Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, also in the company’s portfolio. When Circa was built, Pulliam joined the new property and was promoted to his current title in June.
It’s his responsibility to help create the beverage programs and oversee the bars at Circa and Golden Gate. “But I also love being with the staff,” he says. “That’s the biggest part of it. Motivating the crew and being a good sounding board for everybody and just keeping everybody energetic and happy to be here.”
And what makes Pulliam happy, besides his job? Wailing on his electric guitar (he plays a mean Van Halen’s “Eruption”) and playing chef (he makes a mean gumbo and jambalaya).
But much of Pulliam’s happiness does lie in his career, he notes. “I’m kind of awestruck sometimes because it all kind of happened relatively quickly. This is what I’ve always aspired to be from day one.”
Libation: Boulevardier
Stop into Golden Gate’s Bar Prohibition!, where the cocktail menu “stays true to the classics, but with our own twist,” says Pulliam. “The bar also has a neighborhood-bar feel, where the staff is just welcoming and friendly. You can sit at the bar for hours and time just slips away.” While there, try the Boulevardier, a specialty cocktail mixed with Knob Creek bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. “It’s bolder than a Negroni. It’s a little bit bitter, a little bit sweet, but really well balanced and you get that freshness from the orange peel,” Pulliam says.
Benefit: Be a part of history when you drink at Bar Prohibition!—it’s the same spot that The Rat Pack used to drink at.
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