Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL HILL (BARRELS) BAR EXAM c ontinued from page 70 limited edition of its 18-year expression in a Christian Lacroix–designed specialty casing for $495. And two years ago, Johnnie Walker released The John Walker, a coveted limited- edition whisky, blending six-malt and three-grain whiskies from nine distilleries, including some very rare casks, which sold for $3,000 a bottle. "It's the best of the best in one glass," says Emilio Tiburcio, corporate mixologist for The Light Group. The John Walker is available in only a handful of Las Vegas bars, including Double Helix and the Light Group's Lily Bar & Lounge at Bellagio. "The flavor profile—the woods, vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch, and a little citrus—are unforgettable," Tiburcio says. "It's a little journey in your mouth." Where it's not available, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the most popular high-end blended whisky, according to Vegas bartenders. Johnnie Walker Platinum Label is a popular mid- range expression internationally. The holy grails for fans of blended whiskies, according to Nisi, are the limited-edition releases MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. and rare single-barrel bottles like The John Walker and Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V edition, released in 2007 in a distinctive crystal "People are exploring, requesting blended whiskies across all age groups, across the casino floor. —michael dona eral, according to Richards. " Lily Bar & Lounge is one of the few places you can find the ultra-premium limited- edition John Walker. Bartenders in Las Vegas view this uptick in interest for blended whiskies as part of a growing appreciation for brown spirits in general. Bourbon and rye, along with Irish whiskey, are specifically cited as growth categories. "Recently the entire state ran out of Pappy Van Winkle 15- and 20-year bourbon for a time, due to its increase in popularity," says Patricia Richards, master mixologist for Wynn and Encore. Johnnie Walker Black Label, Dewar's White Label, and Chivas 12 "reign supreme" for Wynn in gen- Most people quaff the expensive stuff neat or on the rocks, but high-end whiskies do make appearances in cocktails as well. At Craftsteak, the Highland Fling features Dewar's 18, lemon juice, ginger ale, bitters, and a lemon twist, while at Lily, the J.W. 1800 is a top-tier Manhattan made using the ultra-rare John Walker, which pushes the price up to $480. Blended whiskies play better in cocktails than single malts, as a rule, and tend to be easier to pair with meals, particularly steak and richer seafood. "People are exploring, requesting blended whiskies across all age groups, across casino f loor," says Michael Dona, beverage director at MGM Grand. "The category is the going to continue to grow." V The popularity of high-end blended whiskies is on the rise. decanter ($600). Included in its blend is a rare single malt from the defunct Port Ellen distillery. "They're like collector items—once they're gone, they're gone," says Nisi. "For a real Scotch drinker, it's like finding gold." Blended Scotch whiskies, by definition, contain some combination of malt whisky (made from barley) and grain whisky (made from any- thing else, such as wheat or rye). The malt whisky is generally a blend itself, combining aged single malts from various distillers into a uniform flavor profile. Grain whisky sweetens and mellows the whole combination, making a blended whisky approachable and smooth in a way that a single malt (100 percent barley-based whisky made by a single distiller) might not be. The modern crop of high rollers seems to be finding their way to blended whiskies. "I'm seeing more requests for Johnnie Walker Blue Label from drinkers in the 28 to 35 range," says Alexis Ryan, bartender at Craftsteak at 72 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM