THE
LAS VEGAS NIGHTCLUB BAR GUIDE.
Drinks are not just the "currency" of any nightclub
situation, they are the means for creating most of the Vegas stories
that you and your friends will talk about for years to come. With
that in mind, there are a few things everyone should know about
bars and alcoholic beverages in Las Vegas. Laying the thousands
of hours I've spent in Las Vegas nightclubs aside, I consulted
several nightclub bartenders and cocktail waitresses for the most
accurate information possible about what most people order, how
much it costs, and the best way to get your drinks faster than
the next guy.
Let's
get the sticker shock out of the way. You should know that drinks
are a bit more expensive in Las Vegas nightclubs, and that they
range between $8 and $15 depending on what you order and where
you ordered it. Standing at the bar with a surprised look on your
face and bitching to everyone within ten feet of you about how
many cases of beer you could buy for that price really won't do
you much good.
Here
are the average prices of drinks in Las Vegas nightclubs:
- Domestic
Beer: $7
- Import
Beer: $8
- Mixed
Drinks: $10.00
-
Mixed Shots: $10.00
- Cognacs:
$12.00 - $15.00
- Red
Bull Drinks: $11.00 - $14.00
- Exotic
Mixed Drinks: $12.00 - $15.00 (Long Islands, etc).
- Bottled
Water: $6.00 - $7.00
*(For
prices and information on bottle service, visit this
guide.)
When
it comes to where to order your drinks from, I usually
recommend finding one of the sidebars of the club as they are
almost always the easiest to get to and the fastest to get your
drinks from. But wherever you order your drinks, find one bartender
to order from throughout the night and tip them well.
Start
simple. A round of shots is always a solid way to get the night
going. They are quick, easy, and most people won't fuss too much
at the thought of taking them. I enlisted the help of my good
friend and roommate, Dillon Reese, to
discuss with several bartenders around Las Vegas what the most
commonly ordered shots and drinks were. Not surprisingly, pretty
much everyone agreed that most people order one of eight different
kinds of shots, and one of twelve kinds of mixed drinks.
The
"Top 8" Shots that people order:
1) Washington Apple
2) Patron
3) Jagermeister / Jager Bomb
4) Lemon Drop
5) So-Co and Lime
6) Kamikaze
7) Wet Pussy
8) Red Headed Slut
Recommended
Shots:
1) B-52 (Kahlua, Irish Cream, Grand Marnier)
2) Scooby Snack (Midori, Pineapple Rum, Pineapple, Creme De Banana)
3) Pineapple Upside Down Cake
The
"Top 12" Drinks that people order:
1) Vodka Cranberry
2) Vodka Red Bull (Energy)
3) Jack and Coke (Whiskey)
4) Long Island / Long Beach
5) Screwdriver (Vodka Orange Juice)
6) Cosmopolitan (Vodka Martini)
7) Vodka Tonic
8) Rum and Coke
9) Apple Martini
10) White Russian
11) Malibu Pineapple (Pineapple Flavored Rum)
12) Sex on the Beach
Highly
Recommended Drinks:
1) Incredible Hulk (Hennessy / Hypnotic)
2) Adios Motherfucker (Long Island w/ Blue Curacao and Sprite)
I'm not really
one to talk about being boring at the bar, when I order from the
bar it is usually a Long Island or whatever shots someone handed
me. But for the sake of doing something different, try to shake
things up and try new drinks. When it comes to actually ordering
something, Las
Vegas nightclub bars can be a pretty hectic scene, so it is easy
to get lost in a sea of thirsty customers. Don't assume that because
you see an open spot towards the side of the bar that it will
automatically be the fastest spot to get the bartender's attention,
often times you'll be left there till hell freezes over. Instead,
try to work your way into the area that you see the bartender
bouncing around in the most and assume the position that will,
in any language, tell the bartender you are ready to order: lean
into the bar, hold your cash or credit card in front of you, and
try to make eye contact with the one who is actually taking orders
(not the barback).
