Tag Archives: mixologists

New Fusion Bar at The Palazzo in Las Vegas Offers Guests Out of this World Latin-Inspired Cocktails

There is a whole new vibrant energy on the casino floor at The Palazzo in Las Vegas.  Their new Fusion bar has recently opened and it features a Latin-inspired mixology bar with beautifully handcrafted cocktails focusing on the Latin American beverage culture. 

Designed by hand-picked, award-winning bartenders and mixologists, Fusion’s cocktail menu focuses on Brazilian, Peruvian, and Mexican regions of the world. Flavorful music and video from Latin America play throughout the day and night as guests enjoy delicious fusions custom made by a skillfully trained mixology team. 

The mixology team at Fusion creates their select cocktails through muddling– a technique that uses the concept of mixing fresh fruit with a stainless steel rod, by hand, to create a refreshing, all-natural concoction. Examples include the Peruvian-fused Pisco Tango, with mango infused Barsol Pisco Quebranta, fresh lime juice, rock candy syrup, and funkin mango puree; Brazilian-infused Pineapple Batida with Agua Luca Cachaca, fresh pineapple juice, and sweetened condensed milk; or the Mexican-fused Paloma with pink grapefruit, tequila, rock candy syrup, fresh pink grapefruit juice and 7 Up. 

“Fusion brings the regional beverage culture of Latin America to The Palazzo,” said Sebastien Silvestri, executive director of food and beverage for The Palazzo and The Venetian. “With fine spirits such as rum, pisco, cachaca, and tequila coupled with fresh fruit, the cocktail experience at Fusion will allow guests to enjoy a premium beverage in a high energy environment.” 

Along with offering the finest cocktails, gaming machines consisting of blackjack, keno, poker, and slots are conveniently located at the bar. Happy Hour Specials occur daily from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Midnight. Fusion is located on The Palazzo casino floor and is open 24 hours a day. For more information please call 702-607-7777 or visit www.palazzolasvegas.com.

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Bartending Throwdown: Season Two of Las Vegas’ On the Rocks

LXTV.com’s online bartending competition for season two’s On the Rocks, takes off from where season one left off:  bartender’s making a go at a $100,000 check (courtesy of Absolut Vodka) and the title of America’s Top Bartender at the two-time host city of Las Vegas. 

Where season one was filmed at bars throughout the MGM Grand, season two will take place throughout Caesars Palace over eight days, starting at the end of October and airing as three 30-minute episodes on NBC following Saturday Night Live, beginning November 7.   Up to three contestants may be voted off after each episode, making this both the shortest of the foodie reality television shows out there as well as that with the highest stakes for the competitors. 

Open casting calls were held in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas. 

Award-winning mixologist and Pernod Ricard brand ambassador Simon Ford will return on the show in the capacity as advisor on all things beverage. 

Among those made famous during season one were Las Vegas bartenders James “Franchise” Hadhazy, BarMagic of Las Vegas’ Kristen Schaefer and Stripsteak’s Amanda Gager, who, after outlasting and outmixing her competition, took home the check and the coveted title.  Gager is said to be returning this season as judge, as well as entertaining Italian playboy bartender Brienza. 

Among those called back this season was First Food and Bar bartender Mariena Mercer, 26, and a rare second-generation Las Vegas native.  Mercer has been bartending up to two jobs at once since she turned 21.

 “I really want to experience every type of bartending,” she says.  “I really would love to own my own bar some day.”

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Las Vegas’ “Cocktail Culture” Offers International Stimulus Elixir

The Social Mixology Summer World Tour kicks off their program this month, bringing Las Vegas BarMagic’s cocktail-culture events to cities around the globe, including Manhattan, Aspen, Johannesburg, London and beyond. SocialMixology

As they state on their website: “The premise of Social Mixology is simple- create an interactive experience for the cocktail community to showcase Las Vegas’ best cocktail talent, cocktail bars, and artisan brands in an atmosphere that is a little bit sexy, a little bit laid-back, and little bit fun.” 

“We’ve seen a lot of interest in the program outside Vegas,” says BarMagic co-owner Tobin Ellis, “and it just so happens we had a few clients book us for things out of town, and decided rather then just pause the whole program, we would see if we could take it on the road.”

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World’s Largest Martini Prepares for Las Vegas Christening

Las Vegas-based Opportunity Village is teaming with Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas to create the city’s largest gin-based martini, The Opportunitini.  The unveiling event is Tuesday, April 28, at 6 p.m. in front of Hard Rock Cafe’s signature guitar martiniin Las Vegas at 4475 Paradise Road. 

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will be on-hand with his bevy of Vegas showgirls and world-class entertainment to ceremoniously top off the 20-gallon martini that will then be served to guests at the ceremony.     

The Opportunitini is the brainchild of mixologists at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Cafe and will be placed on their menu for the entire summer.  Proceeds from the sales of the drink will benefit the men and women at Opportunity Village, which is celebrating its 55th year of providing vocational training, social skills, job training and placement and opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities in Las Vegas.   

“We are very excited about partnering with the Hard Rock Cafe to unveil The Opportunitini,” says Linda Smith, Chief Development Officer at Opportunity Village.  “The record-breaking attempt promises to be an exciting event and the drink will be the perfect adult thirst quencher during those hot summer months.”

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