Las Vegas

[jlo mein]

I'll have a short excursion to Las Vegas for the first time late this summer. Being known as Sin City I'm assuming there will be no shortage of drinking establishments. The only problem may be finding the decent ones.

The only find I have so far is a restaurant in the valley called The Spirit of Cuba. Apparently they have tapas, live music and dancing, as well as an extensive rum list. I'm getting a little curious though about their website saying they have "left the building" and the removal of all their pictures and menus:

http://www.thespiritofcuba.net/

Are there any other recommendations for Vegas?

[Edward Hamilton]

I got some email from someone at Spirit of Cuba in Las Vegas a few months back and as I recall they claimed to be able to ship Cuban rum to anywhere except the US.

As for rum bars, I'm afraid I haven't turned up much other than Rum Jungle where they sell more vodka than rum and the wait staff didn't know a dark aged rum from a clear rum. I was served a white spirit when I asked for Zacapa Centenario, then the waiter told me I was wrong when I told him that the clear spirit he was offering me wasn't what I ordered.

Our party of six left.

Don't expect to find any of the smaller brands of rum in Las Vegas, the cost of distribution is so high that the distributors can't afford to offer the variety or quality of spirits found in many smaller markets. It's a shame but that's the way the dice roll in Sin City.

[Edward Hamilton]

I got some email from someone at Spirit of Cuba in Las Vegas a few months back and as I recall they claimed to be able to ship Cuban rum to anywhere except the US, &%*t happens in Vegas.



My apologies to The Spirit of Cuba (http://www.thespiritofcuba.net/) Supper Club and Cigar Lounge. Another company called the Spirit of Cuba registered on my website and informed me that they were licensed to sell everything Cuban everywhere except in the US.

I haven't been to The Spirit of Cuba Supper Club but look forward to meeting them on my next trip to Las Vegas.

[RumBarPhilly]

I heard Rum Jungle has over 400 rums as well as girls dancing in the air and everywhere. Those two facts made me drool over this place (and its impending opening in A.C.) So they didn't have that selection?

[Edward Hamilton]

400 rums is an certainly an exaggeration, I know of several rums they don't have on their rum list. But more importantly, the last menu I saw had more than a few mistakes - white rums listed as dark rums, and the staff wasn't very helpful. Hopefully they will improve their training. It doesn't do anyone any good to have a lot rums that no one knows anything about but as I've been told on more than one occasion, they sell more vodka than rum.

[Dood]

400 rums is an certainly an exaggeration, I know of several rums they don't have on their rum list. But more importantly, the last menu I saw had more than a few mistakes - white rums listed as dark rums, and the staff wasn't very helpful. Hopefully they will improve their training. It doesn't do anyone any good to have a lot rums that no one knows anything about but as I've been told on more than one occasion, they sell more vodka than rum.

Most of the people going to Rum Jungle aren't going for rum...they're going to a trendy, hip bar that boasts that it has a lot of something. It doesn't really matter to a lot of the party crowd WHAT they have a lot of, just so long as they have a lot of it.

Then they all sit down and order their vodka-red bulls and cosmos and go about their business.

[Edward Hamilton]

P.T. Barnum had something to say about the public's desire to believe in anything.

[RumBarPhilly]

400 rums is an certainly an exaggeration, I know of several rums they don't have on their rum list. But more importantly, the last menu I saw had more than a few mistakes - white rums listed as dark rums, and the staff wasn't very helpful. Hopefully they will improve their training. It doesn't do anyone any good to have a lot rums that no one knows anything about but as I've been told on more than one occasion, they sell more vodka than rum.

Perhaps they can hire you as a consultant to straighten them out. Although from the sound of it, their clientele doesn't care.

[jlo mein]

When I was in Vegas this past summer I got the impression that to most visitors, enjoying quality spirits wasn't as important as drinking massive quantities and taking home shaped plastic cups.

One thing I was looking forward to was Trader Vic's opening on the strip, but it opened a few days after I left. Would have been great to try a Mai Tai as it was originally intended.

[Edward Hamilton]

I'm sorry to say that I've been generally disappointed with the drinks at most Trader Vic's due to the corporate profit structure. They try to have a good selection of rums but instead of using really good Jamaican, Martinique and Barbados rum in their cocktails, they tend to use Trader Vic private label rums.

[RumBarPhilly]

Where are Trader Vic's rums from, USVI?

[jlo mein]

Has anyone been to Vegas and tried out Casa Fuente? It is a bar/cigar lounge in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. Supposed to be cuban inspired.

http://www.vegas.com/nightlife/bars/casafuente.html

[Dood]

Has anyone been to Vegas and tried out Casa Fuente? It is a bar/cigar lounge in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. Supposed to be cuban inspired.

http://www.vegas.com/nightlife/bars/casafuente.html

I have not...which is disappointing considering I've been to LV twice in the past 2 months. I'll be there again for the first weekend of August and will try to make a point to stop by Casa Fuente.

One thing I will say that I have been pleased with lately in Vegas: the rum selection at the bars is improving. Not at the regular "play video poker while you drink" bars. Those are still Bacardi, Captain, and if you're REALLY lucky, 10 Cane. But if you visit one of the lounge bars, I've been noticing a steady increase in bottles of Appleton Estate, Monte Cristo, and even walked into a bar in the Luxor that had Zaya.

[SuperCorona]

Has anyone been to Vegas and tried out Casa Fuente? It is a bar/cigar lounge in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. Supposed to be cuban inspired.

http://www.vegas.com/nightlife/bars/casafuente.html

Casa Fuente is a fun place to hang out to smoke, drink and people watch. The mojitos are fine, as is the bar staff!

[emeraldsmoke]

400 rums is an certainly an exaggeration, I know of several rums they don't have on their rum list. But more importantly, the last menu I saw had more than a few mistakes - white rums listed as dark rums, and the staff wasn't very helpful. Hopefully they will improve their training. It doesn't do anyone any good to have a lot rums that no one knows anything about but as I've been told on more than one occasion, they sell more vodka than rum.

Ed, As of 2 weeks ago nothing has changed.

[emeraldsmoke]

Casa Fuente is a fun place to hang out to smoke, drink and people watch. The mojitos are fine, as is the bar staff!

Wish I liked mint, but I am sure with you on that wait staff!!drool.gif

[Brandon]

I actualy work at rum jungle as a Bartender. I am sorry to here that some have not had a pleasent experiance with Rum Jungle.
We do have some hurdles at our place such as being a resteraunt and turning into club at night and having a rather large staff. This being said some of us I'd say are rather knowedge able about rum. We have about 200 Rums.
With some very outstanding age Rums such as Zaya, Eldordos up to 25year. Pyrats. Pampero, ron Matusulem, Ornoco, Goslings. those are some of my favorites. We have had a few promoters of some rums giving short breifings on their products. one of the most enjoyed would be from Malcom Gosling.
well anyways if your like good rum come to rum jungle sit at the bar theres a menu and you can see us pour the product you ask for but come durring dinner if you want more attention on tring rum.