So one of us went to Vegas to check out Whiskey bars and other good stuff. Here is that review:

First off I’m sorry I had to step in at “Table 10” when the nice couple from Albuquerque asked the bartender for another Bourbon recommendation and some wise-ass bourbon geek spoke up. Just for the record, yeah, Woodford’s, OK, I like it, but you had Willett Family Estate, dude. So Woodford or Willett Family Reserve? Table 10 had a few other real good ones too. Not large but well selected. Bottom line was if the nice couple needed to add water, that’s fine; the bartender didn’t really know his trade.

OK, here’s the truth: Went to the Las Vegas Distillery; they weren’t allowed to do tastings yet, so they disappointingly have potential. For a visitor with no car, don’t go. They seem to be trying, but like most craft places, they need to pay the bankers, which means lots of “new make.” Interestingly though, they have small barrels aging there in an Industrial park but also in the hills, mountains and desert, supposedly. The years to come will be interesting, but the stuff will never make it far out of Nevada with that fairly small operation.

The Bourbon Room was such a joke, after I had such huge expectations. A 14 year old that’s gotten into dad’s Bourbon cabinet has twice the Bourbon knowledge as this staff that night. So-so selection. Had their Private Eagle Rare 10 and since I was playing a bar video poker machine, it was free. I had them pour it out and I was quickly reminded that the CEO (of I guess the Casino) picked the barrel. It’s a rarity to find a private selection well under the quality of the store-bought regular. The private Woodford was much better, but the Evan Williams Single from 2001 was easily the winner.

It was sad, but I smoked my broken cigar (foolishly stored in my pocket for the day) and had a good time. No one was told that all bourbon had to be from Kentucky, so that was good. Staff were generally uninterested in chatting, but they were busy and regardless of how good a Bourbon bar is, unless it’s slowwwww don’t expect any TLC.

Helix, just don’t go, don’t, don’t go for whiskey. How they got other’s high ratings, I have no clue.

Had already lost $100 at the video bar poker at Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel when a bartender had to call the VP of beverage to approve the “top shelf” I requested, which was their best: Maker’s Mark. He was sweating. Would have been so sad, but I felt for him. Got into talking to the cocktail waitress about how they couldn’t get booze the regulars were requesting as the bev manager that had been there for just a year refused. I asked her how long she had been there she said 28 years and loved her job. No cocktail waitress had less than 10 years there and no one ever asked their opinion.

I was going to have another few Maker’s, blow $40 more on the machines, but gave the bartender and waitress each $20 and left. Most of them work way too hard for the crappy tips they get downtown, at least the cool ones. They were super nice people; wish they classed the place up a bit and made it easier for high rollers to have a classic place to go with good Whisk(e)y. Pappy would actually last there. Bills on the strip at Flamingo is being converted to a 5-star boutique Hotel, O’Shea knocked down to make room for a giant London-type ferris wheel and major fix-up and expansion of the Imperial Palace, which is now called The Quad.

Best Bar at Bally’s
Skip it.

Aria
Lots of good stuff for free, if you’re playing. Macallan without a second thought ain’t bad as standard comp scotch. By the way, service bars (stuff cocktail waitresses can bring you while playing) in Vegas don’t seem to have Bourbon better than Maker’s, and usually three types at most. At least lower stakes.

If they use the bar for high rollers at the “VIP” bar, there’s some nice stuff but super over-priced for mortals not getting comp’d drinks for $1,000 a hand/roll. This is the case for most of the ultra high-end casinos, so head to those bars and pay though the nose for better selections if it’s really what you want.

Venetian
About the same, if you’re playing for blacks ($100), they will serve you $100 scotch, but I wasn’t and the $30 stuff was fine. Will seek out best bar there next trip, but the few I saw the better stuff wasn’t comped and too expensive.

Wanted to do Bellagio and Cosmopolitan but will next trip.

Whisky Attic
Weird. Had a real hard time getting the owner Adam to take me seriously on the phone. He basically said I couldn’t go in the attic, just the bar. The attic has around 600 Scotches and Whiskies and is the attic of the Freakin’ Frog Bar. I had heard that Adam wasn’t very nice.

I got there, and he was busy, but eventually we talked. Took me to the attic, and I had actually been up there before. By far one of the best American and Scotch Whiskey selections in the world, Jacobs Well (an example of not-often-seen odd duck), Black Maple Hill-old, Van Winkle Decanter (heart transplants are cheaper), on and on. Disney for the true Bourbon geek.

Had a few, talked some to Adam and then he confessed. I was the second of several hundred that have called him with the same Bourbon Wizard story that knew their shit. Honored, as we taught each other some stuff. I want to go to a place that makes me look like I have a lot to learn, at least this way I don’t have to tell a nice couple from Albuquerque or Iowa to pass on the Woodford and get the Willett. (Back at Table 10 I bought them both the Dram of Willett by the way. They got three more Willett’s while I was there and never finished the Woodford.)

So Adam started bringing me free stuff I’d never had. Cool, fun guy, but I had to earn my keep like so many have to do with me. If you ever meet a guy like me in a bar, just tell me I’m an ass. If it’s me, I’ll laugh, agree and buy you about $100 in free booze. If it’s not me (and most likely it won’t be), then you’re most likely going to have your scrotum turned into ground beef. That’s the chance you’ll have to take. (If you’re a female well, cool.)

Max at Emeril’s Delmonico Steakhouse
I met Max last year. He was one of the most knowledgeable Whisky minds working behind a bar. No, “the” most knowledgeable. Mixed and created amazing drinks. Knew Scotch, American Whiskey, incredible with customers — a one-man ambassador for his very upscale chain. This guy got a Pappy Decanter, Michter’s 25 Bourbon and a bunch of other stuff I rarely see in one place, let alone 10 or more gems with other great stuff.

When I say he “got”, I mean he grabbed them when they became available a few years ago by knowing they were special then. That’s impressive to me. It’s all him. He expertly recommended great value stuff when appropriate, as he’d make someone happy with a $100 rarity. I never had Pine Ridge from Colorado, which he recommended. He’s going to Kentucky to pick barrels for his company soon with owner Emeril (yes, that Emeril), meeting with all the Master Distillers and such. I spent three hours there and he pretended he was happy I was there bothering him.

About $300 later and a large cash tip, I am ready to declare Max Solano, Bev Manager at Emeril’s Delmonico the best Whisk(e)y person working behind a bar and better than most all the rest too. Emeril’s should be happy I can’t afford to steal him away. Very good selection. Not even close to the number of bottles but it really isn’t the size that matters. Max makes this not only the place to go in Vegas for your Whiskey experience, but I’ve yet to find a bar anywhere I’d rather be drinking at solo.

The truffle parm cheese dusted house made potato chips and App portion of BBQ shrimp I think is what heroes get when they arrive in heaven. They’re that good! I’m about halfway through the best Whiskey bars in the U.S., according to people that tell me what the best Whisk(e)y bars are supposed to be. Who knows, but so far, go see Max in Vegas, and make sure you have a couple hours, make sure he’s working and make sure there’s a large line of credit on your plastic.

Craftsteak
Very knowledgeable staff here. More Scotch than Bourbon. Selections very picked over, with no Pappy or Buffalo Trace Antique, which they normally carry. They had Michter’s 25 Rye and Bourbon, as well as many others at a more than fair price. It’s what happens when they are below market price which is why they ran out of Pappy. Great stop either way.

As a side note I had a few items to use as standards for comparison: Elmer, Evan Williams Single, Blantons, Noah’s Mill or Willett, Pappy, Weller 107. I quickly gave that thought up, as Pappy is practically non-existent except at the four Emeril brand restaurants and a few others mentioned. Most of the rest of my list was only at the places I rated high. The absence of Weller 107 is very telling, as it’s cheap and good. Either Vegas can’t get it, or they have no clue what it is, and I think it’s a bit of both. The places that are good do have it.

Rio
All mid-level stuff: Maker’s, Bulleitt and Woodford, their premiums. Staff at some bars great, main bar afternoon crew was terrible. If you’re into wine, the Rio Wine Cellar that hides as a basement is my favorite wine bar in the world. Go when Senior Wine Steward Jose is working.

Ceasars has had an influx of great resturants; next trip I’ll have to check them much closer. At first glance, looks like they are good.

I won’t mention a dozen or so other places that were just average or worse.

All in all I have to say Delmonico is my favorite so far, so it gets my Best Whiskey Bar in Vegas vote. Max says he’s increasing selections by 100 more in all Whisk(e)ys soon.