One of Southern Nevada’s coolest places to kick back with a drink isn’t found on the Las Vegas Strip—it is found in an unassuming office building complex located in Henderson.
A true hidden gem, Las Vegas Distillery (lasvegasdistillery.com) opened to the public in June of 2024 after an extensive renovation. Founded in 2011, the distillery at 7330 Eastgate Road was sold in 2022 to its new owner, Rob Saucier. According to Las Vegas Distillery’s head of marketing, Alixandra Saucier, Rob “Set out to create something exciting, elevated and truly special in the city he has called home for more than 25 years.”
“There are a few distilleries in the Las Vegas Valley, but none that do what we do,” adds Cody Fredrickson, Las Vegas Distillery’s tasting room and tour manager. “Las Vegas Distillery is the only raw material-to-glass operation in the area—everything is done under one roof. On top of that, we’ve built a full tasting room experience with craft cocktails, a thoughtful food menu and live music.”
Visitors can book a 45-minute guided tour of Las Vegas Distillery Wednesday through Sunday to see its intimate production facility up close and learn more about how its small-batch spirits, including its new dark rum and its new London Dry style gin, are made. Each Making the Spirit of Legends tour lets guests sample a few of the spirits, too, such as Las Vegas Distillery’s award-winning coffee liqueur made with Colombian coffee beans roasted and cold brewed by Henderson’s own Dark Moon Coffee Roasters. Las Vegas locals receive half-off the admission price of a tour, which concludes in the distillery’s vintage Vegas-inspired tasting room and gift shop.
Open to tour and non-tour guests alike, Las Vegas Distillery’s stylish 88-seat tasting room not only serves a variety of tasty cocktails made with its own spirits—at least 80 percent of which change with each season—but also a menu of high-quality, flavorful fare guests can pair with their drinks. Delectable highlights include The Ann-Margret “Supreme” Sicilian-style pizza topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, fire-roasted red peppers and red chili flakes, and The Cuban-esque sandwich made with house-braised Caribbean pork, applewood-smoked ham and Genoa salami. Locals receive a 10 percent discount in the tasting room, and there is free entertainment on select evenings from rotating music acts like “The Sinatra Guy” Andrew Lee and jazz singer Gloria Vivelo to further add to the fun atmosphere.
“Las Vegas is packed with great options for escape and leisure, but we offer something different,” says Cody. “At Las Vegas Distillery, you are drinking spirits that are made right here from scratch, not just poured. You get craft cocktails, live music, great food and a true sense of place. It’s authentic, it’s local and it’s welcoming.”
The Pineapple Upsi-Daiquiri
A classic-style cocktail with a “unique but familiar comfort cocktail vibe,” Cody Fredrickson says Las Vegas Distillery’s seasonal Pineapple Upsi-Daiquiri was designed to replicate a pineapple upside-down cake with its fruity sweetness, tart citrus and warm vanilla. Cocktail drinkers can enjoy the fall favorite at home thanks to this easy-to-follow recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Las Vegas Distillery Spiced Rum
- 1/2 oz. Smoked pineapple syrup
- 1/4 oz. Rich vanilla syrup
- 3/4 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 1 Dehydrated red pineapple slice
- 1 Brandied cherry
Directions:
- Pour liquids into a cocktail shaker
- Shake for 15 seconds
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass
- Garnish with floating red pineapple slice with a picked brandied cherry in the middle