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Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's beverage players to share their recommendations for a random feature dubbed Cocktail Confidential. Know a bartender who wants to share some top cocktail spots? The tipline is open.
Juyoung Kang took on a huge challenge when she became the new lead mixologist at chef Emeril Lagasse's Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian. After all, she was following in the footsteps of a legend, Max Solano. Kang handled the transition with aplomb, creating seasonal, specialty and classic cocktails as well as curating Delmonico's whiskey library. The Philadelphia native got her start at the Peninsula and Thompson Hotel (now Sixty Beverly Hills) in California and then moved to Las Vegas to work at Comme Ca and Rose.Rabbit.Lie. as well as opening downtown bars Park on Fremont and Commonwealth, including Commonwealth's speakeasy, The Laundry Room. She was at BLVD Cocktail Co. in The Linq before moving over to Delmonico. Here she shares three of her favorite bars to frequent when she’s not behind the stick at Delmonico.
Which bars or lounges do you turn to when you’re not working?
I usually go out more to eat than drink these days. Some of my favorite places to eat: Izakaya Go, Chada Thai and Raku. If I go out for a drink, I would go to these bars because I know the bartenders and I know they will make me a good drink at Vesper Bar, Herbs & Rye and Bardot Brasserie. God, that bar is beautiful!
Which cocktails are most memorable?
When I go to bars where I know the bartender, I ask them to make me a cocktail they're working on or just like to make. I'm a bartender's choice kind of person. I like my drinks a bit booze forward and bittersweet. I trust my bartender. What's memorable about these cocktails is they are created by someone I know it's usually one of their best concoctions and I'm the lucky person to enjoy it.
Why do you enjoy going there?
I love going to these places because my friends are there, food is awesome and it feels like home. I always feel welcome and I'm comfortable there. That's a great place to be.
