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The Libertine Social Boulevardier
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The Libertine Fizz
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Prescription Julep
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Queen's Park Swizzle Pitcher
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Queen's Park Swizzle
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Sunsplash
Shawn McClain plans to unveil his newest concept, Libertine Social, at Mandalay Bay in August, and already eyes turn to the cocktail program from Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim. Libertine Social plans to have two distinct spaces, the Main Bar and the intimate Arcade Bar, within the space.
Abou-Ganim calls the bars "…the greatest house party of all time, with each room creating its own atmosphere to make all types of people feel welcome."
In the main bar, find elevated shots that use pineapple and vanilla bean-infused plantation rum and homemade spiced whiskey, as well as Swizzles in pitchers and individually. This a sharable cocktail for four or alone features a swizzle stick made from the Quararibea turbinata, a tree that has branches that fork for froth. The Queen's Park Swizzle, inspired by the Queen's Park Hotel in Trinidad, combines El Dorado 15-year-old rum, house-made demerara syrup, lime juice, spearmint and Angostura bitters.
The main bar also plans to serve draft cocktails including the the Sunsplash that combines Grey Goose L'Orange vodka and Cointreau. Barrel-aged cocktails too make an appearance. Look for the Boulevardier with Baker's 107-proof bourbon, Campari and Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth aged for five to six weeks in a wooden barrel.
Another interesting section of the cocktail menu? The bottled cocktails, including the Luce del Sol in a personal bottle to carry around.
Over at the Arcade Bar, Abou-Ganim plans to serve up long lost cocktails. His research led him to the Daisy, the Smash and the Cup, all served in a study with dark-paneled walls and deep leather chairs. Guests can try a Sherry Cobbler, a drink that came to life in a Charles Dickens novel, and the Brandy Fix, a cocktail straight out of 1888.
The menu also explores original versions of popular drinks now, such as the cognac-based Prescription Julep, created before the introduction of American whiskey and the standard bourbon mint julep.
Both bars features ice shaped in diamonds, cubes, pellets and spheres, as well as seasonal ingredients such as ripe Georgia peaches.
