Las Vegas Rum resources

[mammel]

HI All,

I will be in Las Vegas next Saturday. Does anyone on the board have any feedback as to a good place to buy rum? Anywhere with a good selection that anyone know about? I dont really want to leave it to the duty free, as I dont know if they have anything decent.

Thanks

[stockdoct]

I don't know about rum, but I've often bought wine from a tiny liquor store in the "neighborhood stores" adjacent on the south side of Harrahs. Nice selection, but expect prices 25% above what you're used to.

[mammel]

I am from Canada, I am already paying 100% more than you. SO an expensive store for you is still 50% off for me! That is why I am not really bargain hunting, just more looking for 1 place that has a decent selection.

Thanks for the feedback

[Edward Hamilton]

I'm sorry to say that the store selection in Las Vegas isn't what you might expect. It's a shame you won't be visiting some other cities like San Francisco or Denver where the selection, and prices, are much better.

Nevada alcohol sales are limited to those brands distributed by a handfull of companies.

[martincate]

Beverages and More actually tried and failed twice to open stores in Las Vegas several years ago. People coming to the strip for the weekend just didn't venture off to shop for liquor, and local residents are highly inclined towards Mormonism.

[Dood]

It is not in the interest of the largest companies in Las Vegas that good alcohol be readily accessible to anyone through any means that isn't in a casino.

[mammel]

Based on this information, I would likely find something better if I looked elsewhere. There is one day where we are heading away to another town to do some shopping at a large out of town outlet mall. I think maybe I will try to find a liquor store there, perhaps more selection and better prices.

I will keep you all posted on my findings next week.

[stockdoct]

Interesting, the last time I went to Vegas (3 months ago) there wasn't a single casino that served a decent glass of wine for their gamblers. House wine rotgut was the only wine they had --- Vendange, Gallo, etc. I suspect the rum available for gamblers is the same.

But cognac? Anyone can get a glass of Remy, or Courvoisier or Hennessy at any table of blackjack, craps or roulette ......for free, just for the asking. As I sat at the tables, it was obvious why that's so. So I'll give a "hooray" to anyone on this board who can tell me why.

"What group of gamblers drink Cognac exclusively, and the vegas casinos cater to them?"

[Dood]

So I'll give a "hooray" to anyone on this board who can tell me why.

People see cognac as "classy" and top-shelf. They order it to feel like bigshots. Bigshots order it too.

The hip-hop cultural phenomenon has also driven cognac and brandy into the mainstream consciousness as something that the cool kids drink.

I also read recently that in addition to the urban market, cognacs are starting to catch on really well in Asian culture. I know for a fact that the largest growing market of gamblers in Vegas are the Asian market segment.

These are just guesses on my part...but I have noticed that these days, even a dive bar has a bottle of Hennessy on the shelf. Of course, even some of the very "best" bars don't have any rums better than Captain and Bacardi. :\

[stockdoct]

Dood gets a "Hooray"

At every crap table, you'll find a bunch 60 year old cigar-smoking white guys drinking scotch and beer, college 20-somethings laughing and drinking Red Bull shots dropped inside Vodka, and at the end of the table will be a couple black guys, pants hanging off their hips, 8 gold chains and bling on their fingers ...... drinking Hennessy. Its really funny, how we actually live up to the stereotypes. (So, what would a rum-drinker look like?)

Here's a link I read in Wall Street Journal a couple years ago.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030727/ai_n12744462

[Solomon Grundy]

. . . So, what would a rum-drinker look like? . . .
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030727/ai_n12744462


What would rum dirinkers look like? Well, imagine the looks of a group of people who were all just about to receive simultaneous Nobel prizes in physics, literature and peace, a dozen grammy nominations, a couple of oscars and maybe an AVN award or two, all the while managing multibillion dollar hedge funds (for a fee of 2% of assets, 20% of gains). That's rum drinkers, doncha think? ;) Hyper intelligent, talented, able to manage risk skillfully, charmingly rough around the edges, and just a touch exotic.

[Dood]

What would rum dirinkers look like? Well, imagine the looks of a group of people who were all just about to receive simultaneous Nobel prizes in physics, literature and peace, a dozen grammy nominations, a couple of oscars and maybe an AVN award or two, all the while managing multibillion dollar hedge funds (for a fee of 2% of assets, 20% of gains). That's rum drinkers, doncha think? ;) Hyper intelligent, talented, able to manage risk skillfully, charmingly rough around the edges, and just a touch exotic.

I was thinking more along the lines of an island shirt, straw hat/cuban hat/old sailing cap, linen pants, and flip-flops. ;)

[RobertBurr]

What would rum drinkers look like?

I was thinking island-style shirt, sun-bleached hair blown back from driving in convertible on the way back from speed boat ride after landing seaplane from dive resort, permanent smile, beautiful companion, gold coin around neck taken from wreck in the Caymans, dive watch, wad of cash from stash buried in the back yard, optional earring, knows a hundred good jokes and understands the nuances of tropical spirits.

[Matusalem]

Hope no-one is in the Monte Carlo in Vegas. From what I see at least 3 floors are on fire right now!

[Rumpelteazer]

The fire is out and there are apparently no serious injuries.

No, I wasn't at the Monte Carlo, but I had just booked a spring trip to the Mirage. When I heard the first report about the fire, I was kind of freaked out until I heard the hotel name, because two years ago I had just booked a cruise on the Star Princess right before it caught on fire.

Afraid maybe I was a jinx. Oh well, guess I'll go prepare that flaming rum marinade fish dinner now.

[mammel]

Ok Folks,

I just got back from Las Vegas last night....Here is the low down.

Based on what I was hearing on this board (and this thread) I wasnt expecting too much. Hoping for the best, I made my list of what I was hoping to find. I had a fairly extensive list, mainly so I didnt forget. I was expecting to only have a few of my choices...

Well I was blown away....they had everything under the sun. They had everything on my list and more. Given that I could only bring back 1 bottle duty free. I now had to make a choice from everything, and I was having a hard time doing so.

I highly recommend "Lee's Discount Liquor". It is a chain in Las Vegas. I happened to go a little out of the way, if you keep going south on Las Vegas Blvd past the airport (going toward the outlet mall on the edge of town) you will find it. Previous postings indicated nothing right on the strip, and this is essentially correct.

Compared to the prices in Canada (and the selection) it was great. I ended up with a bottle of Zaya Gran Reserva at $40. They had nothing more than $40, mostly in the $20-$30 range. The only thing that I didnt see was Appleton 21.

So if you are going to Vegas, hire a cab or rent a car...you will find what you want!

[mammel]

Also for everyone knowledge...the duty free at McCarran sucks for rum. If you want scotch its ok. They only really had Bacardi and Appleton XV. So if you go there hoping for rum at the duty free, skip it. Go to a real liquor store while you are there!

[Edward Hamilton]

Thanks for that tip. I haven't been there to Lee's in at least two years and it sounds like they have really upgraded the rum shelf.

[JMac]

thanks for that info. I'll be in the US this May which might include a layover in Vegas (thanks to the wife's obsession with Airmiles)