Not any of my favorite drinks...

It is really really hard to find, but I have one thing in Vegas I'm not happy about. I can nowhere find any of my favorite drinks. Therefore I always order bottled Heineken instead. Can't go wrong with that, but I would so much prefer any of my own drinks on my holidays! Would anyone know if these drinks are available anywhere in Vegas:

Martini Bianco, this is a white SWEET vermouth and the brand is Martini. There is also a Martini Dry and Martini Rosso, but I like the sweet version which is called Martini Bianco. Nothing fancy, you can buy a bottle for about 6-8 dollars at every supermarket (it's only 15% alcohol). Martini is the most popular brand (the only A-brand I know of) and has a taste of it's own (not comparable with other brands). Instead I always get a white dry vermouth from unknown (for me) brand. Doesn't matter how much I try to explain in advance what I want, the casino waitresses always say they have exactly that, but come back with the oposite.

Bitter Lemon (to mix with Vodka), it's a carbonated soft drink flavoured with quinine and lemon. Most famous brands here in Europe (Netherlands) are Schweppes and Royal Club. The combination of sweet, bitter and sour is very typical, delicious and fresh and mixes really well in a cocktail with Vodka or Gin. The only thing comparable (but still completely different) is something like Fanta Lemon, but those drinks are too sweet and don't have the same "bite" (umpf). Another alternative is Tonic, but then it is really a completely different drink (missing the citrus).

Lambrusco, this is a sweet sparkling wine from Italy and it comes in white, red and rose. Lambrusco is the name of the grape and the area in Italy where the wine comes from. The wine comes in many brands (I wouldn't know if one is more popular than the other, they all taste the same to me). Again, nothing fancy (and really cheap, around 2 dollar for a bottle), but very popular in Europe (for the not "real" wine drinkers like me). It's only 7,5% alcohol and really light and fresh, you can drink it all night, without getting a headache the next day. On the wiki it says: "Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Lambrusco was the biggest selling import wine in the United States.". But I didn't find it anywhere and I'm not really a wine drinker otherwise (French wine is too dry for my taste).

Oh, btw... from the same brand Martini, there is also a sparkling sweet wine called Martini Spumante. It is a similar drink as Lambrusco (even better) and I would also be completely happy with that!

Or maybe any of you knows nice alternatives for these drinks (except for the Martini Bianco, cause I only like it from that brand)?

 

Give a Vodka Collins a try as an alternative to a Bitter Lemon. Crisp, and refreshing. Soda water is used in the cocktail but the citrus,
lemon and sweet/sour mix help give it a bit of a bite.

 

You are a star!

Looked it up and it sounds delicious:

Vodka Collins
This is a refreshing vodka sour drink perfect for hot days.
The concept is simple and follows the classic 'collins' drink formula of spirit, sour, soda.
For example, replace the vodka with gin for a Tom Collins or with bourbon whiskey for a John Collins.

Ingredients:
•2 oz vodka
•Sour mix
•Soda water
•Orange slice for garnish
•Maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:
1.Pour the vodka into a collins glass filled with ice.
2.Fill with sour mix.
3.Shake by placing a tin over the glass, giving a couple of good shakes.
4.Add a splash of soda water.
5.Garnish with a cherry and orange slice flag.

 

Glad to be of help. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Have a great time on your next trip.

 

I found another drink which sounds nice and fruity (although I'm not so fond of the name), and I should be able to order in most casinos:

Sex on the Beach

Ingredients:
•1 1/2 oz vodka
•3/4 oz peach schnapps
•1/2 oz creme de cassis
•2 oz orange juice
•2 oz cranberry juice
•Orange slice for garnish
•Maraschino cherry for garnish

Not sure if I'm brave enough to order it (will probably say "don't remember the name, something on the beach??"), but further it sounds nice!

 

I know of two places which make/made a dynamite Collins in Las Vegas.

1. The now defunct bar in the middle of Bellagio.

2. Chandelier bar in Cosmo - Excellent!

However, the typical Las Vegas recipe for a Collins is:

1. Dunk almost-clean glass into ice machine. (Or plastic cup.)

2. Press the "vodka" button and the "collins mix" button.

3. Throw any random garnish on top.

 

Thank you dmr!

I always like to cruise the Strip and try to find places which were recommended to me.
Those two will sure be added to the list (my Las Vegas bucket list)!

 

LOL, you may have a hard time finding the bar in Bellagio.

 

Hahahaaah!

I didn't know the word "defunct" (lost it's fun? lost their funk?) and just completely ignored it.
Don't have to look it up now anymore to realise the place probably (duh!) doesnt exist anymore.

 

Sex on the Beach is a very, very common cocktail, so don't be embarrassed ordering one. I assure you the bartender has had orders for that plenty of times before. They can be tasty too, when made correctly/with good ingredients.