Vol. 4, No. 3, March 2008
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Twin Creeks
Make mine a double—Classic cocktails round out a revamped menu at Twin Creeks
The new interior is two fingers of classic Las Vegas with just a splash of modernity in the form of the color-changing backlight above the bar shelf. It’s the kind of place where Frank, Sammy, Drunkie Dean and Joey Bishop would hang out, had it been around when they ruled the city.
One thing that stands out immediately is that there are no games lining the bar. And while the bar area is a little smaller than some other places in town—it is, after all a restaurant—the ambience makes it perfect for just about anything from an after work cocktail to a late nightcap.
The newly designed Twin Creeks can hold its own against any of the restaurants on the Strip, and do so at half the price. And it has one other advantage over many of the high-priced tourist joints that line Las Vegas Boulevard in the form of Master Mixologist John C. Dupont.
Dupont has earned the title “Master Mixologist” with a successful career of opening bars, putting together wine lists and cocktail menus and creating enough new drink recipes in a career that has taken him from Biloxi to Chicago to Las Vegas. What he has done at Twin Creeks is certainly nothing short of masterful.
The highlight of the spirited transformation at Twin Creeks is the introduction of a grand selection of bourbons and whiskies that range from the typical to the sublime. For the less adventurous there are the Glenfiddich and Glenlivet single malt Scotches and the Knob Creek and Makers Mark bourbons. While these are all excellent spirits, the menu contains some wonderful hidden gems and a few brands that while worth trying, are likely unheard of to the casual bourbon fan.
Scotch isn’t really Dupont’s focus, but he’s brought a number of excellent products in anyway. While some range in age up to 21 years, there are two “younger” Scotches that everyone needs to try. The 12-year-old Bunnahabain is one of the best kept secrets of the Scotch world. It’s not only buttery smooth—and extremely mild for an Islay—but it is also affordable. It also has considerably more character than the big Glens. The other gem here is the 16-year-old Lagavulin, which Dupont stocks at his bar at home. A little more complex than the Bunnahabain, it is another delicious yet affordable Scotch.
A look at the spirit menu shows that Dupont’s real focus is the American mainstay, and perhaps the best product this country has produced: bourbon.
Topping the list is the 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle, which at $58 an ounce isn’t exactly cheap. But from the first sip—this is definitely not for shots—it’s easy to see why one glass costs as much as five bottle of Old Crow. Falling in between the Pappy Van Winkle and the Knob Creek are a host of brands both familiar—Bakers, Booker’s, Elijah Craig and Evan Williams—and new—Ah Hirsch, Basil Hayden and Bernheim Wheat.
Dupont has also assembled a number of new twists on classic cocktails. From the Dean Martini to the Rat Pack Mantini to the Casino Royale and the New Fashioned, everything works at evoking the feel from the classy, classic Las Vegas—the time when people wouldn’t be caught dead hitting the casino in shorts, tank tops and flip-flops.
“Everything was done to evoke that old Las Vegas kind of feel,” Dupont said. “All of the new drinks have the same classic feel to them.”
Putting together the spirit list and cocktail menu was one of the most enjoyable projects Dupont has worked on. He’s turned Twin Creeks into an oasis for bourbon lovers and all cocktail aficionados.
Twin Creeks
Silverton Casino Lodge3333 Blue Diamond Road
Hours
Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Closed Mondays
Buzz Worthy
New Fashioned $10
The fresh fruit and simple syrup add a softness and mellow compliment to an otherwise strong cocktail. With layers of flavor and subtlety, this concoction will appeal to men and women, young and old alike.
3 oz. Basil Hayden Bourbon
1/2 oz. simple syrup*
2 dashes Perchaud’s bitters
1 orange slice
4 fresh raspberries
6 fresh blueberries
Muddle orange, raspberries and blueberries with bitters and simple syrup in the bottom of a double old fashioned glass. Add ice and bourbon. Garnish with a raspberry and blueberry spear.
* To make simple syrup, combine dissolve two parts sugar into one part boiling water. Heat and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved, then let cool.
