Why You Must Check Out 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque
If you’re looking for something out of the norm in Las Vegas, beyond the usual club or bar, then 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque is the place for you. Located in the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino across from the House of Blues, under the escalator and tucked away from the buzz of the casino floor is this curious new social lounge – the brainchild of Hollywood personality Holly Madison.
Marked by a butter-yellow 1920’s vehicle and a hole-in-the-wall bar, you might be confused at first as to where the actual speakeasy is located, but you’re not alone. Simply approach the flat-cap wearing barkeep and, in true prohibition style, he’ll escort you to a hidden door. Here you’ll enter into the intimate and dimly-lit lounge where every detail down to the waitress/bartender 1920’s–style outfits stay true to the Prohibition-era theme.
There are several places to sit: the bar, which boasts amazing views of all the venue’s activities; private tables in front of the stage; or cushy seating surrounding the bar. If you don’t have a reserved table, then you’ll want to take a slight right and ascend the ramp to the center of the room where you can saddle up to the bar and order one of the amazing craft cocktails created by bar manager Marvin Furrow. A chandelier hangs overhead, providing enough light to watch as the bartenders employ their finest skills in concocting amazing libations.
When ordering your drink, don’t just opt for the regular vodka soda or Bud Light, try the most popular drink of the house: the 1923 Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned, which includes Bulleit Bourbon, Amaro Nonino (Italian herbal liqueur), and Dry Curacao. This cocktail is smooth and, as a true old fashioned should be, isn’t buried by fruit.
If that isn’t your cup of tea, then try the slightly sweetened King Fresa – my personal favorite. It is comprised of Tanqueray, lemon juice, egg whites, Pavan Liqueur (made from Muscat grapes and orange blossoms), and topped with a fresh sprig of basil. It is truly a thirst-quenching beverage served in a speakeasy-style champagne glass.
Once you’ve ordered your cocktail, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the night’s events as they’re unveiled with each passing minute of the clock. In between the DJ amping up the lounge with toe-tapping beats, you’ll get to enjoy a five-piece band complete with trombone player in the corner cove near the entrance.
Sporadically throughout the night you’ll watch in awe as former Peepshow dancers perform sexy, burlesque-style vignettes, shedding tops to nothing more than pasties. One of the biggest show-stealers of the night, though, is jazzy lounge singer Skye. A curvaceous and sassy woman belting out sultry sounds as she walks through the room, working the crowd and garnering participation from a few lucky fellas in the crowd.
If you’re looking to relax with a stogie and glass of spirits, there is a cigar room to offer up exactly this. No matter where you go in this lounge you’ll be greeted by amiable staff and gleeful patrons.
The place gets hopping around 10ish, earlier than many Vegas clubs and the party keeps going into the wee hours of the morning. So arrive early and revel in the unexpected coolness of 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque.
