By Don Chareunsy
Who: The handsome and stylish Andrew Pollard, 41, is the Director of Mixology at The Venetian Las Vegas. Pollard has worked in Las Vegas beverage and hospitality – nightlife, cocktail bars and opening resorts – for more than 20 years, and his resume also includes Breakthru Beverage, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (twice) and Wynn Las Vegas. His first job was Tangerine Nightclub at Treasure Island in 2004. He made The Champagne Cocktail at the new Art Deco Bar Mia at The Venetian outside The Voltaire.
The Cocktail: “The cocktail we made today is The Champagne Cocktail presented at Bar Mia, which means mine. I always look at, ‘Does a menu tell a story? Does it transport you? Does it create an experience?’
“We follow the aesthetic of The Voltaire, Art Deco, and feature cocktails popularized during the Art Deco era of the 1930s and 1940s – classic Martinis, Daquiris, Old Fashioneds, Negronis and a Champagne Cocktail.
“The cocktail is kind of a hybrid of a champagne cocktail in a spritz with a Caribbean pineapple liqueur, Aperitivo Select and vanilla. It’s a tropical-inspired spritz elevated with Perrier-Jouët Brut Champagne and Absolut Elyx Vodka.”
Andrew’s Favorite Cocktail: “My favorite and go-to cocktails are two in the same – a classic gin martini. London dry-style gin. It’s classic, beauty, simplicity and elegant, and when done right it’s perfect.”
What Andrew Loves About Las Vegas: “It has that sense of the American dream. It’s a great place to call home – the accessibility, the excitement, the energy for doing what we love, the entertainment, the nightlife, food and beverage, hospitality. It’s the center of the universe for our industry, and there’s no better place to be.”
A Little-Known Fact About Andrew: “I love all things about the 1980s – I’m a die-hard ’80s fan. Vintage, retro. I’m very excited about going to see Duran Duran at the end of the month (at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas). I have a beautiful vintage Duran Duran necklace I’m going to wear.”
Prime Pro Tip From Andrew: “Do the basics the best. That’s it!”
If you go: Bar Mia, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 414-1000; VenetianLasVegas.com
THE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
Absolut Elyx Vodka
Perrier-Jouët Brut Champagne
Aperitivo Select
Yuzu
Madagascar Vanilla
Caribbean Pineapple Liqueur
Lemon
