By itself, Lost Spirits Distillery is already one of the must-visit destinations in the Las Vegas Valley. Its combination of otherworldly design and creatively designed spirits—all under the watchful eye of co-founder and CEO Bryan Davis—provide an unforgettable experience. But there’s now a new reason to visit, one that enhances the attraction’s overall effect: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a 16-course dinner that uses plenty of the alcoholic beverages Lost Spirits is famous for.
Once you are guided to your dining room (a memorable experience in itself, as you board a simulated submarine that takes you to a tasting room where chandeliers sway and fish swim outside the portholes, creating an underwater effect), you’re seated along with 11 other guests at a long, wooden table, with actual candles burning in large candelabras. Above you, Vietnamese silk lanterns seem to swarm. You half expect Captain Nemo to appear at any moment!
Social interaction is highly encouraged at this dinner, and Lost Spirits has come up with the perfect lubrication for that: Sparkling rum, a special creation that’s only available at this dinner. It’s wonderfully smooth, and refilled every time your cup gets remotely shallow. As a soundtrack dominated by Leonard Cohen surrounds you, you can get to know your “submarine mates” before the first course even arrives.
And what a menu! In keeping with the Jules Verne theme, this meal focuses on sea and land, with alcohol used liberally in many of the bites. You get a clear idea of what you’re in for when you bite into the “macaron cocktail,” small versions of the confection infused with plenty of yummy rum. (I’ve been saying for years that I love starting a meal with something sweet. This was just what I was talking about!)
Otoro baklava
Along the way, this dinner continually surprises, both with unconventional flavor profiles (Otoro tuna combined with baklava? Oh hell yes it works!) and mind-blowing presentations. (Just wait until you see how the uni is presented—and how you eat it. Trust us, your reaction to this dish is half the fun!)
Davis’ blueprint is all over this dinner from start to finish, from the soundtrack, which changes depending on what is being served (The Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden” while dining on, of course octopus, complete with a tiny sword with which to spear the delicacy), to some of the menu descriptions—“Whale” is featured on the menu with an asterisk; if you go to the bottom of the page, you’ll read in small type, “If whale is not legally available, A5 Kobe beef may be substituted.”
There’s also plenty of theater to enjoy here, such as the “Pig Head” course, during which a swine is brought to a staging area upon a litter and carved—with great relish—by chef Taylor Persh, who previously worked under chef José Andrés. You can feel her pride when introducing each course; no detail is left unattended here, much like the entire Lost Spirits experience.
3215 S. Rancho Dr. Ste. 190, twentythousandleagues.com
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