Las Vegas: Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer

On my last trip to Vegas, we stayed at the Excalibur which just opened the Lynyrd Skynyrd Barbeque & Beer restaurant. Before you even ask, yes, the chicken is called “Free Bird.”

We stopped in for drinks a few times. I didn’t get a chance to try the BBQ but a Texan bartender told me it’s fairly right on. It’s the kind of place you go up and pick out what you want to eat but it feels like you can stay for a while listening to the music. There’s a big stage as well as two bars.

What I found fascinating about the bartenders is this all-female crew are all dancers. They were trained to both dance and bartend. You might occasionally (very likely) find them dancing on the bar but they also know how to make Old Fashioneds and Negronis. Do not however, ask them to make you a Pisco sour. Despite LSBB having some great quality spirits like pisco, they don’t have egg whites. A pisco sour will be poured with sour mix (or what they call their fresh lemon-lime mix).

I explained to one of the bartenders that I didn’t really care for sweet drinks but she said the Honey Badger (Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, DiSaronno Amaretto, apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, whiskey barrel bitters)  was the best and her favorite on the cocktail list. The $10 cocktails, $8 shots and $6-7 beers seem unreasonably cheap.

I also tried the Kountry Kosmo (Woodford Reserve, Solerno blood orange liqueur, Monin cranberry syrup, lemon sour). A friend got daring and asked for Negroni but with tequila instead of gin. It was surprisingly great.

Here are the rest of the cocktails:

Hellhouse BLT– bacon-infused Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper, Fernet Branca, house Bloody Mary mix

Johnny’s Julep– Maker’s Mark, sugar, fresh mint

Double Wide Baconator– bacon-infused Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper, Lillet Rouge, Maraschino, Angostura bitters

Whiskey Rock-A- Roller– Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Merlet Creme Fraise, lemon sour, raspberries, rhubarb bitters

Muscle Shoals Margarita– El Jimador Silver tequila, blackberries, cucumber, jalapeno, agave, lime

The Breeze– Maker’s Mark, DiSaronno Amaretto, apricot preserves, lemon sour

Free Bird– Red Stag whiskey, Citronage, blackberries, lime sour

Cheatin’ Woman– Finlandia grapefruit vodka, lemon sour, basil

Tea for Texas– Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, iced tea, lemon, agave, lemon bitters

You might be wondering what the hell is going on. Yep, that’s right, craft cocktails got a bit country. I’m halfway curious about the Hellhouse BLT because of the Fernet and the Mint Julep is probably really fine.

There are a dozen different shots. I was impressed to try the Cry for the Bad Man (Jagermeister and root beer). It was quite good, actually. Japanese Thanksgiving (Yamazaki whisky and cranberry wasabi) was a bit different. I bet the Hall of Fame (Woodford Reserve, maraschino, Combier, Angostura bitters) would be quite nice.

Other shots:

Red Beard- Red Stag & Dr. Pepper

Death to Miss Piggy– bacon-washed Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper

Sweet Home Alabama Slammer– Southern Comfort, Plymouth Sloe Gin, orange juice

Mississippi Kid– Southern Comfort Lime, Chambord

Saturday Night Special– Rittenhouse 100 rye, orgeat, Red Bull

BBQ & Beer– Jack Daniel’s JD Honey smokehouse BBQ sauce, Lynyrd Skynyrd lager

Moon & Dew– Original Moonshine clear corn whiskey, Mountain Dew

The original idea for the White Trash Wedding shots (Three Olives Cake vodka, whipped cream, sprinkles) would be served only to women. But then that’s not quite fair so for all you lucky men, you also get a slick of lipstick before you can have these shots. Like a blow job shot, you’re not supposed to use your hands. Moans of “it’s so big!” “What do you mean I can’t use my hands?” and other things were said.

Once these boys had their lipstick on, it was game on. White Trash Wedding shots!

LSBB just so happened to be the after party location of the recent Country Music Awards. Toby Keith took the stage for a song. I may not necessarily listen to this type of music but there’s no denying he’s a great singer.

And with a Jack and Pickle Back (duh- what else, Jack Daniel’s and pickle juice back), we danced the night away.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Barbeque & Beer

Excalibur Hotel, 3850 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 – (702) 597-7777