25th Annual Nightclub & Bar Show - Introducing the Latest Products to Vegas

The Las Vegas Convention Center recently hosted the 25th Annual Nightclub & Bar Show, along with the International Restaurant Show and the Hotel World Food & Beverage Expo and Conference.

More than 26,000 hospitality industry professionals converged upon Las Vegas as the movers and shakers of the nightclub/bar, restaurant and hotel industries gathered to share their insights, show off their new ideas and products, and have a great time. This year, while the  Nightclub & Bar Show seemed smaller than in recent years, there was no shortage of new products, education or fun.

Along with the educational seminars and keynote addresses, including an
interesting interview of Dan Aykroyd by Kevin Brauch, The Thirsty Traveler
(www.thirstytraveler.tv), many new products were rolled out. The really cool part of the “new” products is that some of them have actually been around a long time, such as absinthe. But back to the new....Dan Aykroyd was at the show promoting his newest product, Crystal Head Vodka. Available in a beautiful “Crystal Head” bottle designed by artist John Alexander, this vodka is quadruple distilled from glacier water in New Foundland, off the coast of Canada, and does not contain glycerin, citrus oil or sugar that is typically found in other vodkas. Aykroyd got into the vodka business when his interest in the supernatural, ghosts and un-worldly presences collided with his interest in really good “legal recreational consumables” (his previous forays in the beverage industry have included Dan Aykroyd Wines). Hearing the tales of the 13 Crystal Heads gave him the idea for this new and different vodka. For more information on Crystal Head Vodka, visit www.crystalheadvodka.com. (You must be 21 to visit this website.) You can also find the story of the 13 Crystal Heads, and some great recipes.

Another celebrity with a new spirit at the show was Justin Timberlake. Developed with Kevin Ruder, 901 Silver Tequila was showcased with the help of the very entertaining Dan Band. This triple-distilled tequila is smooth, fresh and easy to drink. Timberlake stopped by the 901 booth to take in a few moments of the comedic Dan Band. Visit www.901.com for reviews, drink recipes (click on the glasses to get the recipes!) and additional information. This tequila has gotten great reviews since the show, and should be widely available near you.

Other celebrities spotted at the show included Lil’ John, who stopped by the Patron booth. Not only does Patron make good tequila, they have an excellent line of rum (labeled under the name "Pyrat," pronounced pirate), a premium vodka
(Ultimat Vodka, from Poland), as well as a tequila-based coffee liqueur that is
better than any frappuccino I’ve ever had! However, if you visit www.patronspirits.com you will find a recipe for XO Prediction that is fabulous. The website is very interactive, asking questions to find the perfect drink recipe for you. Try it!

You would expect to find a number of unique beverages at the show, and the show did not disappoint. One of the most interesting beers was Singha Beer from Thailand. Founded in 1933, Singha is brewed by Boon Rawd Brewery, the first brewery in Thailand. Singha is Thai for “mythical lion.” Go to www.singhabeer.com to see their interactive, fun and informative website.

Another in-a-class-by-itself beverage was Obsello’s Absinthe. Banned in the U.S. in 1915 for its alleged hallucinogenic properties, absinthe has been making a comeback since the late 1990s worldwide, and only returned to the U.S. in 2007. A light green, somewhat thick spirit, absinthe is traditionally served by dripping cold water slowly over a cube of sugar into a glass of absinthe. The absinthe will then change from green to a milky color, releasing the botanical oils. Obsello’s Absinthe, which hails from Spain, is unique in that it is distilled from grapes (other absinthes are not) and Wormwood, as well as anise and a selection of other herbs. It has a delightfully different, herbal and licorice flavor. It may not be a daily drink, but is a great treat for special occasions! See www.obsello.com for more on the history and the making of Obsello Absinthe.

Other beverages at the show included several non-alocholic energy drinks and anti-hangover remedies. Many of the energy drinks were not new, such as Monster ( www.monsterenergy.com), but their presence was strong and demand for energy drinks still seems to be high. Roaring Lion ( www.roaringlionenergydrink.com), another energy drink, gives bar owners the ease of offering an energy drink on a bar gun, as a mixer or a drink; consumers can also find the drink in many retail outlets in an efficient resealable bottle. For “can junkies” though, it is still available in a can, the way Monster Energy drinks are. One relative newcomer, Wave Energy Drink ( www.tastethewave.com), has a lower caffeine content and more B vitamins than many of its competitors.

And another notable, almost-energy drink, Bing (no, not the search engine), made an impact at the show. Flavored with bing cherries, it has fewer calories than most other non-diet drinks (only 40 calories per 12 oz.), and contains Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng and Vitamin C. While it has cane sugar, it also has a small amount of artificial sweetners, but that is balanced with the fact that it contains real juice. Visit ww w.bingenergydrink.com for all of the details!

On the opposite end of the drink spectrum was newcomer Dream Water. Available in three flavors, Dream Water is an all natural, zero-calorie sleep and relaxation water with GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid), Melatonin and 5-HTP formulated to produce a natural, relaxed state of mind. It is available in an 8 oz. bottle and a 2.5 oz. bottle so it can be carried onto a plane. Go to www.drinkdreamwater.com for more information.

Besides interesting and new beverages, several beverage-related product
companies—including a beer bottle shade—attempted to woo show attendees. But it was new technology that seemed to dominate the new product category. Reaching out and keeping in touch with customers and potential clients is apparently big business, and there are many apps and other cool gadgets to do just that. AM Mobile Software offers custom apps that let restaurants connect with clients and potential clients, provide directions, phone numbers and so much more (ie, you could receive a text message with a great special from your favorite Italian restaurant). Go to www.ammobilesoftware.com, or ask your favorite bar or restaurant if they are using a “list.” Textboom is another new company for nightclub and bar owners that offers a text service to reach customers with specials, contests, promotions or any other marketing aimed at clients. Check with
your favorite club to see if they are hooked up with a company like Textboom--you just might get a text near your next birthday with a special offer! See
www.textboom.com for more details.

The Show also gave attendees the chance to experience some of Las Vegas’ hottest clubs by showcasing specific new drinks at each venue. Among the standouts: Haze Nightclub at Aria Resort & Casino at City Center; XS Nightclub at Wynn Encore, and TAO Nightclub at the Venetian, which was awarded Nightclub of the Year by the Show. If you find yourself in Las Vegas, you won’t be dissappointed if you make it to any one of these awesome clubs. The recently-opened Haze seems to match everything that City Center is: huge, over-the-top, elegant and mind-blowing. With three bars, two stories and a dance floor viewable from the second floor, bored is the last word anyone could use to describe
their experience. And, you can only imagine the level of technology in place to
keep everything rockin.’  The lighting and sound system are rumored to be the
best in Las Vegas, and are only part of the reason your night will be one to
remember.

While it may take a while to get into Haze, the wait in line will give you time to meet some interesting people and enjoy some interesting architecture. As the site of the Opening Night Party for the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Tradeshow, sponsors were 901 Silver Tequila, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Anheuser-Busch. For more information, reservations and pictures, visit
http://lightgroup.com/las-vegas-nightclub-haze/

While the number of new products and services was huge, many were geared to folks in the industry, and might impact you without your even knowing it. But, here are just a few of the other interesting products you should be on the lookout for:

• Spare Soles is a company dedicated to helping club hopping women who believe heels must be worn to be cool, but change their minds at the end of the night and only want to be able to walk. Who hasn't, at the end of a long night, thought, "I'd pay ANYTHING not to have to walk another inch in these shoes?" Well, the folks at Spare Soles are your dream come true--as long as their vending machine is in your nightclub! Yes, shoes from a vending machine (remember, you'd pay anything, right?!). The price varies (of course there are styles and size options) for these comfortable flats. If you haven't seen them, visit www.sparesoles.com and ask your favorite nightclub to get in touch with them!

• Click Clack is a company that presented virtually unbreakable drinkware, made in New Zealand. www.clickclack.com

•  Crater Lake Vodka, distilled in Bend, Oregon, is a premium vodka, filtered 10 times through charcoal and crushed volcanic rock, and aged briefly in oak. A
down-to-earth company with award-winning products, Bendistillery also handcrafts Cascade Mountain Gin, Cofia Hazelnut Espresso Vodka, Diamond 100 Vodka and Mazama Infused Pepper Vodka.  www.bendistillery.com

• Firestarter Vodka, while not a newcomer to this show, comes packaged in what looks like a fire extinguisher. A Russian vodka, it is made with Moldavian wheat. www.firestarter-vodka.com

• Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito Beveridge, founder and master distiller, taste
tests every batch! It is distilled six times in “old-fashioned pot stills” that
he built. Crafted in Texas. www.titosvodka.com

• Afterparty, a recovery beverage (with no caffeine) that has the following herbal blend concocted to fight hangovers: contains White Willow Bark, Milk Thistle, Prickly Pear extract, and decaf Green Tea. It comes in two flavors: Cranberry-Citrus and Mangosteen-Passion. www.tryafterparty.com

• Lotus Energy Drink, a premium healthy energy alternative loaded with
antioxidants in an 8 oz. can. www.lotusforever.com

While the show is geared toward industry professionals, it is consumers who drive the industry. Next time you are at a restaurant or club, and notice something new or different, make sure you let the proprietor know you appreciate the fact that they are making a difference by stepping up their game with something new! 

 

Photos by Todd Reddeman