True to the Roots at Juniper Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas

Despite its rep as a town of raucous clubs, the cocktail scene in Las Vegas keeps heating up – this time, thanks to the newly opened Juniper Cocktail Lounge. Located at the Park MGM, right on the famed Strip, Juniper is all about the drinks, gin specifically (the name – a nod to the juniper berry, from which gin derives its aromatic aroma, is a tip off).

Juniper Cocktail Lounge proudly boasts the largest selection of gins in town and offers a variety of gin and non-gin drinks concocted by Craig Schoettler, MGM Resorts executive director of beverage and corporate mixologist. There is the creative GnT program, where guests choose their favored gin and a flavor profile and a bespoke cocktail is created for them.

There are also lots of creative concoctions on the menu and the True to The Roots is one to try. Made with gin, honey syrup, fresh lemon and orange juices, the True to The Roots is a refreshing – and boozy – blend.

“True the Roots is a play on the classic Bees Knees,” explains Schoettler. “We use a Colorado Gin called Spring 44, which is distilled from local clover honey – and it gives the gin great mouth feel and texture. We have the distillery ship us the raw honey they use to distill, and then we make a syrup out of it to sweeten the cocktail. It’s balanced out with fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice and garnished with a fresh lavender flower for an aromatic lift.”

Bottoms up.