Cocktail Legends Come to Life in Bellagio's Hidden Gem

The Vault, the intimate cocktail sanctuary tucked behind a gilded door at Bellagio Resort & Casino, is about to become the epicenter of cocktail education and history with its ambitious new “Liquid Legends” series. This year-long celebration honors the bartenders, writers, and historians who shaped modern cocktail culture, bringing these influential figures directly to guests for an unprecedented educational experience.

The series represents more than just celebrity bartender appearances – it‘s a masterclass in liquid history. Each collaboration pairs visiting legends with The Vault’s extraordinary archive of rare vintage spirits, creating limited-run menus that tell the story of pivotal moments in cocktail evolution. These aren‘t your typical bar takeovers; they’re immersive journeys through time, technique, and taste.

“It is an honor to collaborate with renowned beverage leaders and visionaries,” said Craig Schoettler, Executive Director of Beverage at MGM Resorts International. The series reflects his culinary approach to bartending and The Vault's broader mission of preserving the past while pushing cocktail culture forward into new territory.

The King Kicks Things Off

The series launches January 16, 2026, with none other than Dale DeGroff, the man widely regarded as the architect of the modern cocktail renaissance. Known as the “King of Cocktails,” DeGroff single-handedly revived classic cocktail culture during his legendary tenure at New York City‘s Rainbow Room and has spent decades shaping bartending education worldwide.

DeGroff’s opening menu reads like a personal memoir told through cocktails. He‘s revisiting drinks that appeared on his Rainbow Room menus across decades, including the Negroni and Between the Sheets from his 1988 menu. The selection also features The Fitzgerald, an original creation from the late 1990s, alongside enduring classics like the Boulevardier and King’s Manhattan.

What makes this particularly special is the inclusion of spirits from DeGroff‘s current DeGroff Spirits project. The menu demonstrates how classic drinks endure, evolve, and continue to inspire new generations of bartenders. It’s a living testament to the cyclical nature of cocktail culture, where the old becomes new again through fresh interpretation and technique.

Literary Giants and Liquid Historians

Following DeGroff‘s groundbreaking appearance, the series continues with Robert Simonson on March 5-6, 2026. As one of the most respected voices in cocktail writing and a longtime New York Times contributor, Simonson has authored multiple definitive books that have deepened public understanding of cocktail culture and its place in modern hospitality.

The crown jewel of the series arrives August 6-7, 2026, with David Wondrich, widely regarded as the foremost historian of cocktails and spirits. Wondrich authored the seminal “Imbibe! From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash,” which uncovered the legacy of Jerry Thomas and 19th-century American drinking culture. His follow-up, “Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl,” traced cocktails even further back in history.

Wondrich’s influence extends far beyond books. His research inspired bars worldwide to revive forgotten spirits like Old Tom gin and crème de violette, while reintroducing lost techniques such as oleo saccharum. In 2021, he edited “The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails,” a nearly 900-page definitive reference that stands as one of the most authoritative works ever published on global cocktail history.

Where Vintage Meets Vision

What sets Liquid Legends apart from typical guest bartender events is The Vault‘s unique positioning as both cocktail bar and experiential archive. The venue houses vintage spirits from the past century – bottles so rare that once poured, they may never be available again. This creates an urgency and exclusivity that transforms each collaboration into a once-in-a-lifetime tasting opportunity.

Each Liquid Legends collaboration pairs the visiting expert’s historical perspective with The Vault‘s collection of rare spirits and modern interpretations of historic recipes. Guests don’t just drink cocktails; they experience history through taste, technique, and storytelling. The venue‘s commitment to first-class hospitality and immersive service ensures that every interaction becomes part of the educational experience.

The 50-seat venue, housed in the resort’s former casino cage and redesigned by acclaimed interior designer Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge, provides the perfect intimate setting for these deep dives into cocktail culture. The space itself tells a story of transformation – much like the cocktails being served within its walls.

Booking Your Seat at the Bar of History

Liquid Legends represents a new model for cocktail education, one that brings together historical expertise, rare ingredients, and immersive storytelling in ways that textbooks and YouTube videos simply cannot match. For serious cocktail enthusiasts, this series offers direct access to the minds that shaped modern drinking culture.

Reservations are required for all Liquid Legends events, and given the intimate nature of The Vault and the caliber of guests involved, securing spots will likely require advance planning. The series runs through 2026, with each collaboration offering exclusive menus available for limited times beyond the featured two-night events.

For cocktail lovers who appreciate both history and innovation, Liquid Legends at The Vault promises to be more than entertainment – it's education disguised as an unforgettable night out. In a city built on spectacle, sometimes the most spectacular experiences happen behind unmarked doors, where every sip tells a story that spans centuries.