Juyoung Kang, The Asian American Bartender Redefining Las Vegas Cocktail Culture

Name: Juyoung Kang
Current Base: Las Vegas, Nevada
Current Role: Lead Bartender at The Dorsey, The Venetian Resort
Accolades:
Most Imaginative Bartender (USBG and Bombay Sapphire)
Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemakers
Recognised contributor to the modern craft cocktail movement
Signature Style: Elegant, expressive cocktails built on classic technique and transformed with spices, florals, and layered syrups
Previous Experience: The NoMad Las Vegas, The Vesper Bar, The Marquee
Known For: Thoughtful menu design, innovative twists on classics, precision with warmth

A Quiet Force in the City of Excess

Las Vegas is famous for spectacle, noise, and speed. Yet in the middle of that constant movement is a bartender who built her reputation on the opposite qualities. Calm precision. Thoughtful creativity. Gentle confidence.
This is where Juyoung Kang stands apart.

Her journey into bartending did not begin with dreams of Vegas glamour or global recognition. It began with curiosity, with a fascination for flavour and a natural instinct for hospitality. Over time, that instinct evolved into a career shaped by intention. She learned to honour the classics while finding ways to transform them. She studied technique, balance, aroma, and texture. And slowly, she began to leave an imprint on the cocktail world.

In 2014, she stepped fully into the spotlight when she was named Most Imaginative Bartender of the Year, a title that introduced her to the national stage. The recognition came not from theatrics but from the subtle intelligence of her creations, including the now notable Lacy Fizz, a cocktail built on the structure of a Ramos Gin Fizz yet entirely transformed through an eight spice syrup and a floral garnish. The drink was not showy. It was refined, thoughtful, almost meditative. It reflected her.

Finding Her Home Behind the Bar at The Dorsey

When The Dorsey opened at The Venetian, it launched with the intention of becoming one of Las Vegas’s most forward thinking cocktail bars. Juyoung took on the role that would allow her to shape its identity. She brought experience from multiple venues across the city, but more importantly, she brought a philosophy.

To her, a cocktail menu is not a list of drinks. It is a mood board. A sensory journey. A story. The environment informs the style, and she adapts accordingly. On the West Coast, she often gravitates toward lighter and refreshing drinks. In New York style bars, she enjoys the complexity of spirit forward builds. In Las Vegas, where guests arrive from every part of the world, she blends approachability with intrigue.

It is this awareness of people and place that gives her work an effortless sophistication. Her menus appeal to both the curious and the cautious. They invite conversation rather than demand attention.

Her cocktails are the kind that stay with you.
Not because they shout, but because they speak with intention.

A Style Rooted in Heritage and Expression

Juyoung was born in the United States to Korean parents, and though she does not frame her work as overtly cultural, her heritage informs her palate. She gravitates to spices, aromatics, florals, and ingredients that carry depth without heaviness.

When she builds a drink, she often begins with structure. The skeleton of a classic recipe. Once she has that base, she layers flavour the same way a chef layers seasoning. This approach gives her cocktails clarity, confidence, and elegance.

The Lacy Fizz is one example of how she blends familiarity with exploration. So are her many twists on spirit forward builds. Beautiful vermouth driven drinks with light botanicals. Whiskey cocktails softened with unexpected citrus. Gin creations that feel spirited but never sharp.

Her drinks carry the imprint of someone who understands how memory works. Guests often describe her cocktails as vivid, emotional, comforting, or uniquely personal. They connect, even if the flavours are new.

A Leader in a Space That Needs More Voices

The bartending world has long been shaped by certain archetypes. For years, the most recognised names were often men, often Western, and often portrayed as the standard for craft. Juyoung shifted that narrative simply by showing up, working with consistency, and excelling without theatrics.

As an Asian American woman in a competitive field, she represents the importance of visibility. Her presence behind the bar shows younger bartenders that success is possible through skill, discipline, and authenticity. She proves that leadership does not require loudness. It requires clarity.

Her influence goes beyond the drinks she creates. She mentors. She teaches. She speaks openly about process and patience. Many bartenders point to her as an anchor in the often chaotic world of hospitality. She is a reminder that grace and strength can coexist.

Beyond Recognition, Toward Legacy

Awards have come her way, and more will likely follow. But what makes her story meaningful is not the accolades. It is her consistency.

She does not chase trends. She does not rely on spectacle.
She focuses on the guest. On experience. On balance.
She brings care to a city that moves fast, and in doing so, she offers something rare.

Juyoung Kang represents a future of bartending that values depth over noise, intention over excess, and craft over ego.
Her drinks are elegant because her perspective is elegant.
Her menus are thoughtful because her mind is thoughtful.
Her leadership is quiet, but it is unmistakably powerful.

In Las Vegas, amid the glitter and the speed, she is the calm point.
The one who reminds people that a cocktail can be art, memory, invitation, and connection.
The one who proves that the heart of drinking culture still lies in hospitality.

Her legacy is already forming, one beautifully balanced cocktail at a time.