White Whale, a new craft cocktail lounge, opens in Downtown Las Vegas (111 Las Vegas Blvd.) on Friday, Oct. 17. Owned and operated by a team of local industry veterans with years of experience at award-winning venues worldwide, White Whale promises to redefine the city’s cocktail culture with an obsessive dedication to craft and hospitality.

The bar program is helmed by Evan Hosaka and Daniel Yang, whose backgrounds span some of Las Vegas’ top venues, including the Cocktail Collective and Wakuda at The Venetian and Poodle Room at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Both were mentored by consulting partner Sam Ross, one of the most influential barmen of the generation and creator of the modern classics Penicillin and Paper Plane.

Ross is also the founder of acclaimed bars such as Attaboy, ranked on The World’s 50 Best Bars since 2016 and named North America’s Best Bar in 2022, with Attaboy Nashville earning a James Beard Foundation Award nomination. 

The name White Whale symbolizes the team’s pursuit of perfection, channeling the spirit of “Moby Dick” and their obsession for pushing the boundaries of cocktail culture. The menu showcases daily squeezed juices, house-made syrups, premium spirits and inventive flavor combinations; each cocktail crafted with precision, creativity and a sense of fun designed to help guests expand their flavor palates.

Signature cocktails include: 

• White Whale Dirty Martini with fat-washed The Botanist Gin or Haku Vodka, kombu, MSG
• Black Friday with Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon, vanilla extract, egg white and lemon 
• Spicy Sammy with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Aperol, lime and firewater tincture 
• Harajuku with Suntory Whiskey Toki, Gran Classico, Byrrh Grand Quinquina and chocolate bitters
• White Whale Espresso with Weber Ranch Vodka, Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Joseph Cartron Cacao Brun Liqueur and espresso
• Rotating frozen cocktails such as the Penichillin, made with Bruichladdich Classic Laddie, ginger syrup, honey and lemon; and Birds of Paradise with Espolon Tequila, Chinola Passion Liqueur, honey and lime. 

The beverage program is rounded out with a selection of seltzers, wines (including orange and non-alcoholic options), local craft beers and Ross’s personal favorite drink, Guinness, on draft. 

White Whale occupies the former Downtown Cocktail Room, honoring its legacy while creating an experiences for the future. The interior is inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, celebrating resilience, reinvention and beauty in imperfection.

Industrial minimalism is softened with refined warm touches of wood, stone and leather, accented by golden highlights and curated modern art. Balancing sophistication with playful energy, White Whale will feature DJ sets on weekends and Happy Hour. 

“We want White Whale to leave a lasting impression through genuine hospitality and meaningful connections,” Yang said. “Our vision is to create a welcoming social hub for guests and the community, where world-class craft bartending meets a relaxed, approachable vibe.

“With Sam’s expertise and the passion Evan and I bring, we’re truly obsessed with bringing the very best to Las Vegas. We take the craft seriously, but never ourselves too seriously.” 

White Whale will be open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. For more information, follow @whitewhale.lv on social media and visit WhiteWhaleLV.com.