Stoking Vegas’ Immersive Flame: Lost Spirits Distillery (Review)

I’m normally team “do one thing and do it well” when it comes to immersive design. But Lost Spirits Distillery is a testament to the creative power of rule-breaking.

In fact, the brains behind Lost Spirits seem allergic to minimalism of any kind — and they make it work! I caught up with tech-innovator-cum-ringmaster Bryan Davis after a typical evening at Lost Spirits, complete with craft whiskey tastings, jazz singers, the most beautiful aerial lamp act I’ve ever seen, and a good old-fashioned seance.

Bryan told me about how the current circus-focused incarnation of Lost Spirits got started. One of his early-day employees loved aerial yoga and wanted better access to a rig. Distillery hours were long, though, and her home ceilings were short. Bryan had enjoyed customizing his original building back in Los Angeles, so he thought, “Why not?” One aerial rig and a growing community of misfits later, Lost Spirits Distillery Las Vegas was born.

Lost Spirits is no ordinary circus. It’s a working distillery that offers alcohol tastings amidst the controlled chaos of world-class vaudeville acts, lavishly themed rooms, a 16-course tasting menu from Chef Taylor Persh, and the occasional seance. Dinner and the seance are add-ons to Lost Spirits’ primary experience, but regular tickets include four glasses of liquor and two hours of sandbox-style immersive entertainment. Labyrinthine hallways make exploration a pleasure. I never felt cramped or trapped, even with a full house. Elegant practical effects (like a submersible’s gently swaying chandeliers) felt real enough to keep me grounded in the moment, while expert lighting and soundscapes encouraged my imagination to dive 20,000 leagues under the sea. Everything about Lost Spirits is delightfully mysterious without being flashy or over-produced. With four stages for staggered performances by acrobats, magicians, contortionists, snake charmers, dancers, and jazz singers, the venue is absolutely packed with talent. There’s this vibrant, DIY-esque energy to Lost Spirits — both the space and the show — that I haven’t felt from a large-scale production in a very long time.

I’m not naive enough to think that this vibe is completely organic; most of it comes from Bryan’s position as an industry outsider. Bryan says that he doesn’t have many connections in the immersive theatre world. As the inventor of THEA, a spirits-aging reactor that makes rum and whiskey taste decades old after only about a week, he isn’t burdened with an industry-born idea of what “good immersive” is “supposed” to look like. Instead, he translates what he knows about innovation, iteration, and filling a niche into his world of showmanship, connection, and sensory delight.

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Bryan and his team have obviously cultivated an air of mischievous nonchalance, right down to their show’s artfully-scuffed but expensively-fireproofed plywood sets. Still, the energy I felt from the night’s performers was genuine. Lost Spirits isn’t a well-oiled machine. It’s an organism, adapting to its surroundings as needed. Thriving, even. Performers don’t seem to be replaceable; slotted in to fit the show. Instead, they’re introduced to the Lost Spirits environment as collaborators. Each act shines brightly in its own right. Performers like Pawel Walczewski (the aerial lamp artist) radiate perspective and agency and joy. And that makes the whole evening glow.

If being able to handle unexpected mishaps is a hallmark of great immersive, Lost Spirits crushed it. Even though my companion and I showed up late, we were greeted by an effervescent woman who I later learned was Bryan’s wife and co-founder, Joanne Haruta. She let me know that the show was accessible and that my companion wouldn’t have any trouble using his assistive device inside. She sent us on our way, but we still managed to take a wrong turn through the staff entrance, landing us backstage mid-show. Surprised performers graciously shuffled us along until we got where we needed to be. Nobody knew who we were or what we were doing, but that didn’t stop a charming Ukrainian acrobat from making sure we enjoyed our little adventure. “Hey, I just work here,” he grinned before slipping behind a curtain to prepare for his act. “I have no idea what’s going on.” I didn’t believe that for a second. Moments later Roman Mokrenko was on stage, executing a perfect one-handed headstand for a temporarily stunned crowd.

Immersive and unrestrained, Lost Spirits Distillery invites visitors on a journey of discovery for the senses. Stepping onto their plywood midway feels like being pulled behind the scenes at a pleasantly chaotic movie shoot — you transform into a co-conspirator for the evening; part of the family.

My time at Lost Spirits rekindled a flame I hadn’t known was fading, distilling the essence of circus shows past into a heady cocktail of community and delight. Filled with authenticity, vibrant energy, and raw beauty, Lost Spirits is a must-see for those who like their nights out infused with something a little stronger than reality. Neat.

Lost Spirits Distillery tours are ongoing. Tickets are $69 and up with discounts for military, first responders, and Nevada locals.

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