You’ve already made it through the eerie trek through the warehouse , dodged a few chainsaws, and maybe screamed once or twice (it’s fine, we all did). Now, it’s time to face something truly terrifying: deciding what to drink first.
At Universal Horror Unleashed (UHU), the bar program isn’t just a menu, it’s a continuation of the story. Every cocktail, mocktail, and mysterious elixir was designed by assistant director of food & beverage, Darci Davalos, who took “drinkable horror” to an art form. Each bar inside Universal Horror Unleashed serves beverages tied to one of the haunted houses, and every drink tells its own little story; often with a twist of smoke, blood, or something unholy.
“We started by looking at the houses and worked outward from there,” Darci says. “Each of our bars has a specialty cocktail that’s associated with one of our haunted houses, in addition to some unique creations. The goal was to make every sip feel like part of the experience.”
- Universal Horror Unleashed offers Las Vegas guests a unique horror experience, with themed food and beverage to match.
- There are two bars at Universal Horror Unleashed: The Boiler and Jack’s Alley.
- Premiere House is a sit-down restaurant at Universal Horror Unleashed that also serves themed cocktails.
Ready to dig in more? Read on for your guide to what to drink at Universal Horror Unleashed.
The Boiler
If the warehouse had a heartbeat, it would be The Boiler bar. Flames bellow behind metal grates, casting molten shadows while bartenders summon spirits of a different kind. It’s dark, industrial, and alive, and the drinks are just as intense.
The Severed Pear drink is pure theater and exclusively available at Boiler. Guests are handed a lantern that cracks open to release a swirl of smoke, followed by a pear-spiced bourbon cocktail that’s dangerously smooth. Davalos calls it “anticipation in a glass.” You take a sip, pause to figure out what just happened, and then immediately take another.
For something that tastes like autumn on fire, there’s Harvester of Sorrow, themed after Scarecrow: The Reaping. The Fire Whiskey might scare a few people off, but trust — it’s balanced by apple purée and sparkling lemonade in a way that makes it feel like liquid harvest.
Or, if you’re more into classic horror, Bloodsucker (inspired by the Universal Monsters haunted house) is both gorgeous and grotesque. Blackberry liqueur, lime, rum — and floating inside, bits of red Jello that look like blood clots. It’s theatrical, slightly unnerving, and completely delicious.
After you make your way through the Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer maze, grab a cup of Holy Water, a smoky blend of mezcal, cucumber jalapeño tequila, and passionfruit that delivers an actual kick. As Darci puts it: “It’ll exorcise demons out of anyone.”
Jack’s Alley
Step right up — Jack the Clown and Chance are running the show here at this tiled bar tucked in the dark corner of the warehouse. It’s chaos under the carnival lights, with sideshow acts and the kind of laughter that sounds just a little too manic.
The signature here is Jack’s Juice, a fruity, rum-forward concoction that’s equal parts sinister and fun. Think mango nectar meets cherry brandy, with bitters tying it all together. It’s the perfect drink to hold while watching some jesters dance away. For those skipping the booze, there’s Take a Chance, a mocktail that delivers all the drama without the aftermath. Tequila alternative, berries, lemon, grenadine, and club soda: It’s bright, bold, and proof that a good drink doesn’t need alcohol to make an impression.
Premiere House
Premiere House feels like walking into a fever dream of film archives and twisted innovation. The cocktails here blur the line between science experiment and fine art.
There’s The Green Dread, which Darci describes as “beautiful and disturbing in equal measure.” It’s served in a massive beaker (because of course it is), glowing an eerie green from the melon liqueur and gin. To keep it perfectly balanced, bartenders add six dashes of human tears — a cheeky nod to the saltwater needed to round out the flavor.
Right beside it, Artificial Intelligence is a violet-hued gin cocktail that looks like it was designed by a sentient algorithm with impeccable taste. Elderflower, lavender, and tonic; floral, refreshing, a little uncanny.
If you prefer your thrills without spirits, The Phantom’s Espresso Martini might just steal the show. It’s completely zero-proof, made with Ritual Rum Alternative, cold brew, vanilla syrup, and marshmallow fluff. It’s rich, decadent, and haunted — like if your favorite café had a ghost problem.
Read our guide for what to eat at Universal Horror Unleashed here.
The Art of the Sip
When you strip away the smoke, the glowing beakers, and the blood clots (never thought I’d write that sentence), what makes Universal Horror Unleashed’s drinks stand out is the storytelling.
“I want guests to recognize the thought and passion behind their drink,” Darci says. “From the ingredients to the glassware, every aspect of every drink has been well thought out. You should feel satisfied… and still immediately want a second sip.”
Even the glassware was chosen with care: high-quality acrylic designed to survive a few jump scares. It’s a little thing most guests won’t notice, but it’s the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that defines the experience.
The Final Pour
If Universal Horror Unleashed itself had a signature drink, Darci thinks it might be an Old Fashioned. “The warehouse reminds me of bourbon,” she says. “It’s classic, complex, and a little mysterious.”
And maybe that’s the perfect summary of Universal Horror Unleashed as a whole: familiar ingredients — fear, nostalgia, a touch of spectacle — reimagined into something new and alive.
So whether you’re sipping Holy Water or pretending your Green Dread was brewed in a mad scientist’s lab, raise your glass. You’ve survived the horror (so far).
Let us know what your favorite sip was in the comments!
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