Why a Bottle of Champagne at EDC Las Vegas Cost $94,000
At least among those who were not familiar with the idea of bottle service, a picture of the drink menu from this weekend's Electronic Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas went viral on social media.
A bottle of Perrier Joet Belle Epoque Brut cost $1,540, which was 616% more than its retail price of $249.99 at Crown Wine and Spirits. A Methuselah 6-liter bottle of Dom Perignon Brut or Dom Perignon Rose cost $94K, which was approximately 1,074% more.
A far more affordable $30 bottle of Grey Goose ($975), a $20 bottle of Jack Daniels ($875), and a $10 six-pack of Bud Light ($140) were all offered on the drink menu.
“No wonder everyone just does drugs,” wrote Twitter/X user @houtanY.
“No way that’s real,” noted @DioDiablo7.
“For $875, Jack Daniel himself better be serving the drink,” added @PTBryce47.
Why Is EDC So High?
At EDC's classic walk-up bars, where you order a single drink and leave with it in a cup, these weren't the pricing.
Premium liquor drinks delivered that way at EDC still cost about $25, which is pricey but not prohibitively so.
Prices at EDC's elevated viewing decks, where drink purchases include a table with a "prime stage view" and a wristband that grants entrance to all festival VIP sections, were posted on the menu that went viral.
At EDC's most elite event, the Marquee SkyDeck, purchasing alcohol at those prices also entitles you to a golf cart ride to your table.
For at least 20 years, the majority of beach clubs and nightclubs in Las Vegas have offered comparable bottle service options.
The Bottle of the Sexes
Bottle service is more about the opulent experience of sitting with friends in a VIP area and having your own personal drink waiter attend to your needs than it is about the beverages themselves.
Additionally, it's about sending a telegraph to any nearby prospective romantic or business partners who could be watching your behavior: "I'm either filthy rich or extremely well-connected."
The ease of you and your group being able to bypass what may otherwise be an hour-long entry line is the final consideration.
No matter how long they wait, a large group of men may occasionally not be able to enter if the location is close to capacity.
Bottle-Born
Les Bains Douches introduced bottle service in 1988. When the Paris nightclub realized it had more patrons than it could accommodate, it started providing free bottles with table reservations.
The concept subsequently lost the complementary element as it traveled throughout Europe.
In 1993, the Tunnel nightclub in New York served the first bottle service in the United States. When compared to ordering $6 cups of the identical beverage, the $90 bottle purchase that was necessary at the time almost made financial sense.
By 1995, bottle service had become popular in New York, and new adopters had raised their pricing and made it mandatory for non-VIPs to enter VIP rooms. In 2000, Miami and Los Angeles joined this affluent and exclusive trend.
With the debut of Light at the Bellagio in 2001, bottle service made its debut in Las Vegas. It is now a staple of almost every nightclub on the Strip.
