Welcome to the next in a series of stories showcasing one drink, one bartender, at one great bar. This series is made possible by Brown-Forman's Elevate program — to learn more, contact your Brown-Forman representative.
At the Mt View Hotel in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, you’ll find a pub — and a neat little rooftop cocktail bar — that is the heart of the community.
Up in the rooftop cocktail bar is where you’ll find Jackson Lazarr. “[It’s] the best view in Melbourne, I reckon,” Lazarr says. “You can see pretty much 180 degree uninterrupted views of the Melbourne skyline on the roof.”
Below, Lazarr talks hospitality, what makes the Mt View a great locals pub, and walks us through his cocktail designed to beat the classic Melbourne winter chill.
BOOTHBY: Jackson, for people who haven’t been to the Mt View Hotel before, what is this place all about?
JACKSON LAZARR: We’re a sports pub in Richmond on Bridge Road. We get smashed with the footy all the time. We’ve got a nice little cocktail bar up on the rooftop. Sports bar downstairs, lots of TVs, pumping on footy days. Lots of locals. Best view in Melbourne, I reckon.
BOOTHBY: Tell us about that view.
JACKSON LAZARR: You can see pretty much 180 degree uninterrupted views of the Melbourne skyline on the roof. You can see Melbourne Park, AAMI Park, Rod Laver. Arena, the MCG.
BOOTHBY: All the Melbourne holy sites. How long you been working here?
JACKSON LAZARR: I’ve been working here for pretty much four years on the dot. I came up from the Mornington Peninsula, doing fine dining down there. Thought I’d move up here, bit of a change — and I still get to make beautiful drinks like this.
BOOTHBY: Yeah, tell us about this drink you’ve made with Jack Daniel’s Bonded.
JACKSON LAZARR: So coming into winter, the cooler season, I wanted to make a wintery-style drink. I’ve used maple syrup, cinnamon and obviously Jack Daniel’s Bonded. I’ve created a Sour using lemon juice, dry shake it first, get that nice foam and emulsify the egg white. And then put ice in it, double shake it again, pour it over a nice big ice cube.
And then dusting of cinnamon sugar on top and fire it off to make a nice little crackle glaze.
BOOTHBY: How would you describe it?
JACKSON LAZARR: Without sounding cliche, I think it tastes like sitting by the fire, because that Jack Daniels Bonded just sits well, but then you’ve got that cinnamon spice and maple.
BOOTHBY: It sounds like comfort. What’s the best night to be coming into the Mt View?
JACKSON LAZARR: So we’ve got different specials on every day, food specials every day during the week. And then obviously coming into footy season, any time there’s sport on UFC, boxing, rugby as well, like any sports we show on the telly. We’ve got Saturday sessions up on the rooftop, rotating DJs from 7 till 11. It’s always a good night, good young crowd, cocktails pouring, beers pouring.
BOOTHBY: What do you like about hospitality? Why do you do this job?
JACKSON LAZARR: Just having a place like this, having the freedom to kind of do what you like within the realms of the business, and I like aiding the business to do as best that they can, whilst also displaying my expertise — I’m up on that rooftop bar and have a bit of free rein with what I do. It’s good fun. And interacting with customers every day, meeting new people.
Lynchburg Afterglow
Ingredients
- 45ml Jack Daniel’s Bonded
- 30ml house made maple cinnamon syrup
- 30ml fresh lemon juice
- egg whites
Method
- Dry shake all ingredients, then shake hard with ice, fine strain.
- Serve over one large ice block in a short glass.
- Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Recipe by Jackson Lazarr, Mt View Hotel.
Our Bonded Series celebrates innovation and craftsmanship while giving a nod to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which set the benchmark for whiskey quality and authenticity. Our Bonded Whiskey Series is crafted for those who appreciate the rich history and meticulous craftsmanship of Jack Daniel’s. Dive into our Bonded Series and savor the pinnacle of Jack Daniel's craftsmanship with every sip.
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