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.
Walk down Enmore Road near the Enmore Theatre most nights and the strip is buzzing; it might just be the best street in Australia right now for a night out.
One bar that has anchored the street’s revival over the last six years is Fortunate Son. The neighbourhood cocktail bar does what great neighbourhood bars ought to do: they offer warm, friendly service, and serve great classic drinks. As Josh Noall, bar manager at Fortunate Son says in the interview below, they’re all about the locals and good times.
They are, however, operating in Sydney’s Inner West and across the road from Enmore Theatre, which also means that Fortunate Son is a great bar at which to sit and people-watch. “[Enmore Theatre] brings all walks of life,” says Noall. “You get a different crowd sometimes every night.”
Below, Noall talks us through their Banana Split Old Fashioned riff — which uses a split base of Gentleman Jack and Diplomático Rum — and what you can expect from one of the country’s great neighbourhood cocktail joints.
BOOTHBY: Would you like to tell us who you are and where we are?
JOSH NOALL: I’m Josh Noall, the bar manager here at Fortunate Son bar, in Enmore. Local neighbourhood bar. Love classic cocktails here.
BOOTHBY: Yeah, describe this place for me what it’s like.
JOSH NOALL: We’re an American-inspired neighbourhood bar, I would say. Lots of locals, lots of good times. We say cold drinks, warm service — it’s the tagline for us.
BOOTHBY: How long you been bartending, Josh?
JOSH NOALL: I’ve been in the industry a good decade now. I’ve been the bar manager here for a handful of years, I was on the opening team actually as their first bartender.
BOOTHBY: And how long has this place been around?
JOSH NOALL: Our sixth birthday was in December.
BOOTHBY: What kind of crowd do you get here?
JOSH NOALL: We’re lucky that we’re opposite Enmore Theatre. It brings all walks of life, I guess. You get a different crowd sometimes every night. But at the heart of it we do have a lot of locals in the community who we’re fortunate enough to have come in almost every day.
BOOTHBY: What's it like to have those regulars?
JOSH NOALL: Honestly, lovely. I've become a part of the community here, I guess, just getting to know and serve the people who are a part of it.
BOOTHBY: Tell us about the drink that you've got next to you.
JOSH NOALL: So we have here the Banana Split Old Fashioned. A bit of a play on Jack Daniel’s. We've done an infused banana Gentleman Jack, which we've then made into a split base Old Fashioned with the Diplomático. The rum played well with those flavours and spices in the Jack and has come together for a nice little Banana Split Old Fashioned.
BOOTHBY: Can you walk us through how you make the drink?
JOSH NOALL: Essentially we've infused both spirits for 24 hours, just a quick overnight infusion with dehydrated banana chips. It's an easy one. Nothing crazy. Don't overcomplicate it. And then use some of the Banana Massenez as the sugar replacement to play on those banana notes. Hit of orange on top.
BOOTHBY: And what's it like on Enmore Road at the moment? Because it has become quite the precinct, right?
JOSH NOALL: It has. It is building for the better. I think what's good for us is good for everyone. Five or six new bars in the last few months have popped up, which again, hopefully will help build the entertainment precinct that the council has been trying to build for the last few years. I think what's good for one is good for all.
BOOTHBY: After Fortunate Son, where should people should go for a drink around here?
JOSH NOALL: After a drink here at Fortunate Son, I mean I’m biased, there’s a good little circuit around the corner. We’ve got Palomino Lounge is ours across the road. We do live music a couple of times a week there, which is really good. Good times always. Jacoby’s up the road, I love. Always a late night time. And Silver’s Motel is one of my new favourites that has opened up. They’re a good late night whiskey, great team. Good people behind it.
Banana Split Old Fashioned recipe
Ingredients
- 20ml banana chip-infused Gentleman Jack
- 20ml banana chip-infused Diplomático Mantuano Rum
- 10ml banana liqueur
- 4 dashes of aromatic bitters
Stir down all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass. Strain over ice in a rocks glass, garnish with an orange twist.
Recipe by Josh Noall at Fortunate Son, Newtown.
Diplomático’s identity is rooted in deep family values and a genuine commitment to quality. It is the result of a unique blend of passion and craftsmanship. Diplomático is recognised for being one of the leading super premium rums worldwide and for its multi-award winning taste. Its range of complex rums delivers a signature taste that results from mastering the art of blending over all else.
Sam Bygrave
