Who | Jackson Long
Where | Montréal, Canada
Current Bar | El Pequeño and The Coldroom
Past Bar(s) | Le Mal Nécessaire
Favourite Spirit | Rum
Favourite Juice | Pineapple
Favourite Classic Cocktail | Either a Nuclear Daiquiri or a Naked & Famous
First Classic Cocktail you ever had | My mom used to make strawberry daiquiris when her friends would come over in the summer and when I was a teen I used to sneak some out of the blender when she was in the other room.
Favourite Part of the Job | Being nice to people. When people walk into El Pequeño I say “Hi new friend!” and by the time they leave they know I meant it. That human connection aspect of what we do is what is most special to me about this industry.
Favourite After Work Drink | Guinness in a hurricane glass
Favourite bar in the world | Either Dear Friend in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia or Fo+Ma in Mexico City
Best known for | I am probably best known for my creation, the F*** Me Up Nick, invented for my dear friend and regular, Nickael who has the alcohol tolerance of 3 men twice his size combined.
Favourite “at work” memory | A few weeks back it was insanely humid, I think a heat wave in Montréal, and it was packed in the Coldroom. We got absolutely slammed from the getgo but at around 10pm the entire neighbourhood goes dark; full black out for blocks. We closed in the dark with our flashlights, having a drink and washing everything by hand. When we got out we rented bikes and trekked up the Chez Miller Sports Bar in the village (shout out the Chez Miller & Midway team! Montreal service industry royalty 100%). We went for “one drink” but ended up there until last call. Francis, Milee, Giani, Tristan, Lilie I love you guys.
What’s the most popular cocktail in your city? Montréal is way too diverse for that question… but as someone who spends most of his waking moments in El Pequeño I’m going to have to say Mojitos.
Favourite thing about your city | The people. I feel like in Montréal it’s far less likely to cross paths with people that think they’re too cool to be warm and kind. You really can shoot the shit with anyone here.
Who is your favourite fictional bartender? Moe Syzlack no question. He “invented” the Flaming Moe!
What was the last photo that you took? It was a photo of me and my friend Moreno from Bar Bello who filled in a patio shift with me at El P to help out when someone called in sick.
Where is one place that you have never been but would like to travel to? The smallest bar in North America in Key West, Florida or the smallest bar in the world in Dublin, Ireland.
Any claims to fame? I am on a mission to make jiggering cool. Free pouring is for lazy bums. This is a hill I will die on.
Aperitivo or Digestivo? Digestivo
Sparkling or Flat? Flat
Paper Plane or Penicillin? Penicillin
Sherry or Vermouth? Sherry
Are you available for freelance gigs? I love what I do. I will always be available to do it as much as possible.
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