Metro Bakery and Cafe’s Chloe Lennon named the Limestone Coast’s best bartender

It almost came down to a shake-off, but the Limestone Coast’s best bartender has been crowed – and she has a thing for jalapeños, grapefruit and ginger.

After a stint as a hairdresser, a Mount Gambier woman found a new way to channel her creativity – concocting one-of-a-kind cocktail recipes.

Six years ago Chloe Lennon was drawn to a job behind the bar at Metro Bakery & Cafe and now named the Limestone Coast’s best bartender in our latest Delicious Local poll. 

She is often found mixing up the classics – long island iced teas, espresso martinis and margaritas, but it’s her unconventional twist on flavour combinations that makes her the best in the business.

The Limestone Coast's best bartender Chloe Lennon from Metro, Bakery & Cafe in Mount Gambier. Picture: Jessica Ball

Infusing her own spirits and not afraid to trial whatever combination pops into her mind, Ms Lennon said jalapeños, grapefruit and ginger was a surprising winner.

“I get the freedom to play with stuff in the bar and make up cocktails and experiment,” Ms Lennon said.

TOP FIVE LIMESTONE COAST BARTENDERS

1. Chloe Lennon, Metro Bakery and Cafe, Mount Gambier

2. Ben Deering, Thyme at The Lakes, Mount Gambier

3. Tom Gardner, Crown Inn, Kingston

4. Aaron Davis, Jens Town Hall Hotel, Mount Gambier

5. Tristan Lean, The Mac‘s Hotel, Mount Gambier

“I cut up chilli and put that in vodka, I put basil in gin, ginger in vodka and use that to make up cocktails or change up a classic like a chilli margarita.”

Ms Lennon hasn’t had a weekend off in years but says the best part of her job is seeing people enjoy her drinks.

A Chloe Lennon creation. Picture: Jessica Ball

“I like when people just ask me to make something up and I’ll just sort of look around the bar and just wing it and then they love it,” she said.

“I should really write it down when that happens.

“When they’re happy it makes me happy.”

After a difficult period for the hospitality industry, Ms Lennon is glad to see the Metro’s dance floor in full swing again.

The Limestone Coast's best bartender Chloe Lennon from Metro, Bakery & Cafe in Mount Gambier. Picture: Jessica Ball

“The night that they announced hospitality was shutting down it was pretty hard for all of us, we were crying on the kitchen floor,” she said.

“It would get quite hard, especially once people have had a few drinks and all they want to do is dance, you felt like a bit of a party pooper.”