Galveston’s Cottrell Jones, the margarita whisperer

The Balinese Room was a famous, some may say infamous, nightclub in Galveston. Opened in 1942, it was built on a pier stretching 600 feet from The Seawall over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In its heyday it hosted some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars, like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, Sophie Tucker, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Duke Ellington, Mel Torme, Jayne Mansfield and Gene Autry.

The last event at the Balanese Room, before it was destroyed by Hurricane Ike, was Pride Galveston 2008, a Casino-style event that featured the legendary DJ Chris Allen and over 4,000 people. That event was sponsored by Montrose Star News.

Legend has it that in 1948, when Peggy Lee visited the island, she requested a drink similar to one she had had in Mexico, so head bartender Santos Cruz, whipped up a cocktail for the singer, who loved it. When asked what it was called, he replied that it did not have a name and that she could call it whatever she liked. Her husband suggested she call it the Spanish form of her formal name, Margaret, and the margarita was born.

Visitors to the island have been enjoying margaritas ever since. The next time you are in the mood for one, stop by Southbound Bar and visit with the “margarita whisperer,” the Montrose Star Bartender of the Month, Cottrell Jones.

Name: Cottrell Jones.

Where is your hometown? Dallas.

Cottrell Jones on the cover of April’s Montrose Star

Tell us about your experience bartending.
I love it! It has opened a lot of doors for me, and I’ve also made a lot of friends in the field.

What are the special challenges of being a bartender in Galveston?
I think because the island is so saturated with bars, starting out in the industry can be challenging to building up a regular client base. Mix that with the “slow season” that all native islanders know about. It presents some extra challenges that mainlanders might
not experience.

Do you have a drink specialty?
My fiancé’s favorite drink is a classic margarita. I make them a lot for him. I’ve even given myself the silly nickname, the “Margarita Whisperer.”

What is your philosophy on being a good bartender?
I think what makes a good bartender is not just “flair” or how well you can make a cocktail.

That’s part of it but creating a space where people and your friends can come and relax and enjoy themselves after a long day of work.

Besides the money, what do you enjoy about bartending?
As silly as it sounds, it’s the gossip whether it’s told to me directly or I hear it in passing while I serve other customers.

Do you get hit on a lot and what’s your usual response?
At the bar I work at, it doesn’t happen too often. But when it does, I’ll take the compliment and say something along the lines of “Thank you, that’s sweet of you to say.”

What is your pet peeve about being a bartender?
Definitely has to be when someone comes in and asks me to make them a shot I’ve never heard of (there’s a lot of different kinds of shots) and I’ll follow up with “I’ve never heard of that, but I can look it up for you and make it.” And then they just roll their eyes at me and ask for a beer, ha, ha.

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever seen from behind the bar?
For sure, it has to be some of the fights that I’ve seen.

If you were not a bartender, what would you be doing?
I’ve been working in the service industry for over a decade now, so probably would still be in the kitchen or serving.

Tell us something people do not know about you and will be surprised to learn.
I actually have a culinary background, went to school for it and everything. And starting out my career, I worked in the kitchen.

Cottrell Jones with fiancée James

You are getting married this month. Who is he, how long have you known each other, and where’s the wedding? Give us all the scoop!
Yes, I am! The wedding is April 20, but June 3 will be our three-year anniversary! His name is James and he’s a very talented musician. We’re both very casual people so it’ll be at our favorite bar, and my good friend and “drag mother” Chachie Pedraza will be officiating it.

Are you on social media?
I am indeed! You can find me on at Facebook: Cottrell Jones, on Snapchat at MrBuffWiggly and on Instagram at pinkishnipples.

Where and when can we catch you for a drink?
You can find me working at Southbound Bar (4301 Ave S in Galveston) over the weekend!

Related Posts

About author

Related Posts

Comments are closed.

Do not miss