In the sea of Las Vegas bartenders, you’ll remember Lucas Montano. He’s not easy to forget. He’ll tractor beam you in with his smile and then follow it up with a personality that’s a mix of charm and life-of-the-party enthusiasm. You’ll also realize that underneath that lies a genuine guy who loves his wife and kids and understands the value of hard work.
The longtime Las Vegan (his parents moved here from his home country of Argentina when he was a toddler) joined Caesars Palace about five years ago, starting out in room service on the graveyard shift. “I really wanted to get into bartending because not only are you making cocktails but you’re entertaining people. I like that a lot,” said Montano, who also DJs at the Caesars pool during the summer months. “(With) music you entertain people, (and with) bartending you entertain people, too. I had to start at the very bottom, though, but I worked hard and worked my way up to Lobby Bar.”
Montano was a part of the team of bartenders that opened the redesigned Lobby Bar last year. Along with the redesign, the cocktail menu received a complete overhaul by master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, who crafted a list of classics and soon-to-be-classics.
Smart Alec
“We trained for weeks with Tony—we learned all about making cocktails from a legend. If you really want to taste a good cocktail, you come to Lobby Bar. And, of course, come see me,” he said, winking playfully.
Smart Alec
This year marks the 300th anniversary of Martell cognac, the oldest of the big cognac houses. The Lobby Bar commemorates the tercentennial by offering three cocktails that use the smooth spirit. The Smart Alec blends yellow Chartreuse, Cointreau and a dash of orange bitters with Martell, resulting in a cocktail that is both sweet and tart, with a hint of black licorice in the finish.
This Friends With Benefits is powered by Martell.
