Overview
What happens when a bunch of affable booze reps turn their hands to opening a bar? You get Mr West — a bottleshop and bar in Footscray that offers punters flagons of rosé and more beers than your Pa could squirrel away for winter.
The downstairs bottleshop is open every day. And you can sit in amongst the dark woody hues and enjoy a brew with your new favourite keeps. There are shelves of beers — sours, stouts, IPAs, you name it — with regular staff reccos and guest brews always hitting the right spot.
The Mr West bar is the kind of place you head to for an after-work drink, take your dog to on weekends (to the upstairs pup-friendly area) or rock up to solo and sit amongst the locals. Time your visit right, and you'll be met with the soft scent of sugar syrup floating down the stairs.
The lads intermingle their prep necessities with experimental excites. We've landed right on the money with our visit and are privy to a measure of their rye bourbon, barrelled-aged Long Island Iced Tea. It distinctly resembles 90s cola-bottle candy, with its hazy white and burgundy-coloured layering.
Snacks are somewhat limited at Mr West — think charcuterie boards, cheese plates and hot chips with hummus (an outstanding and underrated combo) — but it's the 24 taps of beer that have been drawing the crowds. Admittedly, the beers are impressive and change on the regs. For us, however, it's the mezcals that really sing. Hand-selected from locals in Mexico and gifts from friends who sacrifice their duty-free limits, the offerings are rare and unique.
Unlike tequila, which must be made from blue agave, the agave in mezcal has the leisure of being grown anywhere across nine regions, with 48 varietals available. This means there's a broadness in taste to the smoky delights. Check out Mr West's Friday tastings to best explore these fine tequila-adjacent tipples.
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