Michelin honours Glasgow cocktail guru
THE MICHELIN Guide has awarded Ally Shaw, Head of Drinks at Scoop Restaurant Group, the Exceptional Cocktails Award for his work at Sebb’s.
The award was announced at the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Ceremony for Great Britain and Ireland, held in Dublin on Monday, 9 February. It was a big night for the Miller Street venue which also received a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Shaw joined Scoop Restaurant Group in early 2024 and now leads the drinks direction at Sebb’s, which has firmly established itself as one of Glasgow’s top venues for cocktails.
The 35-year-old mixologist has honed his craft during 15-years working in Glasgow bars and restaurants, but he credits his maths degree for giving him an extra edge.
He said: “I started working in bars while I was studying maths at Glasgow University back in 2011. I didn’t end up using the degree in the way I thought I would, but it definitely still feeds into how I think about drinks.
“Cocktails are actually quite mathematical: there’s science behind it, ratios and balance. You still need the confidence to take risks and keep pushing things forward. I also get plenty of use out of my degree when tallying up the tills at the end of the night.
“It’s surreal to be recognised by the Michelin Guide, if I’m honest. I’ve learned most of what I know by getting stuck in, working in bars and restaurants, and being around people who really care about what they do, and that’s very much how the drinks at Sebb’s have come together.
“We’re not scared to take risks or change things. We want the team to look at a menu and say, ‘that was great, but we can do better’, rather than just sticking to safe options or greatest hits.
Sebb’s is part of Scoop Restaurant Group, which now holds four Michelin Bib Gourmands, with Ox and Finch, Margo, Ka Pao and Sebb’s all recognised by the Michelin Guide. As of last night’s ceremony, Scoop Restaurant Group is the most Michelin-recognised restaurant group in Scotland, based on Bib Gourmand awards.
Author: Glasgow Foodie
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