Speakeasy Group appoints head of mixology

Australian hospitality firm The Speakeasy Group has signed up noted bartender Andy Griffiths as head of mixology, working across its bar and restaurant network.

Andy Griffiths joins The Speakeasy Group as mixology head

The newly-created role, effective 1 December, was formed to ensure the group’s operations are “consistently innovating” within the cocktail space.

Griffiths, who started is hospitality career by studying as a chef in native New Zealand in 1999, has travelled the world working on private events and taking part in cocktail competitions and spent six years at popular Melbourne bar Cookie.

His decade-long experience in research, creative development and customer knowledge made him the “first choice” to deliver Speakeasy Group cocktail creation, the firm said.

“With the company expanding we want to ensure more than ever that we continue to raise the bar with the drinks we serve and the experience our venues provide to our guests and Andy is the man for the job,” said Greg Sanderson The Speakeasy Group co-owner and operations manager.

Griffiths added: “I am thrilled to be joining the Speakeasy family during this exciting time. I am looking forward to putting all my experience to good use and helping them maintain their leading position as creative cocktail innovators.”

Australia boasts an increasingly dynamic cocktail sector, as SB discovered earlier this year when it took in the Perth bar scene.