By Stefanie Collins, editor bars&clubs
Multi award-winning hospitality company The Speakeasy Group has announced the appointment of Andy Griffiths as group head of mixology.
Griffiths has a wealth of industry experience and creativity which the group believes will benefit the business as it readies itself to expand in 2017.
The Speakeasy Group currently owns a slew of award-winning venues including Eau-de-Vie Sydney, Eau-de-Vie Melbourne, Boilermaker House, The Roosevelt and the soon to open Mjølner.
The newly created role of head of mixology means that Griffiths will be able to ensure the group’s bars and restaurants are consistently innovating in the cocktail space.
According to the team, Griffiths was their first, and ideal, choice to fill the role due to his international and local expertise, as he will bring over a decade of quality research, creative development and customer knowledge to the position.
Greg Sanderson, Speakeasy Group’s co-owner and operations manager, says that the main goal for Griffiths within the organisation is to maintain the group’s devotion to exceptional cocktail creation and delivery.
“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,” he says.
Griffiths commenced his appointment with The Speakeasy Group on 1 December, and will be spending time in each venue to start planning for 2017.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Speakeasy family during this exciting time,” says Griffiths. “I’m looking forward to putting all my experience to good use and helping them maintain their leading position as creative cocktail innovators.”
Griffiths moved from his native New Zealand to Melbourne in 2004, taking up the reigns behind iconic bar Cookie, before travelling the globe working on private events, competing in global competitions and spending time touring leading distilleries. In 2015 he was inducted as Chevalier de Chartreuse, in France, in recognition of his passion for Chartreuse.
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