Ally Shaw, Head of Drinks at Sebb’s in Glasgow, has won the Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award for his work at the Miller Street venue. The win comes just a week after Sebb’s picked up a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Shaw, 35, joined the Scoop Restaurant Group in early 2024 and now oversees the full drinks programme at Sebb’s, which has quickly become one of Glasgow’s go-to cocktail destinations. He brings with him 15 years of experience across some of the city’s best-known bars and restaurants – and a maths degree from Glasgow University, which he says gives him a unique perspective on mixology.
“I started working in bars while I was studying maths at Glasgow University back in 2011,” he said. “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.”
The Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award celebrates bartenders and restaurant teams whose drinks offering plays a central role in shaping the overall dining experience—highlighting quality, creativity and consistency.
Scoop Restaurant Group now holds four Michelin Bib Gourmands across its portfolio – Sebb’s, Ox and Finch, Ka Pao and Margo – making it the most Bib-awarded hospitality group in Scotland.
Jonathan MacDonald, Managing Director of Scoop, said, “Ally’s a wonderful talent who is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—we’re proud he chose hospitality as a career and chose to work with us.
“Starting Sebb’s in Glasgow city centre was a leap of faith, but we knew if we put together an amazing team of people, it would all work out. The award recognising Ally’s unbelievable talent, alongside our recent Bib Gourmand, is a credit to the team, who are all shaping the experience together with every service.”
Picture: Danny Carruthers and Ally Shaw