At last month’s Australian Liquor Industry Awards (ALIA), Maybe Sammy picked up the awards for Best Cocktail List and Bar of the Year, alongside a ‘highly commended’ prize in the Bar Team of the Year category.
ALIA 2022 was the latest in a string of awards success for the Rocks-based bar, which has also been named the best bar in Australasia for two years running, while also taking home significant prizes at the Tales of the Cocktail earlier in the year.
Bars & Clubs asked Maybe Sammy Co-founder, Martin Hudak, what this award success had meant for his team, and why he thought the bar was continuing to perform so well.
“For us, every recognition is a new beginning and not the end. Awards are a good way of recognising the hard work of our team but at the same time, it is motivation for us to prove why we got them,” Martin said.
Of course, there is a renewed scrutiny that comes with winning picking up such titles, and Martin explains how this drives the venue to continue to hit a high standard.
“The pressure is bigger when you win awards so it’s imperative our team continues to deliver an experience that blows our guests away. I think what unites us as a strong bar team is our collective creativity, our united focus on providing a truly memorable experience and that we work so well together as a team.”
As for the ALIA wins themselves, Martin believes they reflect atmosphere and model created by the Maybe Sammy team.
“We pride ourselves on providing a theatrical and memorable experience where our bartenders dance, sing and have fun but it doesn’t mean that we don’t take our cocktail program seriously. Having the best cocktail list is a reflection of our hard working and creative bar team who understand what our clientele want,” Martin outlines.
“It is huge privilege for us to be recognised and still be relevant after four years of operating. It was amazing to see so many friends in one room and share the stage with them – it was a beautiful night to be part of. We feel humbled by the support we received and congratulate all the nominees on the list.”
After so much success, the challenge for Maybe Sammy is to continue to progress, while maintaining its high quality. Martin tells Bars & Clubs what his hopes and expectations were for the year ahead.
“We are in the process of growing our team and getting more international team members on board, which will allow us to operate more days and also to open more venues,” the Co-founder says.
“Our next opening is El Primo Sanchez, a Mexican bar in Paddington which will open this summer and be the fifth venue in our group. We are ready for a busy festive season and then a well-deserved break in-between to recharge for another strong year ahead.”
Martin saved his final word for his fellows in the industry, and attendees at ALIA.
“Thank you everyone for support and your love. Congratulations to all our peers, industry friends and sponsors for organising another memorable celebratory evening.”
