Ally Shaw, head of drinks at Scoop Restaurant Group and recent winner of Michelin’s Exceptional Cocktails Award, is to take over at Edinburgh bar Nauticus for a one-night-only event this coming Bank Holiday Monday, May 4th.
Shaw, who was honoured at the Michelin Guide ceremony in February for his work with Sebb’s basement bar in Glasgow, is teaming up with Nauticus and The Glasgow Distillery Company for a central belt ‘crossover of cocktails, whisky highballs, food and live music’.
The afternoon-to-late format promises a celebration of drinks built around Glasgow Distillery spirits, pairing snacks supplied by Nauticus’ sister venue Dogstar, open to the public from 4pm.
Shaw said: “We’re really looking forward to bringing a bit of what we do at Sebb’s over to Edinburgh for the night. It’s a great chance to work alongside the Nauticus team and showcase some of the drinks we’ve been developing, as well as using brilliant spirits from Glasgow Distillery.
“For us, it’s always about balance and making drinks that people genuinely want to come back for,” said Shaw. “Being recognised by Michelin earlier this year was a huge moment, but the focus stays the same, keep pushing things forward and make sure people have a great time when they’re at the bar.”
Located in on Duke Street in Leith, Nauticus has built a reputation as one of the city’s most distinctive independent bars, blending cocktail creativity with the feel of a neighbourhood pub.
Its drinks list champions Scottish producers, with the vast majority of spirits, beers and ingredients sourced from brands across the country.
Co-owner Kyle Jamieson said: “We’re super excited to bring Ally into Nauticus to talk through the thinking behind the Sebb’s programme and how his team approaches drinks as part of a wider experience.
“We’ll be delving into how flavours are built in cocktails, how drinks should pair with food, and bringing it all together with incredible whisky from The Glasgow Distillery. This coming Monday is set to be a belter.”
Nauticus is recognised as one of the UK’s leading cocktail bars, having featured in the Franklin & Sons Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.
The venue leans heavily into Leith’s rich maritime and trading past, with its menu structured in ‘chapters’ inspired by historic industries such as the spice trade, gin boom, sherry imports and Scotland’s whisky heritage, giving each visit a strong sense of place.
It is part of a growing Leith hospitality group, alongside sister venue Dogstar, a restaurant and bar which opened in 2025 and which has already secured a place in the Michelin Guide.
At Sebb’s, Shaw’s drinks programme has helped establish the venue as one of Scotland’s leading cocktail destinations, contributing to its Michelin Bib Gourmand status and the wider success of Scoop Restaurant Group, which now holds four Bib Gourmands across its venues.
Space is limited at the Monday takeover, so booking is required.
