About this episode

Chris Maffeo and Hunter Gregory discuss the balance between technical excellence and guest experience in the bar industry.

The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries worldwide with 125+ episodes. Honest conversations about how the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom. This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS . In this second part of the conversation on MAFFEO DRINKS, host Chris Maffeo continues with Hunter Gregory, Bar Manager at Maybe Sammy in Sydney, diving into the delicate balance between technical excellence and guest experience that determines bar success. The discussion explores why bars focusing too heavily on technique without guest experience have closed in recent years, while others with great atmosphere but weak drinks programs also struggle to survive. Hunter introduces the "pie and cherry" philosophy of guest shifts. You can't have the cherry (guest shift excitement) without the pie (consistent bar quality), revealing why some bars create amazing guest shift experiences but disappoint when visited in person. We examine the backbreaking work of scaling cocktail culture person by person, teaching 15 guests about proper espresso martinis who then tell their friends…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Maffeo

Guest: Hunter Gregory

Topics covered

• cocktail culture
• guest experience
• bartender education
• bar management
• menu design

Keywords

• cocktails
• guest shifts
• bar success
• espresso martinis
• cocktail history

Sponsors

MAFFEO DRINKS

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Maybe Sammy

Places: Sydney

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