MGallery elevates the hotel bar experience with World Cocktail Months

Across the world’s greatest drinking cities, hotel bars have long been a benchmark for excellence, and with a growing focus on high-profile bar collaborations, the local industry is quickly catching up with the global drinks landscape.

Top-tier collaborations are proving just how far the hotel bar has come in Australia, and the latest example? A Maybe Sammy bar takeover at Adelaide’s The Playford Hotel, bringing one of Sydney’s most celebrated bar teams into the heart of South Australia.

As part of MGallery’s commitment to meaningful collaborations and mixology, the World Cocktail Months initiative is designed to bring world-class bartending talent into the hotel space – proving that cocktails can be as transportive as travel itself.

Forming the centrepiece of a multimillion-dollar upgrade of The Playford Hotel, Luma Restaurant and Bar was the latest MGallery hotel to welcome world-renowned mixologists behind the bar on Thursday 10 July. With a striking 800-metre ceiling feature providing a sculptural lighting centrepiece, Luma is defined by a warm, golden glow – a modern homage to the Art Nouveau design that runs throughout the venue.

At its heart sits the original hotel bar, making it an ideal stage for the World Cocktail Months activation, where Hunter Gregory and Steven Payne took the reins for a night of creativity and collaboration.

Mark Mewburn, MGallery’s Director of Marketing for the Pacific, says: “Maybe Sammy was designed to feel like a glamorous hotel bar, but without the hotel. Partnering with MGallery Hotels, a brand built on soul, style and hospitality, is the perfect match. With Maybe Sammy’s playful flair and MGallery’s commitment to local discovery, our guests are in for a mixology experience like no other.”

Together, Maybe Sammy and MGallery crafted a cocktail specially for the occasion, and to be served at MGallery hotels across the country. Inspired by native Australian ingredients, Bush Bloom combines honey mead, vodka, Davidson plum, raspberry and lemon myrtle, served with a story card to share the inspiration behind the drink.

Hunter and Steven also showcased a selection of signature Maybe Sammy serves, such as the Lychee Martini (42 Below Vodka, lemon myrtle, lychee and citrus), Maybe Margarita (Patrón Silver Tequila, Pelotón De La Muerte Mezcal, passionfruit and mango) and Eucalyptus Gimlet (Patrón Silver Tequila, mango, eucalyptus and grapefruit bitters).

As part of World Cocktail Months, MGallery has also unveiled a design-led collaboration with Citadelle Gin and French design house Maison Sarah Lavoine, resulting in a trio of bespoke cocktails crafted to complement a limited-edition glassware collection.

The cocktails include Crystal Diva, a Gimlet-style cocktail crafted with Citadelle Gin, fino sherry, jasmine, lemongrass cordial and orange blossom; and the Timeless Negroni, a contemporary twist on the classic combining Citadelle Gin infused with sandalwood, with red vermouth, and Italian bitters infused with pineapple and Pandan. Putting a salty twist on a French 75, the Honey 75 combines Citadelle Gin, fat-washed with local olive oil, with verjus, salted local honey, orange and cardamom syrup, topped with Pommery Champagne. All three cocktails are now being served at MGallery bars across the globe until 31 August.

Finally, guests had the chance to experience Playford Adelaide’s signature cocktail, News Nouveau. Designed to offer a refreshing and balancing taste of the flavours of Adelaide, the cocktail comprises vodka, Dom Benedictine, Davidson plum, raspberry and lemon myrtle.

Take a look at what went down during Maybe Sammy’s Playford Hotel takeover: