LE BAR BOTANISTE: A NEW PARISIAN REFERENCE
Since September, the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris has unveiled the new identity of its Bar, renamed “Le Bar Botaniste”.
Proud of the legacy left by Prince Roland Bonaparte, Chef Barman Arnaud Thirel and his teams wanted to pay tribute to this outstanding collector and scientist with a menu of highly specialized cocktails and spirits.
A nod to the past of the former mansion of this passionate Prince, who had succeeded in creating the world’s largest private herbarium, comprising over 2,500,000 specimens.
A purist approach
Inspired by their discoveries and driven by the desire to surprise, the Bar team has concocted a collection of daring cocktails with a bias towards restoring the credentials of the most aromatic and sometimes forgotten spirits, such as génépi, absinthe or chartreuse…
Under the impetus of Assistant Restaurant Manager Thibaut Drege, they have sourced the best spirits in each category, giving preference to traditional, sometimes little-known houses, to make Bar Botaniste a benchmark in Paris.
They revisit the classics and think outside the box, offering a variety of 23 hand-picked gins – and 9 premium Tonics, for over 200 possible Tonic gin combinations – selecting precious absinthes and collaborating with the renowned Bossetti cellars to distinguish the finest chartreuses and rare Tarragones.
15 signature cocktails
These cocktails illustrate the know-how, creativity and meticulous research work of the Bar Botaniste team over more than six months. Composition, ingredients, names, presentation: everything has been thought through to the smallest detail to offer Bar customers a unique and unforgettable experience.
A few cocktails to taste right now…
The “Zacao”, a blend of Zacapa rum, vermouth, cocoa nib syrup and Sichuan pepper, will be served directly from a cocoa pod, accompanied by a delicious chocolate tartlet imagined by Pastry Chef Michaël Bartocetti.
The “Genesis”, made with genepi, lime and ginger beer, will surprise you with its original presentation: a wooden log covered with a fir branch, topped with barley sugar infused with pine buds.
Vanilla Sky”, a free interpretation of the Manhattan, will seduce with its subtle combination of Bulleit Rye Whisky infused with amarena cherries, vanilla, cinnamon and vermouth. This short drink will be presented in a bottle sealed with a red logoté wax seal to take home.
Main Verte” will be served in an absinthe-style ribbed crystal glass. A rose-lemon marmalade candy will be delicately placed on a silver absinthe spoon. The traditional absinthe fountain will delight aficionados with its elegance.
The “Bumble Bee”, made with cognac, lavender honey, yellow lemon and tonka bean, will surprise you with its thin, crispy wafer resembling the cells of a beehive.
Finally, “Cyrus”, made with vodka infused with Iranian black lemon and Jean de Lillet, will surprise you with its “metallic” note revealed by the lemon.
A new experience
While the bar, designed by renowned architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, retains all its charm by retaining the inspiration of a Napoleonic tent, it is naturally enhanced by details straight out of the world of apothecaries and botanists: plants under cloches adorn the four corners of this cosy space, antique crystalware, authentic absinthe fountains and new retro-chic uniforms. The Bar team has taken the concept one step further and created a splendid menu,
, listing all the references and featuring magnificent plant sketches for each cocktail and spirit. More than a menu, a veritable herbarium inspired by Prince Bonaparte’s passion for botany, to be discovered without delay.
.
Non-alcoholic cocktails priced at €20 – alcoholic cocktails priced at €27.
The Bar Botaniste is open daily from 6pm to 2am – no reservations required.
Cette publication est également disponible en :
