Its cocktails simulate the effects of alcohol ... without containing it!

Paris Cocktail Week is the best tip of the year in 50 bars in the capital. For 9 days, from January 24 to February 1, you sip two cocktails (one with alcohol and one without) at 30%. The opportunity to discover unknown, trendy and above all quality places, selected by Thierry Daniel and Eric Fossard, founders of the event.

These spirits specialists have been bending this bar tour towards spirit-free (non-alcoholic cocktails) for two years. They select inventive places that sublimate fruit and spices, caring about short circuits. They were looking for a bluffing non-alcoholic base and asked Nicolas Julhès, the owner of the Paris Distillery, to take up this challenge. His mission? Create a drink that simulates the effects of alcohol ... without containing it.

"Until now for non-alcoholic cocktails, we worked with two or three distillates that looked more like flavored water," says Tristan Rainteau, the bartender at Mina, at Carbòn restaurant (III). For the first time, Nicolas Julhès' alcohol-free distillate - two flavors to choose from - called Spirit of Paris, will be served in the drinks of the Paris cocktail week.

Cardamom, bergamot, ginger…

“My job is alcohol, the challenge was to get the aromas through without using the organic solvent ( Editor's note: which dissolves and dilutes the substances without changing their composition, without losing the aromas ) that is 'alcohol, details Julhès. I spent a month working on the formulas, to create an aromatic complexity, sensations and emotion. "

Nicolas Julhès has multiplied the extractions and macerations in vinegar of plants and spices such as cardamom, bergamot, sandalwood, ginger. It replaced alcohol with fat (another excellent organic solvent). The result, which combines a good twenty products, is surprising.

Spirit of Paris Citrus, alcohol-free cocktail, spirit-free, served at Rehab, during Paris Cocktail Week./LP/Valentine Rousseau

The “stimulating woody” tingles the throat and leaves an aftertaste of whiskey. The “electric citrus” potion bursts like a whiplash. We keep a strong tension in the mouth, multiple effects of texture, a quarter of an hour after having swallowed these explosive elixirs. You can drink these pure distillates also.

Cocktails sold from 5 euros

After three shots of the Spirit of Paris, you have the feeling of being tipsy when you haven't swallowed a drop of alcohol! “Customers are increasingly looking for the taste experience rather than drunkenness. It is no longer enough to remove alcohol from a cocktail to transform it into spirit-free. It's a bit like the cook who concocts creative vegetarian dishes ”, compares Thierry Daniel.

The Paris Distillery is a laboratory that manufactures stills and spirits. It is the first time that it has released an alcohol-free distillate, proof that the healthy trend, born in Great Britain, is lastingly anchored in Paris.

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Thanks to the Paris Cocktail Week, we will taste spirit-free house mixes made from 5 euros. At Sunset (18th century), the Friendliness mixes honey syrup with mustard, smoked saline solution and carrot juice with cumin. At Monsieur Antoine's (11th), the Jimmy adds to the electric citrus fruits lemon, cordial of flower, legume juice, crystallized violet petal. Cucumber, verjuice, cider vinegar with buckwheat honey, kombucha… The creativity of these bars has no limits, so let the taste buds be surprised.

Paris Cocktail Week, from January 24 to February 1, in 50 bars in Paris. List of participants, prices and cocktail compositions on pariscocktailweek.fr

The Paris Cocktail Week program

The Paris Cocktail Week programs a host of events for nine days. Some are complete. There are still places for a master class around rum on January 29, an animation on bourbon on January 31, and especially courses in spirit-free (alcohol-free cocktail) at Ground Control (12th).

They will take place on January 29 at 7:30 p.m., on 31 at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. and four sessions will close the event, Sunday February 2. The one hour lesson costs 15 euros, groups will not exceed 15 people. For brunch at Divine (Xe), this Sunday, no need to book. First come will be first served from noon.