This summer, Air France is unveiling a new cocktail offer available on all its long-haul flights, designed for customers in all travel cabins. The airline is continuing its collaboration with chef mixologist Matthias Giroud, who has created an exclusive cognac-based cocktail for the Business cabin, as well as a modern reinterpretation of the kir cassis for Premium and Economy cabins. Both cocktails showcase high-quality, 100% French ingredients. This initiative allows Air France to celebrate the art of mixology and France’s renowned expertise.
New exclusive cocktail selection in Business, Premium and Economy cabins
In the long-haul Business cabin, Matthias Giroud has designed Quintessence, an exclusive cocktail that embodies the elegance associated with this travel class. Available today, this new signature cocktail reinterprets the Boulevardier, a classic cocktail that originated in France in the 1920s. It expertly blends iconic French cognac with red Vermouth, an Alpine bitter liqueur, and a hint of fig. Served with ice as an aperitif, or enjoyed without ice at the end of the meal, as a digestif, it offers a tasting experience that is both sweet and zesty.
In the Premium and Economy cabins, the chef mixologist has created L’instant Cassis, a modern twist on the iconic Kir Cassis, a legacy with more than a century of history and a symbol of the French aperitif tradition. This cocktail is a subtle blend of Chardonnay white wine and Burgundy blackcurrant liqueur, enhanced with a hint of elderflower. Now available* on board and offered alongside other beverages during the main meal service, this cocktail is best appreciated with ice cubes for a floral, sweet and fruity tasting experience.
About Matthias Giroud
Matthias Giroud is a world-renowned French chef mixologist. He began his career at the age of 16, in Toulouse, at the Papagayo bar, and subsequently joined the Bar Fly Group in 1998. After four years of seasonal work in France and Europe, he returned to the Group where he was appointed head mixologist of the Buddha Bar, Barrio Latino, and Barlotti. In 2008, drawing on his extensive experience, he was named Global Executive Bar Chef of the Buddha Bar Group. He went on to develop numerous bar concepts around the globe and trained multicultural teams of bartenders in over 32 countries. Nicknamed L’Alchimiste by his peers for his creative talent and his work with basic ingredients, in 2019, he co-founded the L’Alchimiste Drink to usher in a new era of liquid gastronomy. His cocktail creations are inspired by his travels. In his workshop, he keeps a collection of over 150 flavours, including herbs, flowers, and peppers from around the world. His motto: “Don’t create for yourself, create for your customers”. An author and lecturer, he works with Michelin-starred chefs and luxury hotels to create unique experiences. Committed to an eco-responsible approach, he incorporates sustainable practices into both his work and the sourcing of his ingredients. He cultivates a zero-waste philosophy, ensuring every part of an ingredient is used in his creations.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation.
