Indulge in elegance during your flight with Air France's newly introduced premium cocktail selection at 30,000 feet.
Air France has unveiled a new signature cocktail collection, available exclusively for passengers traveling in the La Première first-class cabin. The collection, created in partnership with renowned mixologist Matthias Giroud, offers a unique blend of French flavors and modernity.
The collection consists of three cocktails: one alcoholic, one low-alcohol, and one alcohol-free, a first for the airline. They are inspired by Air France’s core values—elegance, pleasure, and respect—and showcase French ingredients balancing tradition and modernity.
Belle Époque, Parfum de France, and L’Éveil
The three signature cocktails are:
- Belle Époque: An alcoholic cocktail, a reinterpretation of the classic Negroni with a bitter and zesty profile featuring orange hydrosol.
- Parfum de France: A low-alcohol cocktail that is sweet and fruity, inspired by Chardonnay and Muscat wines, with raspberry liqueur and a hint of verbena.
- L’Éveil: An alcohol-free cocktail, tangy and spicy, made with cranberry juice infused with mint, lime juice, an aromatic leaf bouquet, and ginger.
These cocktails are served onboard in a uniquely designed glass to enhance the tasting experience, presented in an elegant, custom-made box for La Première customers.
Availability
The collection is available exclusively inflight for passengers traveling in the La Première cabin on Air France planes, including flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Abidjan, Dubai, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo-Haneda, and Washington-DC.
Giroud's Inspirations
When creating the Air France cocktails, Giroud focused on French ingredients to deliver authentic flavors that balance familiarity and modernity. His inspiration for the cocktails comes from his travels and experiences, as well as his extensive knowledge of flavors, which he keeps in his workshop, where he stores over 150 flavors, including herbs, flowers, and peppers from around the world.
Giroud's Career
Matthias Giroud started his career at the age of 16 in Toulouse, at the Papagayo bar. He has since gone on to develop numerous bar concepts around the globe, including co-founding L'Alchimiste Group in 2019.
Dining Experience in La Première
The marriage of French mixology and gastronomy is a perfect distraction to speed up any long-haul flight. La Première offers an onboard dining menu crafted by triple Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Lallement and World Pastry Chef and Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Angelo Musa. The cocktails are an excellent complement to the fine dining experience offered to La Première guests.
References
[1] Air France (2023). La Première Cocktail Collection. [online] Available at: airfrance.co.uk
[2] Giroud, M. (2023). Matthias Giroud. [online] Available at: matthiasgiroud.com
[3] Air France (2023). La Première. [online] Available at: airfrance.com
[4] Air France (2023). Press Release: Air France Introduces New Cocktail Collection. [online] Available at: airfrance.com/press
[5] Air France (2023). Destinations Served by La Première. [online] Available at: airfrance.com/destinations
The exclusive cocktail collection, available in the La Première first-class cabin, includes three signature drinks – Belle Époque, Parfum de France, and L’Éveil. These drinks are inspired by Air France's core values and showcase French ingredients, offering a blend of tradition and modernity. The collection caters to different preferences, with an alcoholic, a low-alcohol, and an alcohol-free option. For passengers traveling in La Première, the dining experience is further enriched with the availability of these carefully crafted cocktails, elevating the food-and-drink aspect of the journey, reflecting the airline's commitment to a luxurious lifestyle.
