Ritz Bar: No shakes, no frills, just one ingredient. New Century French-Style Bartending! -Part 2-

The Ritz Bar, which champions biodynamic principles, takes a uniquely innovative approach to cocktails. We asked Chief Bartender Romain de Courcy to tell us exactly what kind of cocktails they serve!

writer：Keiko Sumino Leblanc（パリ在住）

Twelve types of cocktails on the right page of the menu.

To put it bluntly: "We don't use shakers!"

Now let's savor the cocktail.

Flowers, fruits, leaves, roots & seeds... where to begin?

Looking closely at the menu, each cocktail clearly lists its alcohol content: Long drinks range from 4.9% to 9.6%, Short drinks from 15.8% to 20.9%, and Non-Alcoholic drinks, naturally, are 0%.

And overall, the alcohol content is on the lower side.

"Focusing on No-Low (meaning non-alcoholic and low-alcohol) was a decision made right from our reopening. It was a policy chosen to differentiate us from Bar Hemingway. And to be more modern, more creative," says Mr. de Courcy.

While No-Low has established its status by 2025, the term was unfamiliar to most in 2021.

This further underscores the innovative spirit of the Ritz Bar.

I was pondering whether tasting should indeed begin with non-alcoholic drinks, when
they suggested, "Since non-alcoholic drinks have the strongest flavor profile, we recommend saving them for last."

It's interesting that the non-alcoholic option, which tends to leave the faintest impression, is actually the most distinctive.

Since I was feeling thirsty, I ordered a long drink with ginger.

Mr. de Courcy stood inside the bar counter and opened one of the doors at his feet.

Inside was a refrigerator, perfectly lined with glasses set with perfect ice.

Not a single fingerprint on any of them.

Pulling one out, he began quietly pouring the cocktail from a device resembling a beer tap.

Sliding it between the glass and the ice.

"We don't use shakers. All cocktails are pre-mixed and stored in temperature-controlled dispensers. When pouring, avoid touching the engraved logo on top. It represents the moon and sun."