Take-out, recipe tutorials on Instagram, Spotify playlists… Since the closure of their establishments, bartenders have been struggling to keep in touch with customers and allow them to recreate the bar atmosphere at home. Another option: the ready-to-drink (“Ready-to-drink”) at affordable prices and zero equipment required – just ice cubes. If it already existed before the pandemic, this concept of premixed cocktails – with fresh, seasonal and homemade ingredients – has seen a boost in recent months. Even if it is not very profitable, several establishments have thus chosen to convert and some even think of maintaining the offer after the reopening of the bars. The chefs are also doing it, like Anne-Sophie Pic and her Ice Pic or Guillaume Sanchez and his Spiritus Sancti. Here is an overview of some of the most successful ready-to-drink offers.
The flavor of summer at CopperBay
“A bar is not just drinks, it is also an atmosphere, decorum, light and human links”, says Aurélie Panhelleux. This human dimension is what the CopperBay associate lacks the most. Thus, since the first confinement, the elegant neighborhood bar, anchored in the heart of the 10e arrondissement of Paris, offers a handful of cocktails to pick up on site (two Saturdays a month now). Packaged in 13 cl vacuum bags at 10 euros per unit, the beverages are ready to drink. Just pour them into a glass filled with ice cubes, wait a few seconds for the dilution to operate and you’re done.
On the menu, classics with a twist (Manhattan with cognac, Presidente with cachaça), but also essentials on the menu, which may vary according to the seasons or the inspiration. Like the very summery Mancora II (clarified apricot, pisco, eucalyptus, verjuice and jasmine tea): a mix with lots of pep and freshness. Lovers of salty cocktails can salivate over a Bloody Maria, a Mediterranean variant of Bloody Mary with apple cider vinegar as an acidifier and a homemade syrup with roasted garlic, oregano, thyme and Provence herbs. Perfect with a good burrata.
CopperBay 5, rue Bouchardon, Paris 10e.
With or without alcohol at Drinks & Co
This huge concept store, dedicated to the world of cocktails, wines, spirits and alcohol-free, opened its doors in early December 2020, right during the second confinement. Located in the courtyard of Le Havre at Saint-Lazare station, in Paris, the hybrid place – e-shop, physical store, bar, brasserie, masterclass space – has not yet been able to exploit all of its offers. As the bar is closed, take-out cocktails have been available since February.
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