The Club of 27: Isadora Paris’s new Cocktail Menu with Rock ‘n’ Roll Soul

In the heart of Paris’s 1st arrondissement, Isadora isn’t just a random bar —it’s a late-night sanctuary for bartenders, locals, and curious tourists alike. With its red velvet curtains, candlelit ambiance, and a closing time of 5 a.m., it’s long been a favourite for those in the know. But now, thanks to the creative minds of Maxime Caillet and Charly Clain, Isadora is entering a bold new era with a cocktail menu inspired by the legendary Club of 27.

A Tribute to Icons Gone Too Soon

The “Club of 27” pays homage to the mythic musicians who left us at the age of 27—Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and more. But this isn’t just a gimmick. Max and Charly dove deep into the lives, music, and personalities of these icons, watching documentaries, researching their favourite drinks, and crafting cocktails that reflect their essence.

Each drink tells a story:

Jim Morrison is evoked through cactus and sage.
Janis Joplin gets a homemade Texan-inspired liqueur with a tequila base.
Kurt Cobain’s “Pennyroyalty” is reimagined with mint, seaweed, and a nod to the controversial herb.
Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” becomes a violet-hued cocktail with butterfly pea flower and spiced wine.

From Dive Bar to Destination

Isadora has transformed from a neighbourhood dive—where Ricard and beer once reigned—to a cocktail destination that still retains its soul. “We didn’t want to lose that friendly, local vibe,” says Max. “It’s still a bar for friends, but now with a world-class cocktail program.”

The clientele reflects this duality: early evenings bring in tourists, while after midnight, it’s all about locals and industry insiders. The bar has become a hub for Paris’s growing cocktail scene, and Max and Charly are already thinking about the next guest shifts and menu

With summer in full swing, the team is already thinking about autumn variations of the menu. But for now, they’re focused on sharing their vision with the world—from Paris to wherever the music takes them.

Behind the Bar: A Conversation with Maxime Caillet and Charly Clain

To understand the soul of Isadora Paris, you have to meet the minds behind it. Maxime Caillet and Charly Clain are wellknown parisian bartenders—they’re storytellers, curators of emotions, and architects of one of the most original cocktail menus in Paris (in my opinion and because I like it very much!). I sat down with them to talk about the inspiration behind Le Club des 27, their creative process, and what it means to build a bar that’s as much about feeling as it is about flavours.

Let’s go. So, who is Isadora referring to?
Charly: It refers to Isadora Duncan, the legendary dancer who travelled the world and lived a passionate, unconventional life. Her tragic death—strangled by her own scarf in a freak accident—adds a haunting, poetic layer that fits perfectly with the theme of the Club of 27. That connection was there from the beginning, even if it wasn’t fully conscious at first.

Tell us more about the bar please.
Charly: It opened 7y ago. The fact that it closes at 5 a.m. means all our friends, all the bartenders from the area, come by after their shifts. It’s the place to meet up, have good drinks, mess around, and enjoy a proper after-work vibe. Before that, it was more of a classic cocktail bar with Parisians and tourists—lots of tourists actually—with candles, red curtains, a cozy atmosphere. There’s a real vibe here.

What about the shift we are seeing this year?
Charly: I brought Max in to raise the level a bit. In terms of mixology, there was a lot to do that hadn’t been implemented yet. Working alone was tough—the other teammates didn’t really have the level. So we connected, brainstormed, and created the Club of 27.

What’s your background?
Charly: I spent 10 years bartending in Paris, but also lived in Sydney for two years, travelled through Indonesia and Asia. I followed a girl to Paris—though we’re not together anymore—and discovered this project when I used to come here at night with Max. I loved it. A bar that closes at 5 a.m. in the 1st arrondissement? That’s rare. I told him I’d love to take it over. Step by step, it happened. I started as head bartender, then became director, and when the previous business partner left, we took over.
I was traveling a lot too. I was bartending everywhere I went—staying a year in each city, always looking for something new. Around 4 a.m., I’d be here.

Max: At the time, I was opening Boubale (after spending a few years at Moonshiner), so I was focused on that. When I left Boubale, he told me, “Now’s the time.”

Charly: I’d already gone through several teams, but I was the only one who stayed, thinking something big could happen here. When he left his five-star hotel job, I told him, “Join me now.” He needed to get back to his roots—more Moonshiner style. We do things well, but we have fun too. Less of the stiff, fancy codes.

So how did the Club of 27 menu come about?
Charly: We were immersed in that music and style. One day I said, “The next menu has to be the Club of 27—it just makes sense.” We dove in, watched tons of documentaries, learned everything we could. Then we started naming cocktails, choosing ingredients.

How did you match ingredients to the artists?
Max: We tried to make each ingredient reflect the artist.

Jim Morrison: cactus and sage.
Janis Joplin: a homemade Texan-style liqueur with tequila—floral and sunny.
Kurt Cobain: “Pennyroyalty,” inspired by his song. We didn’t use pennyroyal (it was used to induce abortions and isn’t very aromatic), so we recreated it with mint, seaweed, and a purist vibe.
Jimi Hendrix: “Purple Haze,” a violet cocktail with butterfly pea flower, blueberries, spices, and cherry stems (like the legend of the wine glass with a drop of LSD!)

How long did it take to create the menu?
Charly: We were deep in it for a few months—working all day, then going home and watching live concerts at night. Two months for the concept and theme, then two more for the drinks. Every day we had to agree on ideas. It took about six months total. The illustrations are amazing too. We stayed in that Basquiat-inspired theme. It took forever to get each drawing right. Max had the idea to add blank pages at the end of the menu so guests could leave messages. We didn’t expect people to get so into it, but they did—especially late at night. Some of the notes are hilarious!

What’s the goal of the menu?
Max: To educate people a bit. Some of the classics we feature aren’t well known. You read the recipe and think, “This sounds amazing,” and you learn something. That’s the goal—democratize cocktails, speak to locals and tourists, and have an educational side.

How does the bar feel now?
Max: We wanted a menu that’s easy to drink on a terrace when it’s 40°C. It’s a summer menu, but we’re already thinking about autumn alternatives. The vibe here is timeless—people come to have fun, to laugh, to connect. That’s what’s great about the Paris scene right now. Places like this are raising the bar. It’s not just about fancy cocktails—it’s about creating a space where people want to be.

What’s next?
Charly: We’re working on collaborations with a bar in Milan. We want to share this identity around the world, bring in people who think like us, and have fun together. Last year we travelled a lot. This year we focused on Isadora. In September, we’ll start traveling again. But for now, it’s all about putting the bar on the map and riding the wave.

What’s your motto?

Do Not Resuscitate.

(They both laugh—because really, what else could it be?)

Forever 27 – The Cocktail Menu That Channels Legends

At Isadora Paris, the new menu is more than a list of drinks—it’s a poetic tribute to the artists of the Club des 27, those brilliant souls who left the world at 27, leaving behind a legacy of music, rebellion, and raw emotion. Each cocktail is a liquid portrait, crafted to reflect the spirit, story, and style of these icons.

🎸 Me and the Devil – Robert Johnson (1911–1938)

Bourbon Buffalo Trace, pear cream, hay, immortelle, coconut water, tonka, long pepper from Java
Style: Rocks
Profile: Warm, woody, floral, spicy
A smoky, soulful drink that evokes the Mississippi bluesman who allegedly sold his soul at the crossroads. A haunting blend of earth and fire.

🎷 No Jones, No Stones – Brian Jones (1942–1969)

Gin Anaé, olives, Savannah Lontan rum, mango, spice mix, carbonated
Style: Tumbler (available in a non-alcoholic version as well)
Profile: Fresh, saline, herbal, fruity
A bright, exotic mix for the multi-instrumentalist founder of the Rolling Stones. A cocktail as flamboyant and mysterious as Brian himself.

🌈 Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970)

Santiago de Cuba 8-year rum, Fair passion, vermouth, blueberry, fino sherry, absinthe, atoumo flower bitters
Style: Coupette
Profile: Fruity, complex, structured
A psychedelic swirl of flavours, echoing Hendrix’s electric energy and cosmic soul.

🌻 Pearl – Janis Joplin (1943–1970)

Tequila 1800, cherry, vanilla, sunflower seeds, spices
Style: Rocks
Profile: Raw, floral, toasted, spicy
A bold, bohemian blend for the queen of soul-rock. Gritty and golden, like her voice.

🦎 King Lizard – Jim Morrison (1943–1971)

Johnnie Walker Black Label, prickly pear, mezcal, rhubarb, sage, lemon
Style: Coupette
Profile: Tart, herbal, lightly sweet
A smoky, surreal mix for the Lizard King. A drink that whispers poetry and burns with desert heat.

👑 Same Old Shit – Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988)

Hennessy Cognac, Santiago de Cuba white rum, Champagne, melon, lemon, coriander, clarified with soy milk
Style: Rocks
Profile: Long, bold, contrasting
A layered, avant-garde cocktail for the street-art prodigy. Sharp, elegant, and rebellious.

🌿 Pennyroyal Tea – Kurt Cobain (1967–1994)

Pennyroyal distillate, Nordic herbal liqueur, acid, sparkling water
Style: Tumbler
Profile: Ethereal, minty, vegetal
A minimalist, haunting drink that nods to Cobain’s raw purity and grunge melancholy.

🖤 Back to Black – Amy Winehouse (1983–2011)

Amontillado sherry, gentian, strawberry, IPA vinegar, carbonated za’atar
Style: Rocks – (available in a non-alcoholic version as well)
Profile: Bitter, acidic, fruity, refreshing
A bittersweet, soulful cocktail that captures Amy’s jazz roots and emotional depth.

🥃 Mini Flight – 4 Tiny Cocktails –

Includes:

Me and the Devil
Purple Haze
Pennyroyal Tea
Back to Black
Perfect for those who want to taste the legends in small sips.

The classic cocktails section of the menu reflects Isadora’s commitment to cocktail education and excellence, offering both familiar favourites and lesser-known gems. It’s perfect for guests who want to explore the classics or compare them to the more experimental Club des 27 creations.

Super intrigued by the Cameron’s Kick – A blend of Scotch and Irish whiskies with orgeat, lemon, and egg white (always exciting to try classics I’ve never had!), I’ll order it next time I visit.

I also really wanna try the Ranch Water – Tequila, lime, soda (just for the sake of saying : yeah I’ve tried it) and I was really pleased to finally have a Clover Club – Gin, raspberry, lime, dry vermouth, egg white, one of my old times favourites (perfect start of the evening in my opinion)

Obviously happy to find the Jungle Bird – Rum, Campari, lime, pineapple, on the list.

They also have Premium & Barrel-Aged cocktails for connoisseurs and the curious:

Beluga Martini / Espresso Martini – With Beluga Noble vodka
Gold Line Martini – With Beluga Gold Line
N°1 – Cider eau-de-vie, absinthe, fig leaf liqueur, vermouth, bitters
N°2 – Whistle Pig 12-year, walnut liqueur, sweet vermouth

Max and Charly the dynamic duo reshaping the late late Parisian nights!

They’ve built a cultural experience where emotion meets mixology. By anchoring each drink to a legendary artist from the Club des 27, they invite guests to choose not just by flavour, but by feeling. Whether it’s the raw soul of Janis, the psychedelic swirl of Hendrix, or the poetic darkness of Morrison, the menu becomes a mirror—letting drinkers connect with their mood, their memories, or their musical heroes. It’s this emotional resonance, paired with a deep respect for cocktail history, that makes Isadora both educational and electrifying. Guests don’t just sip—they learn, laugh, and often leave their mark in the blank pages at the end of the menu. It’s no wonder Isadora is the favourite night bar of your favourite Parisian bartender—a candlelit refuge where the night stretches on, the music never stops, and the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll lives on in every glass!

Rock on!