Cocktails in Paris

After celebrating the Lancaster Hotel‘s centenary with a menu that paid tribute to the people who shaped the property’s past and those who continue to define it today, Aurélie Panhelleux has unveiled a new chapter for CopperBay Lancaster. Called Hexagone, the menu is more than a collection of cocktails. It is a celebration of French distillation, regional identity, family traditions, and the people whose craftsmanship too often remains hidden behind a bottle.

Set within the elegant surroundings of the CopperBay bar at the Hôtel Lancaster Paris, the concept feels particularly fitting. The hotel’s owner is French and also owns vineyards, making the spotlight on French terroir and savoir-faire a natural extension of the property’s identity. But rather than simply showcasing famous labels, Hexagone sets out to tell a deeper story: that of the distillers, producers, and artisans who have shaped the French spirits landscape across generations.

A Journey Through the Regions of France

The menu takes its name from France itself, often referred to as L’Hexagone because of its geographical shape. Divided into four regions, North-West, North-East, South-West, and South-East, the menu introduces guests to a carefully curated selection of French distilleries.

Names such as Maison Drouin, Maison Giffard, Distillerie Combier, Maison Ferrand, Laurent Cazottes, Distillerie de Provence, Distillerie de La Plaine, Maison Dolin, Distillerie Sab’s, Maison Deutz, and the legendary Pères Chartreux (the Carthusian monks) appear alongside younger, more experimental producers like Bear Brothers and Abstract House of Monochromes.

What immediately sets Hexagone apart is that it begins not with cocktails, but with the stories of the producers themselves. Before guests discover the drinks, they are introduced to the distilleries, their histories, and the people behind them.

For Panhelleux, that is precisely the point.

‘A bartender’s role goes beyond making drinks. It is about hospitality, transmission, and shining a light on exceptional products and the people who craft them.’

While Chartreuse enjoys worldwide recognition, Hexagone gives equal space to lesser-known producers whose work deserves greater visibility, ensuring that every cocktail becomes an opportunity to tell a story.

Bringing Together Heritage and Innovation

Throughout the menu, tradition and modernity exist side by side.

The historic houses featured in Hexagone represent centuries of knowledge passed down through generations. At the same time, newer producers are challenging conventions and exploring innovative approaches to spirit production.

Panhelleux is particularly passionate about this dialogue between old and new.

She speaks enthusiastically about the experimental projects of Christian Drouin, whose work continues to push the boundaries of Calvados and French distillation. She also points to Maison Ferrand, long recognised as a pioneer of experimentation within the French spirits industry.

What excites her most is the possibility of moving beyond the – sometimes intimidating – image associated with traditional spirits.

Rather than preserving French distillation behind museum glass, Hexagone brings it into the present, celebrating both heritage and innovation.

Cocktails as Modern Interpretations of Classics

The cocktail list itself follows the same philosophy.

Most of the drinks are built as twists on classic cocktails, reimagined through French ingredients and regional products.

Among the standout creations are:

French Last Word

A fully French interpretation of the famous Last Word cocktail, combining:

• Sab’s Ratafia
• Green Chartreuse
• Génépi
• Guignolet d’Anjou Combier
• Lemon

Punch du Verger

A tribute to orchard flavours, blending:

• Christian Drouin La Blanche Bio
• Laurent Cazottes Wild Quince
• Honey
• Toasted buckwheat
• Verjus
• Sweet spice infusion

Stinger à la Noix

A vintage-inspired cocktail featuring:

• Ferrand Cognac
• Giffard Menthe-Pastille
• Denoix Quinquinaix
• Antésite

Pinky Tonic

A sophisticated alcohol-free twist on a gin and tonic with:

• Citadelle 0.0
• Giffard Alcohol-Free Grapefruit
• Apple cider vinegar
• Fever Tree Refreshingly Light Tonic

One of Panhelleux’s personal recommendations is the menu’s French interpretation of a Bloody Mary, which incorporates a garlic distillate.

Far from overwhelming the drink, the garlic introduces a remarkably savoury dimension that stimulates the appetite and perfectly illustrates the creative possibilities of modern distillation.

Alcohol-Free Without Compromise

One of the most progressive aspects of Hexagone is its treatment of non-alcoholic cocktails.

Rather than segregating alcohol-free options in a separate section, CopperBay Lancaster integrates them directly into the menu alongside alcoholic drinks. The message is clear: choosing not to drink alcohol should never mean accepting a lesser experience.

The alcohol-free programme has received the same level of consideration, technical development and creativity as the rest of the menu.

And every cocktail can be adapted into a non-alcoholic version.

For Panhelleux, inclusivity is not a trend but an essential part of contemporary hospitality.

A Celebration of French Spirits

The menu extends far beyond cocktails.

Guests can discover an extensive selection of French spirits and aperitifs, including:

• CopperBay’s own BB13 Mediterranean Gin developed with Bear Brothers
• Mauresco Pastis created with Distillerie de La Plaine
• Chartreuse Verte and Jaune
• Maison Dolin vermouths
• Christian Drouin Calvados expressions
• Maison Ferrand Cognacs
• French whiskies from Hautes Glaces, EDDU and Benjamin Kuentz
• Liqueurs and aperitifs from across the country

For a French luxury hotel welcoming guests from around the world, the approach makes perfect sense. International visitors are offered a rare opportunity to explore the extraordinary diversity of French spirits beyond the country’s most famous names.

Defending Small Producers

A recurring theme throughout the conversation with Panhelleux is the need to preserve and support smaller distilleries.

She believes many exceptional producers remain overlooked despite the quality of their work.

One example is Bear Brothers, the Toulouse-based distillery behind CopperBay‘s house gin. For Panhelleux, producers like these deserve more recognition and visibility within the industry.

Their survival is essential not only for innovation but also for maintaining the diversity that makes French distillation so unique.

The Craft of Bartending

The respect for craftsmanship that defines Hexagone extends to the bar team itself.

Panhelleux remains deeply attached to the technical side of bartending. She believes expertise matters, whether that means understanding which shaker to use, managing dilution, or choosing the most appropriate preparation method for each drink.

In an era where many bars rely heavily on pre-batching, she prefers to prepare cocktails individually whenever possible.

‘I prefer preparing everything à la minute rather than relying on pre-batching.’

For Panhelleux, the ritual of making a cocktail is part of the guest experience. The sound of ice being shaken, the rhythm of tins meeting, and the energy created behind the bar all contribute to the atmosphere of a living cocktail bar. Those gestures are not simply functional; they are part of the craft and the theatre of hospitality. A bar should feel alive, and the distinctive sound of a shaker in motion is, for her, one of its most evocative signatures. Preparing drinks individually allows guests to witness the bartender’s skill while creating a direct connection between the maker, the product and the person enjoying it.

A Story of Family and Transmission

Behind the menu’s regional focus lies something even more personal: transmission.

Panhelleux often reflects on the importance of family traditions in French drinking culture. Memories of aperitifs shared with grandparents, recipes passed down through generations, and the fact that many families once distilled their own spirits all form part of the cultural heritage she seeks to preserve.

She believes French bartenders sometimes forget how fortunate they are to have access to an extraordinary range of liqueurs, aperitifs, eaux-de-vie, vermouths and spirits produced on their doorstep.

Hexagone serves as a reminder of that richness and of the responsibility to protect it.

Looking Ahead

As the conversation turns to the future of the industry, Panhelleux also addresses another subject close to her heart.

Having benefited from numerous mentors throughout her career, many of whom were men, she hopes the hospitality industry can move beyond the outdated habit of framing women working behind bars as an exception.

Talent, curiosity and expertise should be the only measures that matter.

‘Women deserve their place behind the bar, and in 2026 that shouldn’t even be a question anymore.’

Like Hexagone itself, it is a perspective rooted in respect for the past while embracing a more inclusive future.

At CopperBay Lancaster, Aurélie Panhelleux and her team have created far more than a cocktail menu. Hexagone is a celebration of French craftsmanship, regional heritage, innovation, transmission, and the men and women whose dedication keeps the country’s distilling traditions alive.