La Villa Maillot is a boutique hotel decorated in art nouveau style and with a proper “la vie est belle” attitude, and it served as an ideal point of departure for my wine and gourmet escapades. Moreover, there was a pleasant surprise waiting for me right "around the corner”. Behind the well-updated bar of “le 143” stood one of the most famous wine-connoisseurs in Paris, Michel Sarri, three-time winner of international whiskey-blending contests.
Getting to know each other was inevitable, since my liquors of choice were all pretentious ones that you hardly find in Greece. He slowly started to suggest that I try some of his collection’s secret aces; Highland Park aged 18 years, Cragganmore from Speyside, Lagavulin, 10 year-old Hardberg from before the Islay distillery was shut down, and others.
But… whiskey in Paris? Mais bien sur! Paris is just the place to appreciate the passion and complexity of any creation, French or not.
Michel kept his biggest love for last; rum. He suggested that he make a cocktail with aged rum from Martinique as its base, and my mind drifted to mini-umbrellas and plastic decoration, over-sized glasses and condensed juice. No. Instead, a small glass of cognac, an oz of rum, 3 ts of freshly-squeezed lime and half a spoon of sweet honey flower; I was impressed.
“Le 143”
La Villa Maillot
143, Avenue de Malakoff
75116, Paris, France
