Ballantine’s brings bartender’s dream bar to life

Ballantine’s Scotch whisky has brought a bartender’s dream bar to life in Paris this weekend as part of its Bar Project initiative.

Parisian bartender Abderrahim “Abdou” El Asfar saw his dream bar, L’Epicerie, come to life this weekend

L’Epicerie, a pop-up bar modelled after a traditional night market, launched last night (7 September) as Parisian nightspot Le Chacha.

The brainchild of bartender Abderrahim “Abdou” El Asfar, L’Epicerie won Ballantine’s Bar Project competition to find a unique drinks concept, with over 50% of the public’s vote earlier this year.

More than 100 entries were made through Facebook by consumers and trade who had grand visions of creating their dream bar.

Asfar’s concept sees customers able to browse the shelves for their own cocktail ingredients before having a bespoke drink mixed for them by a bartender.

Peter Moore, global brand director for Ballantine’s, said: “The project has been so well received that it is to be repeated again in France next year and we have a number of other key markets who are also planning to run the competition.

“This means that more entrepreneurs around the world will have the chance to bring their own dream bar concept to life.”

L’Epicerie will run at La Chacha from Tuesday to Sunday for the next six weeks.