For the 2026 Briottet Cocktail Competition, Peiqi Li, a bartender at Bar Lotus, presents “Lumière,” a cocktail inspired by the French Impressionist painters and their exploration of light and shadow.
The inspiration
“Lumière means “light” in French. I choose both French Heritage and Seasonality as my inspiration, because I think these two things are very important in the land of Burgundy.
Both Maison Briottet and Impressionism were born in 19th-century France, a time when craftsmanship, art and the appreciation of nature were deeply connected. French Impressionist painters like Monet use light and colour to capture a special moment. For me, Burgundy is similar. The land stays in the same place, but every year the sunlight, weather and temperature make a different harvest.
This year, Burgundy experienced a very early blackcurrant harvest with the rising temperatures. Even facing the challenge of climate change, Maison Briottet still works with local growers and keeps the high quality and special flavour of Noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants. For me, this is the French heritage I want to show.
For this cocktail, I use blackcurrant leaf-infused VSOP Cognac to represent the beginning of the plant’s life, before the fruit becomes mature. I also use a little blackcurrant leaf vodka to give more fresh and green aroma. Briottet Crème de Cassis de Dijon shows the rich and mature blackcurrant flavour, and Amontillado Sherry brings nutty and slightly oxidative notes to balance the sweetness. Together, they show the journey from leaf to fruit, from the land to the glass.
The white rose petal gives a fresh and delicate aroma before the first sip, without covering the cassis. The white petal is like the first light touching Burgundy in the morning, and also like the final brushstroke on a painting. Lumière is my way of painting Burgundy through flavour. Although the seasons continue to change, the craftsmanship of Maison Briottet and the character of Burgundy continue to shine.” – Peiqi Li