Michael Landart - Maria Loca - Paris

Maria Loca is one of the most famous cocktail bars in Paris. Their focus is Rum & Cachaca. Michael Landart, co-founder, answers a few questions for us...

Could you please tell us a little bit about you, your bartending career and your bar?

I started my career in the bar industry 13 years ago at Mescaline, a Mexican bar in Paris. Then I went to Luxembourg, to the UK, Australia and finally back to Paris. Each time I was back in town, I had the same the feeling: impossible to find a cool place with a good service in Paris.

What do you like most about your job?

I am a bartender. I like to create and share either with industry people or with customers. I also appreciate the nightlife and the freedom related to this business.

Tell us about your bar, what is so special about it?

Opening a bar with a focus on Rum and Cachaça appeared to me naturally. I want Maria Loca to remain pretty generalist, but with a specific trend.

Who has been an influence and a source of inspiration for you?

I am pretty much a self learner and I like to look around. My inspiration comes from documentaries as well as travels or talks. I really love to mix things as I am myself a mix of two cultures.

What are your favorite ingredients?

I like to work with everything, but I especially like Rums and classical bitters (Angostura & Peychaud).

What is your style of cocktail?

Since I am a big fan of dry and bitter, I love Old Fashion cocktails. The simpler, the better.

What do you like/dislike about the French/Parisian bar scene?

I really like the friendship and solidarity between Parisian bartenders. It's rarely the case in other industries.

What I don't like is that some bars suffer from a lack of identity. They focus on the trendiness of their bartenders, and they forget the most important thing: service. 12 years ago a barman had not the same influence as today.

What do you like about FAIR?

I love the authenticity of their products, especially that their Rum is from Belize, it is not very common. Also I like the fact that they are involved in supporting farming communities, it really matters to me.

Since I like the philosophy of the FAIR brand, I support it and would definitely love to be able to go check by myself the impact of fair trade.

Maria Loca
31, boulevard Henri IV
75004 Paris
Discover more about Maria Loca here.

FAIR. Café Liqueur - The new packaging is out!

FAIRTRADE ARABICA

Grown by small scale farmers in Mexico with no additives, chemicals, pesticides or preservatives. Just pure nature.

LOCAL MEXICAN CO-OP

Made by Mexican men and women who have gathered their resources together to grow the coffee beans in a sustainable way. They receive a FAIR. wage for their work.

ARTISANAL LIQUEUR

FAIR. has put in a lot of love, time and patience to bring you an exceptional arabica liqueur that retains all the flavour from the coffee beans.

LOVE A FAIR

Straight up or in a cocktail... however you like your FAIR. Café Liqueur, you know the world is that little but better for each sip you take.

#TrickorFAIR - Horror Movie themed cocktail competition

Happy Halloween FAIR lovers! 

Time to put your creepy costume on and drink spooky cocktails! Bartenders from London, Dublin, New York and Sydney created cocktails with FAIR Vodka & FAIR Rum drawing their inspiration from horror movies. 

Find #TrickorFAIR on Twitter & Instagram too!

INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE

by the Bartending Team

45 Park Lane in London

Rose Elixir infused FAIR Vodka, Gin & secret ingredients...

DRACULA'S FAVOURITE

by Ninad Raul, 1901 Bar 

Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel in London

FAIR Vodka, framboise, raspberry puree, 

pumpkin puree, sugar syrup & lemon juice

BEETLEJUICE
by Gareth Lambe 
Vintage Cocktail Club (VCC) in Dublin 

FAIR Vodka, Kummel Wolfschmidt, Goldschlager, Pear Williams liquor, lime juice, sugar syrup, spiced organic pumpkin pesto, cappuccino machino and cinnamon

ANNABELLE

by Franz Xaver Zauner, Longitude 0°8'

Le Méridien Picadilly in London

FAIR Rum infused with jalapeños, roasted peppers, honey, refined with dry curaçao and freshly squeezed lime juice

Interview with Franz

TRICK OR TREAT?
by Matteo Corsalini
China Tang in London

FAIR Rum, Frangelico, apple juice, real pumpkin puree, Bob's Abbotts bitter

DOUBLE, BUBBLE, TOIL & TROUBLE

by Robert Caldwell, Peruke in Dublin

FAIR Vodka, FAIR Goji,  Crême de mûre, P&P blackberry schrub, lemon juice & pineapple juice

INTO DARKNESS
by Karim Medhi, SABA in Dublin

FAIR Rum, fresh raspberries, Campari, fresh grapefruit juice and fig syrup 

DIA DE LOS MEURTOS

by James Huertas

Trailer Happiness in London

FAIR Rum, Mezcal float, acai and blood 

orange cordial, Trailer made grenadine, 

citrus and molasses roasted pinapple

LA BRUJITA

by the Bartending Team

Coppelia in NYC

A pumpkin cocktail to pair with their fantastic Halloween menu

BERRY SCARY

by Imants Zusmanis

Kensington Place in London

FAIR Vodka, FAIR Goji, sugar, crushed redcurrants & Lieffmens berry beer

SALEM'S LOT
by Paul Lambert, Kinara Kitchen in Dublin

FAIR Rum, orange curaçao, fresh lemon juice, spiced pumpkin puree, cranberry bitters

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

by Edgar Zhavoronkov

Madison Rooftop Bar in London

FAIR Vodka, butter scotch schnapps, vanilla almond cinnamon stock & apple juice

TRICK OR FAIR
by Anna Walsh
MVP in Dublin 

FAIR Vodka Martini with 'MVP Poitin Potion' (FAIR Goji Liqueur, Beetroot juice, Himalayan pink salt & Poitin)

CARRIES REVENGE

by William Solorzano, Hush in London

FAIR Vodka, FAIR Goji, lime juice, egg white, Angostura bitters