1911—1914 The First Big Love

The years in Paris brought probably the biggest love into Alois's long and colourful life. During his time at Harry's Bar, not yet too famous at that time, he fell in love with a beautiful brunette named Gabrielle. It was she who, under the name of Coco Chanel, became an icon in the world of women's fashion. Before the discovery of his diary, no one knew that he was the one behind Chanel's greatest fashion ideas such as the glass pearl necklace or the original shirt dress. In May 1914, on his last work night before his departure for the USA, Alois asked Coco out to the bar where he gave her his favourite checked shirt and a necklace he had made himself using ice balls he usually decorated his cocktails with. In 1916, to honour her big secret love she would never see again, Coco designed her famous suits inspired by Alois's shirt and made necklaces similar to those she had received from him. Based upon this story, we can confidently claim the first ice ball used in a cocktail came from Alois's hands.