Rashida Jones On Pandemic Cocktails, Authenticity, And What Brings Her The Most Joy

“Holy shit, it’s incredible,” Rashida Jones said as we took our seats inside the floral, springtime paradise which was Maison Courvoisier’s “We Found Joy” event last night.

The riverlike red table where we sat was handpainted with floral patterns to match the fresh flowers planted in every corner of the room, and stood below a panel of screens which featured images of a bright, blue sky. All of it was designed by British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Yinka Ilori, who took inspiration from scenes of Jarnac, France, where the spirits brand is based.

“He’s so good,” Jones said of Ilori, while taking a sip of Courvoisier’s refreshing “The Gala” cocktail, featuring the brand’s signature cognac, sparkling lemon tonic, and a lemon wheel, for garnish.

The actress, better known for her roles in The Office and Parks and Recreation, partnered with the label for their New York City launch—inspired by the concept of joie de vivre—and the reveal of their new, luxuriously smooth cognac, XO Royal.

“There’s something like medicinal about it to me—not taste-wise but just psychologically, like it cuts through all the courses, the desserts that you had and the other drinks you had. It’s sort of like the last thing on your palate before you go to sleep, you know? It’s cozy, very cozy,” Jones said.

Actress, writer, producer and director Rashida Jones, hosts Maison Courvoisier’s "We Found Joy" experience on March 3, 2022 in New York City. The immersive event series brings the beauty of summer in Courvoisier’s home of Jarnac, France to life. This year, the Most Awarded Cognac House* will honor its past and celebrate the future through the unveiling of a new brand world that embodies the French belief of “joie de vivre.”

When I brought up that many people have been longing for that after-work drink a bit more since the coronavirus pandemic started, she laughed. “Yup,” she said, adding that she’s not loyal to any specific cocktail, but she loves the old-school taste of a sidecar (made with cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice).

“It feels like something they would order in like a Spencer Tracy movie, like, ‘Can I get a sidecar please?’” she joked, holding up her glass. “It reminds me of like New York from a different era.”

Jones, herself, has the glamour of a Hollywood classic from a different era—except she’s refreshingly kind, down to earth, and lightheartedly funny.

She sighed as she sipped her cognac, looking impossibly cool in her black sequin Prada pants, striped cotton T-shirt, combat boots, and red croc Christian Louboutin bag. “I love it at the end of the night,” she added of the drink. “It feels like a punctuation, like if you had a great night and you’re just like winding it down.”

The star is all about winding down these days. She said that while her nighttime routine varies, she always tries to indulge, in the sense that she creates an oasis for herself to wash away the worries of the day and prepare for the following morning.

“It’s a multi-step process, but I do feel like the older I get, I have to have a practice for winding down. It doesn’t just all shut off like it used to. Like in college we were all like, ‘I’m tired, I’ll go to sleep.’ So I have to be mindful and meditate,” Jones said.

She’s big on natural, earthy scents, and loves a delicious beauty routine. “I put lots of oils on my face. I like to use face tools, I like to brush my body,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll have a drink, sometimes I won’t. Sometimes I’ll have tea. Sometimes I’ll try to read something that’s inspiring, or like create some space from the day or the news or the things that I have to deal with the next day.”

Actress, writer, producer and director Rashida Jones, hosts Maison Courvoisier’s "We Found Joy" experience on March 3, 2022 in New York City. The immersive event series brings the beauty of summer in Courvoisier’s home of Jarnac, France to life. This year, the Most Awarded Cognac House* will honor its past and celebrate the future through the unveiling of a new brand world that embodies the French belief of “joie de vivre.”

It’s no surprise that Jones has a busy work life. The actress said she’s “super psyched” about starring in Apple’s upcoming dark comedy Sunny, based in Japan. “It’s like a dream come true for me,” she said. “I’ve absolutely loved my experience every time I’ve traveled to Japan. And the material is great, so I’m really excited.” And she’s equally thrilled about her collaboration with Courvoisier. “When I see someone and I can tell that they love something, that’s what makes me want to be a part of it,” she said, explaining that the brand’s “authenticity,” and très Français belief of savoring life’s true pleasures, is very on-brand for her.

Joy, Jones said—the kind she feels when she’s doing the things she loves with people she loves—is really all she wants.

“Well, I feel like the whole lesson for everybody during this time has been that joy is not a given,” she said. “There are a lot of challenges in the world—constantly, presently, and always—so, really trying to intentionally create joyful moments for me was a big focal point. And that’s something I will bring out with me after we’re not all locked down all the time, because the truth is you gotta work for that. Like, you can make a joyful moment at any moment of the day … something that’s everlasting, and truly changing that energy actually matters. We need it.”

As for what makes her smile these days, Jones said it’s reconnecting with family and friends after these hard couple of years.

“I really look forward to a carefreeness that I don’t think anyone has been feeling,” she said. “You know, like, ‘Oh, I totally forgot what time it is, what day it is, hours have passed and I don’t know where they went because I’ve been busy like belly laughing and just having a good time.’ Like, that’s what I look forward to.”

Rosa Sanchez

Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper's Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets.