Last night, TEP's co-founder had the absolute pleasure of diving into an exclusive Savanna rum tasting with the an incredible team or Rum/Spirits Geek at Ôté, a fantastic Réunionese spot in Paris.

The lineup? PURE FIRE 🔥

We tasted three released bottles and got a sneak peek at five hidden-labels, with four of them set to become the Unshared Cask 2025 series. Each bottle told its own story, ranging from tropical intensity to refined elegance. Here's the recap!

RELEASED BOTTLINGS

🥃 ONE RUM (Olive 5/6Y Trad + Small Herr 9Y)

➡️ Fresh, fat, lingering sucrosity & warming spices. A smooth, rich start! 1500 bottles for La Réunion only. 🏝️ 51% – Label by Oneshoz.

🍊 UNSHARED RÉUNION 2024

➡️ Sulfur-forward, dry, with an astringent dried orange finish. Sharp, bold, and intriguing!

🍏 UNSHARED BELGIQUE 2024

➡️ Citrus nose, fresh & bright palate, subtle sucrosity. The Calvados cask adds a soft, mellow depth.

First Secret Blue (SC#373, ex-Cognac, 15Y, 59%)

✨ Gentle nose of sugar-kissed apple & pear, incredibly smooth. No astringency, no over-woodiness—just pure pleasure.

Second Secret White (SC#40, ex-cognac, 15Y, 63%)

💥 Explosive nose—fruit salad & fresh almonds. Fatty, toasted, with a hint of bitterness & deep candied fruit complexity.

Third Secret Red (7Y, 63% – Herr Blend, ex-Cognac)

🎈 Bubblegum & fatty richness on the nose. The palate? Olive, intense red fruits, confit kaki, and a touch of salinity. A wild experience!

Fourth Secret Green (SC#215 TH1, 59.5%)

🔥 Nose: dried sugars & deep salinity. The palate bursts with pineapple & banana, leading to a dry, salty finish. A tropical funk bomb!

Fifth Secret – THE BEAST (Grand Arôme Lontan 2022, 74.9%, almost 2Y in stainless steel tank)

💣 OLIVE, FAT, and PURE POWER! The only Grand Arôme Brut de Colonne, delivering an explosive, party-ready profile. Call your bartender for daiquiris!

✨ Savanna is absolutely ON FIRE. This tasting lineup was a wild mix of delicate refinement and full-throttle intensity. Each bottle had a personality of its own—making for an unforgettable experience.

🥃 My standout favorites? First Secret Blue & Fifth Secret. Opposite styles, equally captivating.

📢 Big shoutout to Sam Pitarch, Savanna and the team at Ôté for an incredible night! If you love funky, complex, and high-intensity rums, Savanna Unshared 2025 are a must-explore bottlings! 🚀

#SavannaRum #RumTasting #ÔtéParis #RumLovers #GrandArome #CognacFinish #FunkyRum #SpiritsGeek

Longtime friends Nicolas and Romain share a deep passion for spirits, rooted in their time living in Martinique and Guadeloupe. What began as a lighthearted hobby—tasting and comparing rums—soon evolved into a serious pursuit. Their frequent visits to local cellars fueled their love for spirits, and their palates expanded as they explored different varieties beyond rum.

From tasting trips to aging their own spirits in small casks, their journey into the world of spirits grew richer. Initially focused on rum, their network of connections with liquor shops and aficionados naturally led them to explore whisky, gin, and more. Over time, they built relationships with independent brands like Old Brothers, Swell de Spirits, and Famille Ricci.

Their involvement with spirits didn’t stop at tasting, however. Nicolas and Romain played key roles in organizing events like the Open Spirits Festival and engaging with Facebook communities, further solidifying their standing in the spirits world. After discussions with Swell de Spirits and Ricci at a recent RhumFest 2024, the idea for a new, broader spirits festival in Toulouse was born. While Toulouse already had a whisky festival, there was room for something more inclusive, spanning multiple types

of spirits.

A Festival for All Spirits Enthusiasts

The inaugural Toulouse Spirits Festival is set to welcome around 1,000 attendees per day over two days. Each visitor will receive a tasting glass to ensure everyone has their own throughout the event. Expect a lineup of 40 to 50 exhibitors, including both large and small producers, with a focus on creating a convivial atmosphere where smaller independent brands can shine.

The event will feature four exclusive bottlings: two rums, one whisky, and one gin. Attendees will have the chance to taste freely, with no limit to how many bottles they can sample. The focus is on accessibility, offering an affordable yet well-curated experience, without making the event too large or overwhelming.

More Than Just Spirits

The festival will offer much more than just tastings. While there won’t be any thematic spaces, exhibitors will showcase what they do best, with a diverse selection of spirits from all over the world. A temporary shop will be available for those looking to bring home their favorite discoveries.

In terms of food, cold finger foods will be provided, as the venue’s kitchen is not accessible. Despite the logistical challenge of holding the event on the 7th floor, Nicolas and Romain have worked hard to ensure everything runs smoothly. Attendees can also expect a range of festival goodies, including tote bags, hats, t-shirts, caps, and even temporary tattoos.

While this year’s festival won’t feature masterclasses or VIP areas, there’s potential for these in future editions. There’s also talk of introducing a mixology area and adding even more activities alongside the tastings, like tent displays and glasses that have won the Silver Medal Lépine competition.

Looking Forward

Though they had only four months to prepare for the event—starting in late July—Nicolas and Romain managed to pull it together with support from the spirits community. The festival will take place over two days, from 12 PM to 7 PM on Saturday and 12 PM to 6 PM on Sunday. There’s even talk of special parties on Friday and Saturday nights to extend the festivities.

The duo hopes this first edition will be a success, paving the way for future events. Some exhibitors were disappointed they couldn’t attend due to the rushed scheduling and their packed agendas. However, with the support they’ve received so far, Nicolas and Romain are optimistic that the Toulouse Spirits Festival will become an annual staple for spirits lovers.

Be sure to mark your calendars for what promises to be a fantastic celebration of the finest spirits in Toulouse, and perhaps even a new favorite event for the spirits community!

You can learn more and follow them on:

https://toulousespirits.com

https://www.instagram.com/toulousespirits

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rhumtech

https://www.facebook.com/events/1712997532781413

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565724158681