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

We had the opportunity to have a quick chat with Sven Brosens, the creator of the Spirits Museum.

We found it interesting to ask him a few questions about the museum and his journey. It turned into a fascinating exchange where he also asked us to explain what we do.

What could make more sense for us than to talk about spirits with the creator of the Spirits Museum? Let's embark on this!

Sven, who are you and who is behind the museum?

I'm a newcomer to the world of spirits, but I've always been interested in them. During the Covid pandemic, instead of pursuing further professional training, I decided to complete the Spirits Sommelier course and then added the WSET Level 3 in Spirits the following year. Since 2023, I have been the President of the Rum Club Switzerland and a member of two other associations: the Whisky and Schnapps Forum Switzerland.

Why was the museum created and why in Switzerland? What can we find there?

The idea for the museum was born during my sommelier training. Instead of opening a bar, I wanted to share more knowledge about all types of spirits. I searched for a suitable location for two years and finally found one in Belp at the end of 2023. In the museum, visitors can learn about the history and production of various categories of spirits. Of course, you can also taste the many bottles on display and broaden your horizons.

Looking ahead, what do you expect?

The museum is fully equipped, and I am now waiting for authorization to open, hopefully in July. I expect to attract curious individuals who want to learn about new spirits as well as professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and taste spirits from different categories.

How can the community help?

The community can help preserve the history of spirits and distilleries by contributing old and new bottles, utensils, tools, barrels, bar equipment, books, and anything related to spirits. For companies interested in exhibiting their products in the museum, I have an exhibition concept that I would be happy to share.

What's your favorite spirit?

I started with rum and have remained loyal to it, from white Bacardi with cola to premium dark rums and single cask bottlings at cask strength. My absolute favorite bottle is "The Last" from the Caroni Distillery. I now also enjoy Armagnac and Mezcal. Thanks to the museum idea, I try to find exceptional liquids in all categories.

Where can we meet you in the future? Any upcoming spirits events? Are there any upcoming events, partnerships, or educational purposes?

In the future, you can certainly meet me at the museum, where visitors can explore the world of spirits or participate in tastings or seminars. I will also be present at many trade fairs in Switzerland and abroad, such as Whisky Live Paris. Additionally, companies will have the opportunity to organize their own events at the museum.

Now let's talk about you guys at The Exchange Platform.

Can you explain who you are and how did you get into the spirits business?

I’m a long-time spirits enthusiast, born and raised in France. After living abroad for a few years, I continued to enjoy spirits globally with a strong passion for Cognac, Whisky, and Rum. I ended up in this business inadvertently when people began asking me to help them locate bottles they couldn't find and realized there’s definitely something to be done when it comes to locating a bottle and determining its fair valuation.

Why did you come up with the idea for this platform?

We realized that the secondary market for spirits is outdated, inefficient, and illiquid, with high execution costs and fragmented information. I looked at what was working in other industries and applied those principles to the spirits market.

What does your project involve and who are the potential customers?

The Exchange Platform (TEP) is built on four foundations:

- Price History: We aggregate data from over 70 auction sources for all types of spirits, plus our own traded prices. Each bottle is standardized with a unique identifier, often linked to a barcode, making searching and comparison easier.

- Trading: We empower buyers and sellers to set their own prices, shifting away from a seller-driven market.

- Portfolio Management: We’ve developed a unique tool that allows users to monitor their collection, inventory, or investments with flexibility and powerful analytics.

- News, Events, Insights: We curate relevant spirits news and events through a dedicated newsfeed and custom filters. Additionally, we publish research and insights through our new Insights function.

How do you ensure the platform is scam-free?

Hahaha, I guess you’re referring to the curses and threats I’ve received from scammers on Facebook. Since security is in our DNA and we use Mangopay, a regulated payment provider in the EU, all participants must undergo a one-time KYC (Know Your Customer) process to confirm their identity. Payments are handled within Mangopay’s ecosystem, so sellers only receive funds once the parcel is delivered and confirmed.

What makes your platform better than others?

Honestly? Everything! (laughing) More seriously, we offer the only one-stop platform where you can enjoy a dedicated newsfeed, browse spirits events worldwide, search for bottles, explore price history, notify the market of your buying interests, swap bottles, and monitor your position. All of this is within a secure workflow, from registration to payment and delivery, as we have integrated UPS secured parcels. On top of that, we have marginal fee at 2.5%, VAT included.

There's no need to look for auctions, find a blog, hope to get prices from somewhere, or be stuck in groups. You can access everything at The Exchange Platform.

Thanks for your time, Sven, and I hope there will be a huge party for the museum opening!

You can follow and learn more about the Spirits Museum on their website and social networks:

https://spirits-museum.ch/

https://www.instagram.com/schnapschat/

https://www.facebook.com/Spiritsmuseum

https://www.youtube.com/@spirits-museum