Bastien Ferreri - Hisbiscus - London

Hibiscus is a London restaurant owned and run by French chef Claude Bosi. It was opened in 2000 in Ludlow, Shropshire, and won its first Michelin star within a year, and a second in the 2004 Guide. In July 2006, Bosi and his wife moved to Maddox Street in London.

We met Bastien Ferreri, the Head Sommelier of this famous restaurant. Learn more about him and discover why he likes FAIR.

Tell us more about your venue, what is so special about it?

Hibiscus is a French fine dining based in Mayfair, London. Our mainstream is the product, the product and the product. We put a lot of energy and passion to source the best of the seasonal food and the handcrafted wine and spirits.

What is the thing you like the most about your job?

Talk about food and drinks all day, share it with guests and talk about all the people behind that.

Your mantra

Good food, good cocktail, good wine. Good friends. Good life.

What do you like about FAIR. ?

The story behind it, the unique product and its incredible versatility.

What is you're favorite cocktail made with FAIR. ?

A pure classic FAIR. Vodka Martini, super dry with a leaf of lemongrass.

Or a spiced rum cooler with FAIR. Belize Rum, fresh lime, mint, fresh ginger juice and a dash of ginger ale.

Discover more about Hibiscus Restaurant here.

Freddy Lucina - A'Rhum - Paris

With over 500 references sourced from all over the world, A'Rhum is the rum lover's answer to 'La Maison du Whisky'. Created in 2011 by Freddy Lucina and Eric Valette, A'Rhum is now one of the most famous Rum Shop in Paris. Today meet Freddy Lucina!

Could you please tell us a little bit about you, your career and your retail store?

I started my career working in a hardware store for 11 years. Even though I had a good situation, I had another project in mind, a new professional challenge: creating a shop dedicated to Rum. 

Why Rum? Because many people could not find some specific rums in Paris they were looking for, the concept was obvious.

What is the thing you like the most about your job?

I like the interactions with the customers. Since people are looking for advice, it is definitely rewarding to have the feeling of being helpful.

Being able to help novices, as well as amateurs, discovering new rums in terms of taste and origins is fascinating.

Tell us more about A'Rhum, what is so special about it?

The main goal is to arouse people’s curiosity with more than 700 rums from more than 50 different countries.

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

Nobody but my own passion for Rum.

What are your favorite rums?

I can’t answer this question because I appreciate any kind of Rum in a different way. My palate is permanently looking for new flavors.

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

Like - I am really excited about open-minded people looking for novelty. It is really funny to observe adults being amazed like children by the richness of the Rum market.

Dislike - As a consequence of the tax system in France, the goods become quite expensive and it’s a shame. Also I have the feeling that we are not that open to foreign products because we are focused on the french Rum. It is time to create the international Rum culture vs the French rhum culture.

What do you like about FAIR.?

I really love the FAIR. rums because of their origins and especially because they are very pleasant to drink. It is a good balance between some whiskies – dry – and traditional/classical rums – sometimes too sweet.

In addition to that, they are very affordable. That is the reason why consumers try them and come back for those items.

A Fashion Revolution underway

We recently talked about Fairtrade Sourcing Programs, concerning cocoa, sugar and cotton. People are generally used to conceive fair trade food but not clothes, and that’s a shame because there are many actions leaded in this sector. We want to introduce them to you.

A revolution in the world of fashion?

Do you know that there is a Fashion Revolution happening right now? No? Well then, let us explain it to you. On April 24^th of 2013 the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 1133 people were killed and over 2500 injured. Every paper talked about it, and a feeling of injustice, sometimes guilt and the will of change inhabited many consciences all over the world. People felt that fashion conditions of production needed to be fairer and less degrading.

Some were afraid that this feeling could die, letting things unchanged. That’s why they created the Fashion Revolution movement and the Fashion Revolution Day. The movement described itself as “a global movement bringing together everyone in the fashion value chain for a positive campaign on 24^th April each year. “

Fashion Revolution Day

April 24^th has become a day to act specifically on changing the conditions of production within the fashion area with 4 objectives:

“1. Raise awareness of the true cost of fashion and its impact at every link on the value chain. 

2. Show the world that change is possible by celebrating those involved in creating a more sustainable future  

3. Bring people together to generate positive solutions across the value chain

4. Long-term industry wide change”

On 2014 the adopted theme was ‘Who made your clothes?’ People organizing the Fashion Revolution wanted every body to inquire on the origins of his/her clothes. They had the great idea of asking people to take pictures of them wearing their clothes inside out, or showing the tag of their garments, and to put them into social medias such as Twitter, Instagram of Facebook. The tags #InsideOut and @Fash_Rev gathered so many people that they reached the top 3 of worldwide trends.

On 2014 the adopted theme was ‘Who made your clothes?’ People organizing the Fashion Revolution wanted every body to inquire on the origins of his/her clothes. They had the great idea of asking people to take pictures of them wearing their clothes inside out, or showing the tag of their garments, and to put them into social medias such as Twitter, Instagram of Facebook. The tags #InsideOut and @Fash_Rev gathered so many people that they reached the top 3 of worldwide trends.

Fairtrade International joined the initiative highlighting the fact that it is working with 66,000 cotton farmers in West Africa and India. The Fashion Revolution and Fairtrade International have in common the desire of a sustainable future.

Yohann Loustaud - Le Méridien Beach Plaza - Monaco

With its contemporary interior and terrace overlooking the sea, Longitude 7° 26’, new bar from Le Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel, welcomes its guests into a sophisticated universe enhanced by the special light of the Côte d’Azur. Inaugurated in May 2014 and open 24/7, the hotel stands out for its menu of unexpected suggestions reflecting a subtle combination of expertise and creativity.

FAIR. had a a chat with Yohann Loustaud, Bar Manager in this fabulous hotel in Monaco.

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

I started to work behind a bar 10 years ago at Le Méridien Montparnasse Hotel in Paris, became assistant Bar Manager a few years later . I left for 2 years 4 stars hotels for the opening of La Rotonde Stalingrad in Paris, stayed a year there as a Bar Manager carrying about the two bars, the terrasse and the night club. And left Paris to become Bar Manager in Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monaco where we just open the seasonal Alang Bar on our private beach and the brand New Longitude 7°26’ Bar that I’m convinced will become an institution in Monaco.

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

I was lucky to travel enough to discover many people who were sources of inspiration, I worked with and meet a lot of people from different cultures, different countries. Places like Paris are real melting pot, you want and you need to be inspired to provide personal experiences. And I have to say that Monaco is also a glamorous melting pot.

What is your style of cocktail? 

I don’ t have any specific style of cocktails, it depends a lot on the time of the day, the time of the year, the weather, my mood.

What is your favourite drink you have had with FAIR.?

I like to drink FAIR. Vodka or FAIR. Belize Rum neat. Otherwise those are really premium alcohol to bring great cocktails to our guests. I’m proud of one of our beach cocktail that combines fresh tea, FAIR. Goji liquor and fresh ginger to make our guests experience a new kind of ice tea that is also highlighting the benefits of plants: antioxidant (Goji) and revitalizing (Ginger).

What do you like about FAIR.?

The quality, the story, the ethical part.

Discover more about Le Méridien Beach Plaza

Carlos - Blanco & Gomez - London

Discover Carlos, owner of Blanco & Gomez in London and wine & spirits expert. 

Tell us more about your venue, what is so special about it?

Blanco & Gomez Wine Merchants Ltd is a full-service retail merchant of fine wines and spirits in Chelsea. It distinguishes itself from the competition, following the best practices of its retail category leaders, with particular emphasis on excellent customer service, a broad selection of quality inventory, and competitive pricing.

At Blanco & Gomez Wine Merchants we are and always have been wine lovers, very keen to share our experience and expertise with all our clients. We wouldn’t be here today without the quality of our products, staff’s knowledge and the value of our services.

What is the thing you like the most about your job?

Our main philosophy is to select the finest products when it comes to wine and spirits, working with experience producers, whatever the size, with the belief that with passion and dedication we will end it up delivering the finest products to our clients. We carry wines from all over the world, but have particular fondness for wines from lesser known grapes and regions, as they offer incredible value for money. Most of these wines that we carry are from small producers which follow sustainable practices, some of them certified organic and even biodynamic.

What is your mantra?

To Travel the world when I do have the spare time.

What do you like about FAIR. ?

The quality of the products and the fact that growers follow sustainable practices and is a fair deal between growers and buyers.

What is you're favorite cocktail made with FAIR. ?

Expresso Martini

1.3oz of FAIR. Vodka 

0.5oz FAIR. Café Liqueur 

0.7oz Sugar syrup
Shot of espresso

Garnish with 3 coffee beans on top.

Serve in a Martini glass.

More info on Blanco & Gomez here.