The first edition of Alambik Festival took place from December 4 to 7. Initiated in the year of its centenary by La Réunion des Rhums, the union of the Reunion rum industry, this cultural and tourist event is the first dedicated to rum and rum-based spirits on our island.
Among the more than 70,000 annual visitors to the Mecca of Reunion spirit tourism, the La Saga du Rhum museum, in Saint-Pierre, Only 15% are local. So, while local tourism attracts more and more Reunion Islanders, local spirit tourism needs to catch up. Especially since Reunion rum, completely renewed for around thirty years, places Reunion on the world rum map. This historic activity is more dynamic than ever, with internationally recognized quality and innovations, with also the appearance of a new generation of distilleries. Also La Réunion des Rhums wanted to get closer to the people of Réunion through a rum festival.. Alambik Festival aims, thanks to its animations, to promote know-how, the traditions and heritage linked to the manufacturing of Reunion rums in a union between spirit tourism, Péi terroir and gastronomy.
Rum, an art of living
For four days, Alambik Festival therefore, for the first time, celebrated the diversity of Reunion rums and spirits. With two highlights : open days in the distilleries and a taste experience in around thirty partner bars and restaurants. The four Isautier distilleries, Payet and River, Rivière du Mât and Savana offered guided tours at a single moderate rate. Au menu, meetings with the cellar masters, artistic exhibition on the history of Reunion rum, tastings, cocktail and mixed rum creation workshops, ox cart rides… In collaboration with Culture Réunion Tours, a half-day tour covered the two Payet and Rivière distilleries (Sainte-Suzanne) and Rivière du Mât (Saint-Benoît). And CHR, dishes designed around rum, pairings between food and rums and, bar side, signature cocktails with new flavors were to be discovered.
