ALEXANDRE CARUANA, FOUNDER OF BEAR BROTHERS
Alexandre Caruana
"It is our common passion for gastronomy, oenology, and spirits that brought us together."
29 March 2024
To bring the project to life, the three partners founded the Pyrenees Distillery on the outskirts of Toulouse: an ultra-modern production facility, reflecting their ambitions.
How did the idea of BEAR BROTHERS come about?
With my brother Julien and our childhood friend Frédéric, we wanted a "Passion & Family" project for the second part of our lives. The three of us are passionate about spirits, oenology, and gastronomy. Distillation is what captivated us the most. After a few months of reflection and project planning, we embarked on this wonderful adventure.
What makes BEAR BROTHERS an Avant-Gardist?
We firmly believed that we needed to approach distillation differently, which led us to establish an ultra-modern distillery. It's situated within the Agrobiopole, on the outskirts of Toulouse, just 15 minutes from the Place du Capitole, along the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, we acquired 5 hectares of agricultural land to cultivate our raw materials, with the aim of overseeing every stage of production, from harvest to bottling. Furthermore, we exclusively distill fresh, organic products. This aspect of seasonal production in harmony with nature is paramount to us.
"The first gins we drank were during the post-match celebrations of our rugby games, in the late 1990s."
What were you doing before? What led you to dive into the spirits industry?
We were working in consulting, hospitality, and sports. It was our shared passion for gastronomy, oenology, and spirits that brought us together in this exciting entrepreneurial and human adventure.
What is your favourite cocktail, and ideal place to enjoy it?
We tend to keep it classic; the Gin and Tonic is top-notch. One might think it's simplistic, but when you focus on the preparation, it's actually quite complex. A large, chilled glass, big dense ice cubes, good gin, and tonic that lets it shine— that's the ideal! And if you have a shaker on hand, a Basil Smash with our citrusy gins is quite the tasting experience. The ideal place to enjoy it? An orchard of citrus fruits, without hesitation!
Tell us about your first memory of tasting gin.
The first gins we tried were during the post-rugby match gatherings, in the late 1990s. Needless to say, they were Gin and Tonics made with resinous gins and stale tonics, served in tall glasses. Then, we started tasting real Gin and Tonics in Spain, in San Sebastián. These were high-quality cocktails with a nice selection of gins and artisanal tonics, served in large 70 cl stemmed glasses with big ice cubes. This made us want to explore gins on their own: we began tasting them neat, like whisky.
What is the most heartwarming feedback you have received about BEAR BROTHERS from a customer?
"You guys are crazy for distilling finger lime and sturgeon caviar together... But keep going, it's amazing!"
