In this episode, Quebec entrepreneur Nicolas Duvernois of Pur Vodka, Romeo's Gin and now Choco Crème taste tests his latest products with me. A Dragon on "Dans l'Oeil de Dragon," the Quebec version of Dragon's Den, he knows what makes a good company and a good product. But even he was probably stumped when he was supposed to launch Romeo Gin X, a collaboration with artist Miss Me, at the beginning of the pandemic. Fortunately, COVID-19 didn't deter people from drinking. Nicolas' most recent products are a wild blueberry and Quebec yuzu-flavoured vodka for the third edition of Pur Vodka's Autographe series and a creamy, chocolate liqueur called Choco Crème that's a holiday collaboration with Quebec chocolate company Chocolats Favoris. We debate the merits of vodka, gin and rum; talk hand sanitizer and leadership techniques; and I announce the winner of the Choco Crème giveaway! 

The 5à7 Podcast is a series of happy hour conversations with creative people – with a nod to the Quebec happy hour, aka the 5à7. They’re based around food, but guests go beyond chefs and restaurant owners to artists, entrepreneurs and other inspiring people you might have heard of. Take a sneak peak into the homes and lives of these guests, to hear stories that only seem to come out over a drink with a friend…or by Zoom during COVID-19.

Video: iTunes | YouTube 
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Here’s everything we mentioned on the podcast (mostly in the order we mentioned them):

The products we tasted:

Romeo’s Gin X: https://romeosgin.com/romeos-gin-x/

Pur Vodka Série Autographe Édition 3 with wild blueberry and yuzu: https://www.purvodka.com/pur-vodka-serie-autographe-edition-03/

Choco Crème: https://www.saq.com/en/14561909, https://www.duvernois.com/choco-creme/ and https://www.chocolatsfavoris.com/pages/Choco-Creme-SAQ-en

Dans L’Oeil du Dragon: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/tele/dans-l-oeil-du-dragon/site/complements/ficheequipe/2917/nicolas-duvernois-pur-vodka-entrepreneur

Romeo’s Street Art Museum: https://romeosgin.com/romeos-museum/

Romeo’s Gin: https://romeosgin.com/

Nobu-syle sushi: https://www.duvernois.com/choco-creme/

Dominic Brown of Chocolats Favoris and Dans L’oeil du dragon: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/tele/dans-l-oeil-du-dragon/site/complements/ficheequipe/2915/dominique-brown-dragon-chocolat

Some bean-to-bar chocolates made in Montreal and a cool shop that sells them: