About The Siren's Cove
The Siren's Cove started from a deep-rooted love for Rum that goes beyond just drinking it.
How it all started:
My name is Idris Van Nuffel, and I've been passionate about Rum for a long time. Rum has been my drink of choice for years. I always follow the latest trends and try to gather as much information as possible. In the early years of my adult life, this wasn't easy. Rum was, to my great annoyance, considered a drink for mixing. Drinking Rum neat was considered "weird" in my circle. Later years certainly made it harder, as the rise of Gin in Belgium and the growing love for Whiskey in our region led to a decline in interest in finer Rum among spirits drinkers, and consequently, a shrinking selection in stores. Yet, I've always held onto it, because Rum has something many other drinks don't: an exceptionally interesting and well-documented history. Therefore, I continued to delve into the literature and explore the different flavors available on the market. After traveling to various Rum-producing islands in the Antilles and visiting an authentic Rum distillery in Guadeloupe, my love for Rum had grown even stronger. It was the perfect time to start something with it.
The first tastings:
It was the year of the coronavirus in 2021 when, after gaining a lot of knowledge through literature, tastings, and visits, I decided to organize my first Rum tasting for friends and family. I purchased seven specific bottles in different styles, and the 'History in a Bottle' tasting was born. The end result was a growing interest among friends in this delicious and fascinating drink: Rum. After several sessions and follow-up tastings in various styles, the important question finally arose: "Can we also buy Rum from you?"
The answer was: "Not at the moment."
The first bottles:
Despite the potential, I was a newcomer to the market who didn't even have a physical store, and I wasn't interested in other spirits. Importers weren't interested in my business, so I started looking for alternatives. Fortunately, the internet is our friend, and I soon found an alternative supplier who could supply me with my first stock. The webshop was born, and our first Rum cabinet appeared in our living room.
With a very limited stock, I obviously wasn't going to make a splash, but sales did pick up. I've always opted for a small stock per item, which allows me to respond quickly to trends, but makes me more dependent on price adjustments. With very limited storage space, this choice is naturally logical.
The growing sales and my relentless efforts on social media quickly attracted the attention of importers, and so I finally gained access to the more exclusive bottles, while also having a major shortage of space.
And now...
The Siren's Cove suddenly became known in Belgium for offering Rum tastings at home, and the bookings kept coming. This fame also led to increased sales, both online and offline. Keeping track of everything became a real feat, but luckily I can always count on my companion, Chloé Van Boven, to help in the shop and during tastings. She's helping me select Rums, organizing events, and handling the administration. Our shop is literally bursting at the seams. Fortunately, she helps me organize it and create order in the chaos of flavors, styles, scents, and colors.
Today, we can both say that we are very proud of what we've been able to build in a short time and with a very limited budget. We hope to continue this for a long time to come, to expand our shop even further, to expand our offerings, and to raise awareness of Rum even further.
Idris van Nuffel
Chloé Van Boven
Are you a Rum lover or interested in Rum? Then definitely stop by. We can help you define your taste and guide you through the world of Rum, thanks to our wide selection and extensive product knowledge. We can also help you expand your home bar with a fine selection of Rums, and we assist hospitality businesses in creating a Rum menu and finding suitable Rums to further expand their cocktail offerings.
So, definitely stop by!