Whenever he has a little free time, the call of adventure takes over. New Zealand, Indonesia, Hong-Kong... his emblematic creation, the 1000 Punches, or "Kota Tearnate," is the expression of his travels, a pure fusion.
Nico’s eclecticism quickly became a statement; a work method as well as a lifestyle that drove him to New York, where his reputation was firmly established by strokes of luck. He was in the right place at the right time, rising to become THE French barman of the Big Apple. And like in a virtuous circle, the more he works, the more he travels, the more he meets, the more he is asked to consult on bars' drink menu creation.
But as Nico puts it, "Being highly visible, traveling... it’s not mandatory! In some countries it can be quite the opposite! In Japan, leaving the country can be perceived as a form of desertion. The bartender icons in Japan are 90 years old and have made their whole careers on the island." For Nico, traveling is also about understanding others and their cultures, absorbing the best of it, and translating it into creative libations.