100% Catalan non-alcoholic cocktails

She gave him her great-grandmother’s nickname: Finote. Elodie Swanberg, originally from Argelès-sur-Mer (Pyrénées-Orientales), has just launched a new brand of 100% Catalan aperitifs and non-alcoholic cocktails. “My great-grandmother made homemade aperitifs then sold by my other great-grandmother in her delicatessen in Perpignan. I grew up with this story and it was when I returned to the region after more than fifteen years spent abroad that I had the idea of ​​relaunching these products,” she says.

Established in the department since 2023 with her husband and children, Elodie Swanberg then immersed herself in the Finote recipe book and chose two to start. The first, called Apéro No. 1, is similar to a vermouth. The second, composed of orange, gentian and rosemary, is called Le Spritz.

With Finote, its objective is therefore to “bring everyone together around the table”, particularly young people, who are increasingly looking for alternatives to alcohol. “I am not a big drinker myself and it is a bit painful to feel stigmatized and to constantly have to justify it.”

10,000 liters to start

Presented at the Les Toques Blanches Roussillon Occitanie association, the Finote range has apparently achieved its first small success, notably with Aude chef Gilles Goujon who seemed interested, rejoices Elodie Swanberg. “L’Apéro No. 1 is very popular with establishments that have mixologists who integrate it into their cocktails, while Le Spritz is popular with restaurateurs and bars that are short-staffed because the cocktail is already made.”

The first production of these two drinks amounts to 10,000 liters and Elodie Swanberg does not intend to stop there, promising other launches next summer.