[Crowdfunding] Marion LEBEAU (TBS 2012) - OSCO, the non-alcoholic aperatif

  Marion and Laura are co-founders of OSCO, the non-alcoholic aperatif cocktail. 

These ladies both come from the Midi. Their paths crossed in the world of luxury goods and spirits when they were both working for Chic, a creative agency for luxury firms. 

The idea behind the ambition to create a non-alcoholic drink  

First and foremost, it came from the frustration that when you don't want to drink alcohol, there just aren't any good alternatives. All we were offered were tasteless and artificial drinks with a high sugar content.

So this gave rise to the idea to launch OSCO, thus offering a new experience for the taste buds : a unique taste combining a burst of the South and the quality of life of the Midi. The perfect balance between fresh and fruity notes will transport you to the sun of the South. The sugar content is low and a few green olives are a perfect match. It is an ideal aperatif cocktail even at the beginning of the week ! 

Isn't a non-alcoholic aperatif abit off the wall ? 

You don't have to drink alcohol to have fun. Moreover, more and more people share this opinion since alcohol consumption is actually on the decrease. According to INSEE studies, 23% of Europeans over the age of 15 do not drink alcohol, as well as ¼ of Britsh people between the age of 18 and 24. These figures are rising in line with the overall tendancy to adopt healthier life styles. 

An organic, non-alcoholic drink produced by a mixture of Verjuice and plants with a Mediterranean accent  

To produce this drink, Marion and Laura were intent on not denaturing the ingredients, on preserving the home produce characteristcs and on creating a real trip for the taste buds. Their efforts focused on the traditional structure of a drink, in other words, the blend of wine and plants that give it the bitter taste.

Organic Verjuice is the substitute for the wine.  It is the juice of unripe, green grapes that are picked by hand. As they come from the vines, the grapes are a local, environmentally-friendly alternative to imported lemons. They have a good attack on the palette, packed with finesse. Above all, this is about reviving an ingredient which was widespread in fine cuisine in the medieval period. Today it is so confidential that only starred chefs know about it. Yet Verjuice goes perfectly with plants. 

The revival of French know-how

Bitterness, which is a sort of signature of aperatif cocktails, comes from gentian. It is a rarely-known fact that the most famous aperatifs such as Apérol or Suze contain high doses of it. It lingers in the mouth, to be savoured several moments longer. This property is often lacking in non-alcoholic drinks so you cannot sip your cocktail at the same rate as your friends. 

So where does the name come from ? 

OSCO takes its name from an Occitan expression which market sellers cried out when they hit the right weight or the right measure.

 "OSCO ! Spot on, well done !"

The crowdfunding campaign on Ulule is open until 30th June and is already looking good. The next step for the two co-founders is to get this summer drink listed in speciality grocery stores, wine merchants and bars. 

If you would like to support the crowdfunding campaign and create your own cocktails with OSCO, click on the picture here ⤵️