Aperitif appreciation

Aperitif appreciation

London – Last week at our Food and Drink Network Evening, Andrew MacLeod Smith, director of Sweetdram, spoke to the crowds about his company’s new launch, the liqueur Escubac and setting up a viral distilling company.

Andrew MacLeod Smith, co-founder of Sweetdram

London – Last week at our Food and Drink Network Evening, Andrew MacLeod Smith of Sweetdram spoke to the crowds about his company’s new launch, the liqueur Escubac and setting up a viral distilling company.

  • Viral distilling means that although Sweetdram’s home is in East London, it actually produces its liqueurs in distilleries across the globe
  • This approach enables a more fluid and experimental approach to drinks-making

Visitors were able to try Escubac and Tonic, the saffron-tinted drink that MacLeod calls a modern liqueur. ‘It is refined and aromatic, and much drier than a lot of products in the market at the moment,’ he told Daniela Walker, senior journalist at LS:N Global. ‘We think that means you get a sippable liqueur, something that you would enjoy in the same way as a premium whisky.’

Escubac is Sweetdram’s first product, but the company will continue to use the viral distilling method, experimenting with recipes in its East London workshop and collaborating with established distilleries on new product launches. 

The Big Picture

Escubac was made from an 18th-century recipe, but reformulated to suit modern-day sophisticated palates. For more on taking the old and making it new again, read our Ancient Appetites microtrend.

Discover More Daily Signals
A daily recap from Web Summit 2025: Turning authenticity into action

Daily Signals

A daily recap from Web Summit 2025: Turning authenticity into action

Authenticity was the buzzword on day three of Web Summit 2025, as leaders from Loop, Fizz and OnlyFans revealed how community-led models are reshap...
Technology : Global Events : Web Summit 2025
Foresight Friday: Maria Blanco, project manager

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Maria Blanco, project manager

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Technology : Music : Culture
China’s push reconfigures the global EV manufacturing map

Daily Signals

China’s push reconfigures the global EV manufacturing map

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturers invested more than £109bn ($143bn, €123bn) globally between 2014 and 2025 as they work to s...
Mobility : Technology : Infrastructure
A daily recap from Web Summit 2025: Resistance rising

Daily Signals

A daily recap from Web Summit 2025: Resistance rising

Day two of Web Summit 2025 was all about resistance and challenging the status quo.
Technology : Global Events : Resistance
The Future Laboratory unpacks Optimised Odysseys report at Breakfast Briefing

Daily Signals

The Future Laboratory unpacks Optimised Odysseys report at Breakfast Briefing

The Future Laboratory, alongside the team behind its trends intelligence platform LS:N Global, hosted its quarterly members-only Breakfast Briefing...
Breakfast Briefing : Global Events : Optimised Odysseys
Stat: One in three dating app users now swipe for career connections

Daily Signals

Stat: One in three dating app users now swipe for career connections

Dating apps are becoming unexpected networking tools. A new ResumeBuilder.com survey of 2,225 users finds that one in three people now use dating a...
Dating : Apps : Tinder
Hyrular launches surreal beauty that breaks the mould

Daily Signals

Hyrular launches surreal beauty that breaks the mould

Hyrular is a new luxury beauty brand bringing a surreal, sci-fi edge to make-up.
Beauty : Wellness : Cosmetics
A daily recap from Web Summit 2025: Circular and creator economies take centre stage

Daily Signals

A daily recap from Web Summit 2025: Circular and creator economies take centre stage

More than 70,000 attendees and 2,500 start-ups have gathered in Lisbon for Web Summit 2025, where circular innovation and the creator economy have ...
Global Events : Technology : Sustainability
Stat: Retailers warned of festive staffing crisis as 73% of employees plan to quit  

Daily Signals

Stat: Retailers warned of festive staffing crisis as 73% of employees plan to quit  

UK retailers could face a staffing crisis ahead of Black Friday and the Christmas rush, as new research from sharetech platform Vestd reveals that ...
Work States : Retail Staff Futures : Workplace
Nike and Palace build a new playground for London’s creative youth

Daily Signals

Nike and Palace build a new playground for London’s creative youth

Nike and Palace have joined forces to launch Manor Place, a free cultural and sporting hub in South London that brings skateboarding, football and ...
Sport : Community : Fashion
You have 1 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN