Absinthe Classics

There are many modern Absinthe classics available to buy. These Absinthes are premium Absinthes which are modeled on the vintage Absinthes, the Green Fairy, from the 18th and 19th centuries. Modern distillers use recipes from history or they have analyzed vintage Absinthes to ensure that they use the correct herbs and quantities.

Real Absinthe contains Artemisia Absinthium, common wormwood, which contains the chemical thujone, along with other herbs and essential oils which cause the drink to louche when water is added.

Here are some modern Absinthe classics:-

– Saint George Spirits make an Absinthe which is made from brandy and herbs including wormwood, star anise, fennel, lemon balm, tarragon, mint, hyssop, basil, meadowsweet and nettles. Their Absinthe is called “St George Spirits Absinthe Verte” – a green Absinthe which is legal in the USA.

– The Jade Absinthe Collection from the Combier distillery in Saumur, France – Ted Breaux from New Orleans, USA, has developed this collection of vintage style Absinthes by testing and analyzing bottles of real vinatge Absinthe. The combier distillery uses 19th century alambics rescued from the Pernod Fils distillery to make these Absinthes. The Jade collection includes a classic Pernod Fils style Absinthe, a green Swiss style Absinthe, a clear La Bleue style Absinthe, a New Orleans style Absinthe and an Edouard Pernod inspired Absinthe. These Absinthes are all handcrafted and have won many awards.

– Doubs Mystique “Carte d’Or Absinthe” – This fine Absinthe is distilled in Pontarlier, France using 19th century alambics. Pontarlier is the French home of Absinthe, where Pernod Fils first produced it at the turn of the 19th century. This is an Absinthe which uses traditional methods and ingredients but with a modern twist to suit the palates of today’s generation of Absinthe drinkers.

– Absinthe Roquette 1797 – Named after the horse of the legendary creator of Absinthe, Dr Pierre Ordinaire, this Absinthe is based on an original recipe of the 18th century. It is an attempt to recreate the real true Absinthe and contains the key ingredients of grande wormwood, anise and fennel, and is distilled in 19th century alambics in Pontarlier.

– Absinthe Duplais – This was the first verte (green) Absinthe to be legalized in Switzerland and is based on the 19th century Swiss protocols from a manual by P.Duplais. This Absinthe is distilled in Switzerland, home of Absinthe, at the Kallnacher distillery.

– Absinthe Brevans – Also from the Kallnacher distillery, this Absinthe is named after another French Absinthe manual writer. It is based on a recipe from 1897 and its base is a mixture of wine and marc. Marc is the alcohol from fermented pulp which is left after squeezing out the grape juice. Absinthe Brevans contains the herbs and plants used in historical Absinthe production.

– La Ptite Absinthe – This is a traditional Swiss La Bleue from Guadentia Persoz, a distiller in Couvet, Switzerland – home of the legendary Dr Pierre Ordinaire. This clear Absinthe is based on a recipe from 1898 which includes 12 herbs. Gaudentia found this recipe along with an alambic when she moved into her house in Couvet – what a find!

Absinthe Clandestine – This is also a La Bleue clear Absinthe distilled in Couvet by Claude-Alain Bugnon who made bootleg Absinthe before legalization in Switzerland. This Absinthe is based on traditional La Bleue recipes and is made using the typical herbs of wormwood and anise along with alpine herbs and plants.

Ways to make Absinthe Classics

It is possible to make your own traditional style Absinthe using Absinthe essences which are used by distillers in the Absinthe industry. These Absinthe essences are available from AbsintheKit.com. These are the essences that are available to purchase online:-

– Absinthe Classics – A 280ml bottle of this essence makes 14 bottles of classic green Absinthe containing the all important wormwood.

– Absinthe White – This makes 14 bottles of clear La Bleue style Absinthe.

– Absinthe Orange – This makes 14 bottles of an Absinthe which has a delicate orange flavor from real orange oil.

– Absinthe 55 – This essence makes a stronger Absinthe containing 55mg of thujone and so a more bitter taste.

All the essences are made using traditional ingredients and are distilled using carbon dioxide distillation to give a top-quality essence. The essences are also available in an Absinthe kit which contains a measure and bottle labels.

These essences allow you to make Absinthe classics economically and with a real vintage taste.