Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that has been distributed on the Black Market during Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was banned and made illegal in France, Switzerland and several other countries in th early 1900s after becoming a popular liquor since its creation at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Absinthe have been especially favored by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre area of Paris. Artists and writers including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway have been all enthusiasts of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is typically known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners started to paint a negative picture of Absinthe in the late 19th century and early twentieth century, blaming it for France’s growing issues with alcoholism and claiming that the substance thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic effects. Many asserted that if Absinthe was not banned then France would be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even blamed for an alcoholic murdering his family even if he had been drinking other spirits following the Absinthe. Absinthe was restricted and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, there was clearly obviously still a market for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still created and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was the house of Absinthe. It’s claimed that Absinthe was created by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, being a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss town of Couvet in the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. Soon enough, Couvet became the Swiss capital of Absinthe production and was obviously badly affected by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is claimed to have persisted distilling Absinthe and distilled it by using a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was popular for its great bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in several countries in the 1990s but legalisation in Switzerland did not occur until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately sent applications for a license to sell Absinthe and was the first distiller to generally be given a license for Absinthe production in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s firm, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce various sorts of Absinthe:-
– The well-known La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an excellent premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It is a clear Absinthe in a blue bottle and some people say that it took its name from the blue reflections observed if the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was developed to fulfill the flavour for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and it has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was produced to be sold to the French market that has strict Fenchone rules and doesn’t allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be marketed. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and it is considered to be psychoactive. This liquor is 55% ABV and won the exclusive Golden Spoon Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
– La Clandestine Originale Alcool du Vin – A distillation of La Clandestine Originale utilizing a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for individuals who want their Absinthe to be a little more bitter and also to have the traditional green color. The stunning label on this bottle is just like antique labels depicting the Green Fairy.
The Artemisia-Bugnon utilizes herbs grown in the region like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavoured liquor. No synthetic colors or additives are used and many discuss about the Absinthes having a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.
The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is accessible to buy on their online shop but if you would like to try your hand at producing your personal Absinthe comprising wormwood then you can certainly utilize the essences from AbsintheKit.com to produce your very own premium Absinthe.