Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that was distributed on the Black Market during Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was prohibited and made illegal in France, Switzerland and lots of other countries in th early 1900s after being a popular liquor since its creation at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Absinthe ended up being especially well-liked by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre section of Paris mysodawater.com. Artists and writers which includes Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway were all fans of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is generally known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners began to paint a negative picture of Absinthe throughout the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, blaming it for France’s growing troubles with alcoholism and proclaiming that the substance thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic side effects. Many declared that if Absinthe isn’t banned then France would be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even held responsible for an alcoholic murdering his family regardless that he had been drinking other spirits after the Absinthe. Absinthe was banned and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, there was obviously still an industry for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still created and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was home to Absinthe. It is claimed that Absinthe was created by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, being a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss town of Couvet within the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. Over time, Couvet became the Swiss capital of Absinthe manufacturing and was obviously badly affected by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is claimed to have went on distilling Absinthe and distilled it by using a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was well known for its wonderful bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in several countries in the 1990s but legalisation in Switzerland did not happen until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately requested for a license to market Absinthe and was the first distiller to be given a license for Absinthe creation in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s company, 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 within a blue bottle and some people claim that it took its name from the blue reflections noticed if the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was created to fulfill the flavors for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and contains an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was developed to be distributed to the French market which has strict Fenchone regulations and doesn’t allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be marketed. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and is also regarded as 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 having a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for those who want their Absinthe to be a little more bitter 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 area like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavoured liquor learn more. No artificial colors or additives are utilized and many discuss about the Absinthes possessing a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.
The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is available to buy on their web shop but if you would like to try your hand at generating your own Absinthe that contains wormwood then you can utilize the essences from AbsintheKit.com to create your own premium Absinthe.