There are several modern Absinthe classics on the market. These Absinthes are premium Absinthes that happen to be 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 make certain that they use the proper herbs and quantities.
Real Absinthe is made up of Artemisia Absinthium, common wormwood, containing the compound thujone, along with other herbs and essential oils which trigger the drink to louche when water is put in.
Here are some modern Absinthe classics:-
– Saint George Spirits make an Absinthe that is manufactured from brandy and herbs such as wormwood, star anise, fennel, lemon balm, tarragon, mint, hyssop, basil, meadowsweet and nettles. Their Absinthe is termed “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 vintage Absinthe. The combier distillery uses nineteenth century alambics rescued from the Pernod Fils distillery to create absinthepostershop these Absinthes. The Jade collection includes a traditional 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 typically handcrafted and have won many awards.
– Doubs Mystique “Carte d’Or Absinthe” – This fine Absinthe is distilled in Pontarlier, France using nineteenth century alambics. Pontarlier is the French home of Absinthe, where Pernod Fils first produced it on the turn of the nineteenth century. This is an Absinthe which uses traditional methods and ingredients but with a sophisticated 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 founded on an authentic recipe of the eighteenth century. It is an attempt to recreate the true true Absinthe and possesses the main ingredients of grande wormwood, anise and fennel, and is distilled in nineteenth century alambics in Pontarlier.
– Absinthe Duplais – This was the first verte (green) Absinthe to be legalized in Switzerland and is founded on the 19th century Swiss protocols coming 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 called after another French Absinthe manual writer. It is based upon on a recipe from 1897 and its base is an assortment of wine and marc. Marc is the alcohol from fermented pulp which is left after squeezing out the grape juice. Absinthe Brevans includes 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 renowned Dr Pierre Ordinaire. This clear Absinthe is based on a recipe from 1898 consisting of 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.
Tips on how to make Absinthe Classics
You can actually create your own traditional style Absinthe using Absinthe essences that are used by distillers in the Absinthe industry. These Absinthe essences can be found from AbsintheKit.com. These are the essences widely available to get 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 will make 14 bottles of an Absinthe which has a delicate orange flavor from real orange oil.
– Absinthe 55 – This essence creates 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 offer a top-quality essence. The essences are also obtainable in an Absinthe kit which contains a measure and bottle labels.These essences allow you to make Absinthe classics economically and with an actual vintage taste.