Pernod Absinthe Returns After 93 Years

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Oct 20th 2008 at 2:02PM

Back in March my colleague Deidre Woollard wrote about the absinthe craze ushered in by the end of a longstanding ban against the supposedly dangerous spirit. The hype has died down somewhat, and while faddists move on to other obsessions leaving true enthusiasts to enjoy themselves, the original absinthe maker, Pernod, has finally re-introduced their famous original.

Pernod Absinthe (right) is a revival of Pernod Fils, arguably the most authentic absinthe ever produced with a recipe that's over 200 years old. The company stopped making it in 1915 when the French government banned absinthe, later coming out with a wormwood-free version. The original is a high-proof sprit distilled from Grand Wormwood, fennel and anise - exactly the same as consumed by the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and now, us.

Tags: Absinthe, France, Monet, Pernod, Picasso

Filed under: Spirits

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)

BIG BILL Oct 26th 2008 12:23PM

ABSINTHE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER.....THAT'S THE REAL REASON THAT IT WAS BANNED.

Jacqui Oct 26th 2008 12:36PM

In answer to a previous comment, absinthe has been legal in the US for some months now.

Although Pernod may have been one of the original producers, my suggestion is to try Obsello, the Spanish absinthe that is now available here. It has been awarded a gold medal in its category from the Chicago Beverage Tasting Institute.

TIm Oct 26th 2008 12:29PM

I have been buying Absyyth all my life here in New Orleans. In fact, its a main staple of many high class restarants such as Antoines and Arnauds.

zac the hoople Oct 26th 2008 12:40PM

Actually absinthe has been legalized in theUS. But the "thujols" content (the supposed active ingredient in wormwood) must be below 10 ppm. In actuality, it was widely believed that other additions and impurities caused the hysteria from absinthe, not that 1 chemical. They were famous for loading all kinds of crap into it...

Rut Oct 26th 2008 12:44PM

Hey Jim....to answer your question....it seemed to work last night!

Holley Oct 26th 2008 12:57PM

The absinthe of Hemmingway and Oscar Wilde was WAY more potent that anything available today- that's why it was banned. Read a little history on it- very interesting. DO NOT try to make your own at home. An excess of the chemicals in wormword can cause health problems, including renal failure! The high octane drink of old when taken in excess could definitely make you see things, and shut down your organs at the same time. The commercal brands available in Europe vary wildly. If you can get your hands on some Serpis Absinthe, try it! Two glasses and you are mellow and quite happy to just kick back and count the cracks in the ceiling :) Deva is not bad either. About like smoking a joint- but no munchies! Of course, if you don't like the taste of black licorice, you won't like any of it.

Rachel Oct 27th 2008 12:31AM

I had heard it was legalize in the US this April, and hope it was because i got a bottle for my birthday. And if it is illegal, thats just silly, because i happen to have a wormwood plant that i bought at a local nursery in my herb garden!

DaMomb01 Oct 26th 2008 1:16PM

Absinthe makes the mind grow fodder...that the real reason it was banned! ; )

Michael Oct 27th 2008 12:42PM

I have been buying absinthe for years through: eabsinthe.com it is the real stuff as a matter of fact I two bottles of Lafee in the cupboard right now.

dcmeyer55 Oct 26th 2008 1:43PM

absence makes your heart grow fonder ;absinthe makes your mind go absent.

Nora Oct 26th 2008 2:14PM

For more accurate info, google "absinthe". If you enjoy the ritual of the absinthe drink, I've located a great site - LaMaison d'Absinthe and also The Absinthe Nuseum of America. Neat!

jackie Oct 26th 2008 2:01PM

What is it, and why is or was it illegal?

SoCalGal Oct 26th 2008 2:21PM

I'm now 82, but I distinctly remember when I was a young kid sneaking a small amount of Pernod at my grandmother's house and I loved it because I loved licorice (and still do) and it had a pleasant licorice taste, which was probably from the anise they put in it. I have often thought of that taste of Pernod and wish I could once again have some. Think I'll check out our local Liquor Store.

laurie mitchell Oct 26th 2008 6:05PM

I hope you get the part. How interesting is the theatre world!

John B. Oct 26th 2008 2:42PM

I had Pernod in Germany back in 1965, If I remember right it tasted about like pine needles smell

Importer Jan 19th 2009 8:00PM

I guess I got lucky. On 2 different occasions I brought some Absinthe into the U.S. with out any questions asks. But they did take my tulip bulbs. Go figure.

Robert Oct 26th 2008 7:55PM

Be cautious before you buy, as there is a lot of junk out there toted as Absinthe and is not. Firstly Absente (Absinthe Refined) has been sold in the states for years. The problem is that it is junk. Not absinthe at all. This is only a high priced absinthe-like flavored potable with small doses of petite wormwood. Hardly absinthe.

Lucid only contains 10mg/liter thujone from a small amount of wormwood family herbs. Not absinthe. Mansinthe, I won't bash it here but you search for various reviews of the product and read for yourself. It is a gimmick.

Not sure what the concentration is on the Pernod so be careful. I haven't read enough on it nor have I tried it yet. It may be great. I intend to try.

I have been drinking REAL absinthe for 8 years. It started in Europe by accident not even knowing what it was and had to get it here. I purchased many bottles from Europe and not cheap with shipping and customs IF you get it. Too many hoaxes out there.

Also, Absente has come out with a PREMIUM version with Grand in the title. Same junk, higher price.

Now for the kits. THERE IS NO DRY KIT THAT PRODUCES ABSINTHE. Green Devil claims it does and mentions a carbon filter. Bunk! It is a snake oil version of an absinthe wannabe and exceptionally dangerous IF you can get it past your nose and tongue. Absinthe or absinthe essences must be distilled at 170 or so Degrees. If it isn’t, it is NOT absinthe.

There is still a lot of gray area about the true absinthes in the US. You will find little Prestige brand bottles of essence on ebay and the likes. Most will be labeled "TF" for "Thujone Free". This is only an absinthe Flavoring. NO THUJONE.

You may be able to get authentic Prestige 20ml sizes and these are pretty good but not flavorful enough and only have a max of 35mg liter.

I have found 1 only and this is the real thing. This is truly the most amazing stuff, as I don’t even buy finished European bottles because this stuff has spoiled me. http://AbsintheAmerica.com sells 30ml of essence that contain 100/liter concentration of thujone. This is equivalent to a $200+ bottle of Hill's Gold before the customs and shipping. They only sell it for $35 and you just add the 100 proof vodka like the Prestige stuff but this is so smooth and what an effect.

Believe me, I met these guys at a Horror Convention and they aren’t in it for the money. The spokes model, Saephyr is the cutest, sweetest knockout and the owner, Spoon just wants everyone to enjoy and makes sure that they do even if they can’t afford it. Best deal is to catch these guys at a convention.

These guys love it and wanted to find a way that they can always have it for themselves. They really hit the mother load. Kudos Absinthe America! They just want to get it to people who want the drink but are being ripped by the big corporations. Their customer service is incredible and they usually throw in freebees with any order. They usually have a coupon code that save you money and I will try to find their latest and post it.
Also, up to now, they don't charge shipping. At the shows, they give more away than they sell and always have a free absinthe party. Happy Drinking!

Hey Absinthe America, like my plug? You guys are amazing, now do I get a freebee?

Michael Oct 26th 2008 11:07PM

THis is junk just like all the other things you mentioned. You don't buy an absinthe kit. You have to buy it, period. Just because you spout off a whole bunch of cool sounding "facts", and name a few brand names doesn't make it true. You are probably working for them and trying to get people to click your silly little link. Well I'm here to say, don't do it. Search for yourself, and you will find the truth.