expire-images:2009-3-22

Absinthe Fever, How Long Will It Last?

Filed under: Spirits

The news that absinthe would finally be available in the U.S. was greeted with great enthusiasm by those who had been denied the experience but after the hype dies down will the "green fairy" have legs? The San Francisco Chronicle covers the rise of the spirit and of Lance Winters, the distiller behind St. George Spirits, the first American distillery to legally sell a bottle of absinthe in the United States, after the 1912 ban was lifted. Winters s a hot property right now with everyone wanting him and his pale green liqueur. He sold out of 3,600 bottles in the first six hours the spirit was available at $75 a pop.

The drink, which has a licorice-heavy taste that is similar to ouzo is popular now due to the novelty and the high alcohol content (and the cute little absinthe glasses make it pretty fun too). But after everyone tries it once will there be a large continuing market for the drink? The distilled wisdom from the article seems to be that it is a hot trend now bu one that will fade. Even Winters believes that the interest in absinthe will wane although he believes that his St. George Absinthe Verte will have a niche fan base. Its association with Victorian writers and artists continues to lend it romantic infamy.

There is some danger of the absinthe market getting flooded. There are a couple of brands currently being sold in the U.S. now and many more in the pipeline including Marilyn Manson's Mansinthe. As with any hot trend everyone wants in and then once the market fades in a year or two some of the new labels will disappear too but absinthe will always have its fans and a place on the bar shelf.

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Tags: absinthe, alcohol, expire-images:2009-3-22, liquor, spirits

Duty-Free Shopping Without the Flight

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

English consumers now have the option to shop a duty-free shop without going to the airport. British Airways has launched the High Life Shop, an online duty-free shopping service that will deliver jewelry, perfume, watches and more to customers all around England whether they have been on a British Airways flight or not. The full range of the shop, with the exception of cigarettes and alcohol will be available and British Airways will pay the VAT on the goods. There are currently around 370 products on offer and the company plans to add luggage, eye masks and other things associated with travel.

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Tags: british airways, BritishAirways, duty-free, expire-images:2009-3-22, online shopping, vat