The beginnings of Absinthe as an Elixir
In 1769, the Henriod sisters advertised their "Bon Extrait d'Absinthe" remedy in a newspaper in Neuchâtel. It consisted of alcohol, wormwood, anise, fennel, lemon balm, and other herbs. This recipe was later commercially marketed as a stomach remedy by a certain Dr. Ordinaire. Around 1800, the recipe changed hands to Henri Louis Pernod, the founder of the Pernod Group, which is still active today. H.L.
Pernod and the spirit Absinthe
Pernod started with a rather small, but professional, absinthe production in Pontarlier, France. As a shrewd businessman, he quickly managed to increase absinthe sales. Among other things, he supplied the French army with his product. During the Algerian War in the 19th century, France utilized the stimulating effect of the drink and supplied soldiers with regular absinthe rations. The returning soldiers quickly led to an increase in production volume from 400 liters per day to up to 20,000 liters. Absinthe distilleries sprang up like mushrooms. The success story of the "Green Fairy," as absinthe is also affectionately called, began...!
Absinthe Art by Degas and Van Gogh
Absinthe gained particular popularity in the art and intellectual scene. Many 19th-century artworks were created under the inspiring influence of absinthe. Great names like Baudelaire, Manet, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Oscar Wilde, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, van Gogh, Gauguin, and Picasso were all self-proclaimed absintheurs at the time, meaning people whose passion was drinking absinthe.
The Absinthe Ban
However, for various reasons, absinthe production was banned at the beginning of the 20th century. On the one hand, the wine lobby in France feared the competition of a new national drink (besides wine and cognac), and on the other hand, some manufacturers used inferior alcohol, which endangered public health. The political influence of the lobbyists and the irresponsible handling of the drink ended with the ban of absinthe in (almost) all of Europe around 1920.
The Green Fairy is back!
Almost 100 years had to pass until the European Union re-legalized the production and sale of absinthe by law in 1998. Since then, original absinthe, i.e., absinthe produced according to historical recipes, can be purchased again. With a glass of absinthe, you can experience the fascination of the Green Fairy in an authentic way and embark on a journey into the 19th century. We wish you much enjoyment with this timeless experience!