The World of Absinthe Premium Edition anise-free set includes our Gold68 anise-free absinthe, along with elegant accessories such as glasses, spoons, and a water carafe. This set is designed for absinthe enthusiasts who dislike the licorice flavor of traditional absinthe but still want to enjoy the unique absinthe experience.
Gold68 is distilled with genuine wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), but without anise to avoid its dominant herbal flavor. Instead, we use orange and lemon extracts, which give Gold68 a fresh, flavorful body. Gold68 is different; don't expect your average absinthe. Anise and fennel are not used in the recipe. These herbs typically give absinthe its strength and body. Gold68 is therefore not as heavy, yet it still has intense wormwood notes. When water is added, Gold68 only becomes slightly cloudy because it lacks the essential oils of anise and fennel, which are responsible for the "louche" effect in classic absinthe. But this isn't necessarily a disadvantage. You can also use Gold68 as a mixer for cocktails.
We love drinking Gold68 with ginger beer, ginger ale, tonic water, or our favorite: cola. The sweetness of the cola harmonizes particularly well with the aromatic vermouth and citrus notes. If you like, you can even mix it with an energy drink. But be warned: Gold68 has an alcohol content of 68%, which is much stronger than vodka, rum, or gin. So, this long drink is quite potent. Drink responsibly!
French Wormwood for Absinthe Gold68
Gold68 is produced in the small French town of Fougerolles, near Alsace. In the 19th century, Fougerolles was home to several absinthe distilleries, and indeed, the town remains renowned for its high-quality spirits. Many distilleries boast a centuries-long history, including the one where Gold68 is produced. Founded in 1859, the distillery still cultivates its own wormwood and fruit for its "Eaux de Vies" (French for elixir of life). Every summer, the fruit and wormwood plants are harvested. The wormwood plants reach a height of approximately two meters. They are cut by hand and then hung to dry for the next six months in a wooden shed called a "séchoir." The warm summer climate and the cooler temperatures in autumn and early winter provide the perfect conditions for further enhancing the quality of the herbs. This traditional, time-consuming process ensures first-class quality of the herbs and is almost a rarity in our fast-paced, efficiency-driven times.
Absinthe Accessories of the Set
The absinthe set contains four classic "Pontarlier" absinthe glasses. They are authentic reproductions of historical originals and feature a reservoir in the base that measures the correct amount for a glass of absinthe. For the traditional absinthe ritual, you will also need absinthe spoons. The set includes traditional "Classic" spoons made of stainless steel. These are also reproductions of historical absinthe spoons from the 19th century.
The included ALANDIA water carafe, with its small, thoughtful details, ensures exceptional functionality. For example, it has a sufficiently wide neck to easily add ice cubes. Ice-cold water is essential for the absinthe ritual, as it leads to a particularly dense "louche." Louche is the clouding effect of absinthe when water is added. This is an important functional feature, but not every water carafe offers it. Furthermore, the carafe has a small spout. This allows for a slow, controlled, and, above all, fine stream of water. This is important for dissolving the sugar cube in a controlled manner. With other water carafes, the water often tends to splash out, which is detrimental to the absinthe ritual.
Our ALANDIA sugar cubes, also included in the set, are an important and useful accessory. They dissolve particularly well when moistened with water because they are slightly less densely pressed and somewhat flatter than conventional sugar cubes.
