| Absinthe - The Green Fairy - La Fée Verte Vintage Absinthe from the Pre-ban Era Anise, Anisette |
Banned for almost a century until its recent revival, absinthe is something of a “living fossil”, a coelecanth
amongst drinks, able to magically transport us back to the glittering world of Paris and the Belle Epoque, a world
of bohemian musicians and writers, of the Moulin Rouge and the cafés of Montmartre, a world of starving
struggling artists and glittering courtesans.
Absinthe is made from alcohol and distilled herbs or herbal extracts, chief amongst them grand wormwood
(artemesia absinthium) and green anise, but also almost always including 3 other herbs: petite wormwood
(artemesia pontica, aka Roman wormwood), fennel, and hyssop.
Well made absinthes are generally pale green, but louche, or turn milky, when water is added. This is caused by
the essential oils precipitating out of the solution, as the alcohol is diluted. Clear absinthes - often called La Bleue
or La Blanche, and historically popular in Switzerland - are made without the final colouring step, and may also
differ slightly in herbal composition.
Legend has it, that the inventor of the drink was Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, who in 1792, shortly after the French
revolution, travelled around the Val de Travers near the French-Swiss border on his faithfull horse Rocket, and
produced the first commercial absinthe, initially as an all-purpose remedy or cure-all. It was nicknamed "La Fée
Verte" - "The Green Fairy" - and this name stuck throughout absinthe's heyday. Dr. Ordinaire's invention aroused
the interest of a gentleman named Major Dubied, who saw its possibilities not just as a patent medicine, but as
an aperitif. Dubied purchased what was reputed to be Ordinaire’s original formula from two sisters called Henriod
at the beginning of the 19th century and began large scale production.
By 1805, the Pernod Fils absinthe company was set up in Pontarlier in the Doubs region, run by Dubied's son-in-
law, Henri-Louis Pernod. Pernod Fils went from strength to strength. Henri-Louis's dynamic younger son Louis
purchased 36 000 square meters of land on the outskirts of Pontarlier alongside the Doubs River, and built a
factory with a daily production exceeding 400 litres. By 1850, when Louis died, the factory had 26 stills producing
20 000 liters a day. The popularity of absinthe spread further as it was used as a fever preventative by French
troops fighting in Algeria from 1844 to 1847. When the troops of the Bataillon d'Afrique returned to France, they
brought with them their taste for the refreshingly bitter drink, and absinthe became a hit in bars and bistros all over
France. Licensing laws were relaxed during the 1860's, which resulted in a proliferation of new cabarets and
cafés - more than 30,000 existed in Paris by 1869, and 5 p.m. signified l'Heure Verte - the Green Hour - in almost
every one.
In the 1860's, there was for the first time concern about the results of chronic abuse of absinthe. Chronic use of
absinthe was claimed to produce a syndrome, called absinthism, which was characterized by addiction,
hyperexcitability, epileptic fits and hallucinations. By the 1890’s, absinthe had become the primary target for the
French temperance movement.
amongst drinks, able to magically transport us back to the glittering world of Paris and the Belle Epoque, a world
of bohemian musicians and writers, of the Moulin Rouge and the cafés of Montmartre, a world of starving
struggling artists and glittering courtesans.
Absinthe is made from alcohol and distilled herbs or herbal extracts, chief amongst them grand wormwood
(artemesia absinthium) and green anise, but also almost always including 3 other herbs: petite wormwood
(artemesia pontica, aka Roman wormwood), fennel, and hyssop.
Well made absinthes are generally pale green, but louche, or turn milky, when water is added. This is caused by
the essential oils precipitating out of the solution, as the alcohol is diluted. Clear absinthes - often called La Bleue
or La Blanche, and historically popular in Switzerland - are made without the final colouring step, and may also
differ slightly in herbal composition.
Legend has it, that the inventor of the drink was Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, who in 1792, shortly after the French
revolution, travelled around the Val de Travers near the French-Swiss border on his faithfull horse Rocket, and
produced the first commercial absinthe, initially as an all-purpose remedy or cure-all. It was nicknamed "La Fée
Verte" - "The Green Fairy" - and this name stuck throughout absinthe's heyday. Dr. Ordinaire's invention aroused
the interest of a gentleman named Major Dubied, who saw its possibilities not just as a patent medicine, but as
an aperitif. Dubied purchased what was reputed to be Ordinaire’s original formula from two sisters called Henriod
at the beginning of the 19th century and began large scale production.
By 1805, the Pernod Fils absinthe company was set up in Pontarlier in the Doubs region, run by Dubied's son-in-
law, Henri-Louis Pernod. Pernod Fils went from strength to strength. Henri-Louis's dynamic younger son Louis
purchased 36 000 square meters of land on the outskirts of Pontarlier alongside the Doubs River, and built a
factory with a daily production exceeding 400 litres. By 1850, when Louis died, the factory had 26 stills producing
20 000 liters a day. The popularity of absinthe spread further as it was used as a fever preventative by French
troops fighting in Algeria from 1844 to 1847. When the troops of the Bataillon d'Afrique returned to France, they
brought with them their taste for the refreshingly bitter drink, and absinthe became a hit in bars and bistros all over
France. Licensing laws were relaxed during the 1860's, which resulted in a proliferation of new cabarets and
cafés - more than 30,000 existed in Paris by 1869, and 5 p.m. signified l'Heure Verte - the Green Hour - in almost
every one.
In the 1860's, there was for the first time concern about the results of chronic abuse of absinthe. Chronic use of
absinthe was claimed to produce a syndrome, called absinthism, which was characterized by addiction,
hyperexcitability, epileptic fits and hallucinations. By the 1890’s, absinthe had become the primary target for the
French temperance movement.
To drink a pre-ban absinthe from 1910, from the era of Toulouse Lautrec and Van Gogh, of Verlaine and Rimbaud is an
extraordinary and life enhancing experience - this is truly, in Barnaby Conrad's words, history in a bottle - one has the feeling of reaching
back like a time traveller into the distant past, and feeling for just a moment a flicker of the warmth of a summer's day on a
Parisian boulevard a century ago. Vintage absinthe is far rarer than ancient cognac, pre-prohibition bourbon, or any other vintage
spirit. Every surviving bottle is a precious relic. No more than a few hundred people on earth have tasted vintage absinthe (most of them via
this website). Many purchasers extract a small sample to taste via a hypodermic syringe through the cork, but leave the bottle otherwise
intact for future generations.
We continually search throughout France, Switzerland and Spain for sealed bottles of vintage absinthe, in fine original condition. When we
do find pre-1915 bottles, they tend to sell very quickly, often to buyers already on our waiting list, although occasionally we are able to offer
them here.
extraordinary and life enhancing experience - this is truly, in Barnaby Conrad's words, history in a bottle - one has the feeling of reaching
back like a time traveller into the distant past, and feeling for just a moment a flicker of the warmth of a summer's day on a
Parisian boulevard a century ago. Vintage absinthe is far rarer than ancient cognac, pre-prohibition bourbon, or any other vintage
spirit. Every surviving bottle is a precious relic. No more than a few hundred people on earth have tasted vintage absinthe (most of them via
this website). Many purchasers extract a small sample to taste via a hypodermic syringe through the cork, but leave the bottle otherwise
intact for future generations.
We continually search throughout France, Switzerland and Spain for sealed bottles of vintage absinthe, in fine original condition. When we
do find pre-1915 bottles, they tend to sell very quickly, often to buyers already on our waiting list, although occasionally we are able to offer
them here.
Please email us for further details of any of the vintage absinthes shown below, or if you'd like to place an order, or to put your name on the
waiting list if you're a serious potential purchaser for future offers.
waiting list if you're a serious potential purchaser for future offers.
| Click here to EMAIL FINEST & RAREST |
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A superb bottle of Absinthe Pernod Fils in
excellent condition - very good level,
neck-foil largely intact, branded grey wax
seal very crisply struck, label complete
with only very minor scuffing. The contents
are bright and clear. The bottle still shows
some crudity - bubbles in the glass - and
certainly dates from before 1910, most
likely around 1905.
This is the classic absinthe of the Belle
Epoque, the benchmark by which all
others are judged. Bottles in such pristine
condition are extremely rare.
Offered strictly first come, first served.
SOLD.
excellent condition - very good level,
neck-foil largely intact, branded grey wax
seal very crisply struck, label complete
with only very minor scuffing. The contents
are bright and clear. The bottle still shows
some crudity - bubbles in the glass - and
certainly dates from before 1910, most
likely around 1905.
This is the classic absinthe of the Belle
Epoque, the benchmark by which all
others are judged. Bottles in such pristine
condition are extremely rare.
Offered strictly first come, first served.
SOLD.
| Absinthe Suisse "Grand Distillerie Lyonnaise" circa 1890-95 The first intact "Absinthe Lyonnaise" discovered in the modern era. |
This is an exceptional bottle - a circa 1890-95 Absinthe Suisse,
marked "Grande Distillerie Lyonnaise". Lyons was a noticable centre
for absinthe production, and an "absinthe Lyonnaise" was a specific
regional recipe (a high percentage of angelica root in the distillation,
and veronica added to the colouring step).
The bottle has a capacity of around 600ml and is crudely blown with
may date to even earlier than 1890-95, but I wanted to err on the side of
caution.
This is the first example of an absinthe Lyonnaise I have found. It's an
review by a well-known French absintheur.
"Absinthe Suisse" was the highest quality designation possible in the
era, indicating a naturally coloured absinthe of the finest quality. The
wording "Grande Distillerie Lyonnaise" almost certainly indicates that
this was manufactured by the Ferrand Freres distillery in Lyon.
marked "Grande Distillerie Lyonnaise". Lyons was a noticable centre
for absinthe production, and an "absinthe Lyonnaise" was a specific
regional recipe (a high percentage of angelica root in the distillation,
and veronica added to the colouring step).
The bottle has a capacity of around 600ml and is crudely blown with
may date to even earlier than 1890-95, but I wanted to err on the side of
caution.
This is the first example of an absinthe Lyonnaise I have found. It's an
review by a well-known French absintheur.
"Absinthe Suisse" was the highest quality designation possible in the
era, indicating a naturally coloured absinthe of the finest quality. The
wording "Grande Distillerie Lyonnaise" almost certainly indicates that
this was manufactured by the Ferrand Freres distillery in Lyon.
This bottle is SOLD.
An almost perfect sealed bottle circa 1910 Absinthe Pernod Fils bottle, offered in sample form. Very good
level, perfect seal. This is the most famous of all absinthes, the benchmark against which all others are
judged. The quintessential vintage absinthe.
This is the very last Pernod Fils bottle from the wonderful "Palazzo" cache discovered in Venice in 2007,
which has so far yielded nearly 50 bottles of perfectly preserved vintage absinthe. I've decided to sell the
contents of this bottle in sample bottle form. The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile
laboratory-grade 50ml amber glass sample bottles. 50ml is enough for two large glasses, or 3 smaller
tasting glasses.
Aside from the thrill and romance of drinking a century old liquor from the Belle Epoque, superbly
preserved Pernod Fils like this is infinitely superior to even the very best modern absinthes made today -
quite simply, until you've tasted pre-ban absinthe like this, you don't know what absinthe can taste like.
level, perfect seal. This is the most famous of all absinthes, the benchmark against which all others are
judged. The quintessential vintage absinthe.
This is the very last Pernod Fils bottle from the wonderful "Palazzo" cache discovered in Venice in 2007,
which has so far yielded nearly 50 bottles of perfectly preserved vintage absinthe. I've decided to sell the
contents of this bottle in sample bottle form. The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile
laboratory-grade 50ml amber glass sample bottles. 50ml is enough for two large glasses, or 3 smaller
tasting glasses.
Aside from the thrill and romance of drinking a century old liquor from the Belle Epoque, superbly
preserved Pernod Fils like this is infinitely superior to even the very best modern absinthes made today -
quite simply, until you've tasted pre-ban absinthe like this, you don't know what absinthe can taste like.
| Absinthe Pernod Fils, circa 1910 The very last Pernod bottle from the remarkable "Palazzo" cache. SOLD OUT. |
Click on the image to see an enlarged version.
SOLD OUT.
This fascinating bottle was found alongside the Edouard Pernod bottle shown below in the same cellar
bin. The distiller, J.V.&Ca were based in the canton of Neuchatel (here rendered in the archaic spelling
"Neufchatel"), just inside the Swiss border in the area where it is demarcated by the river Doubs.
Very early and crudely hand-blown bottle of great character, with an exceptionally deep punt (around
8cm) and many irregularities in the glass. The bottle has a non-standard capacity of 0.65 - 0.7 litre.
Intact label, and the remainder of the original red wax seal, on which the Swiss Cross can just be made
out. Good level, and no moisture or seepage round the cork. The contents are amber coloured, bright
and clear.
bin. The distiller, J.V.&Ca were based in the canton of Neuchatel (here rendered in the archaic spelling
"Neufchatel"), just inside the Swiss border in the area where it is demarcated by the river Doubs.
Very early and crudely hand-blown bottle of great character, with an exceptionally deep punt (around
8cm) and many irregularities in the glass. The bottle has a non-standard capacity of 0.65 - 0.7 litre.
Intact label, and the remainder of the original red wax seal, on which the Swiss Cross can just be made
out. Good level, and no moisture or seepage round the cork. The contents are amber coloured, bright
and clear.
| Absinthe J.V.& Ca Neufchatel (Doubs) circa 1880 The oldest intact Swiss absinthe yet discovered, in a superb hand-blown bottle. SOLD |
This is an exceptional bottle. The branch of Edouard Pernod in Lunel was sold off and changed it's name
to Gempp Pernod in 1880, so this bottle can be dated with confidence to prior to that date. It's the earliest
intact sealed absinthe bottle yet unearthed.
Handblown one-litre bottle with many small bubbles and irregularities in the glass, as one would expect
from a bottle of this era. Crudely applied glass neck seal, and perfect fully intact branded wax seal on the
cork. Not a trace of seepage, and an excellent level. Beautiful label, in overall very good condition. The
contents appear in excellent condition, amber coloured, bright and clear. A highly important survival from
one of the greatest marques.
to Gempp Pernod in 1880, so this bottle can be dated with confidence to prior to that date. It's the earliest
intact sealed absinthe bottle yet unearthed.
Handblown one-litre bottle with many small bubbles and irregularities in the glass, as one would expect
from a bottle of this era. Crudely applied glass neck seal, and perfect fully intact branded wax seal on the
cork. Not a trace of seepage, and an excellent level. Beautiful label, in overall very good condition. The
contents appear in excellent condition, amber coloured, bright and clear. A highly important survival from
one of the greatest marques.
| Absinthe Edouard Pernod - Lunel (Herault), circa 1870-1880 The oldest intact absinthe bottle yet discovered, from one of the greatest marques. SOLD |
| A superb circa 1905-1910 intact bottle of Absinthe Pernod Fils |
| A superb circa 1910 intact bottle of Absinthe Pernod Fils |
A superb bottle of Absinthe Pernod Fils
inexcellent condition - very good level,
neck-foil almost all intact, branded wax
seal still green, label complete with only
very minor scuffing. The contents are
bright and clear. The bottle still shows
slight crudity - bubbles in the glass - and
likely dates from around 1910.
This is the classic absinthe of the Belle
Epoque, the benchmark by which all
others are judged. Bottles in such pristine
condition are extremely rare. A very
desirable bottle.
Offered strictly first come, first served.
SOLD.
inexcellent condition - very good level,
neck-foil almost all intact, branded wax
seal still green, label complete with only
very minor scuffing. The contents are
bright and clear. The bottle still shows
slight crudity - bubbles in the glass - and
likely dates from around 1910.
This is the classic absinthe of the Belle
Epoque, the benchmark by which all
others are judged. Bottles in such pristine
condition are extremely rare. A very
desirable bottle.
Offered strictly first come, first served.
SOLD.
| An extremely early circa 1865 Pontarlier-style absinthe of unknown origin |
This is a crudely hand-blown circa 1860 - 1870 bottle with an irregular base, considerable crudity in the glass,
and an extremely deep punt, as can be seen in the photo. It holds about 550ml of absinthe. Taste-wise, this is
a classic pre-ban Pontarlier-style absinthe, with a rich and powerful louche and noticable wormwood on the
palate. It's likely to come from one of the smaller Pontarlier producers. The colour is the peach-amber often
found in the early absinthes of Duval or Dornier Tuller, and this may well be a very early example of one of
these marques
and an extremely deep punt, as can be seen in the photo. It holds about 550ml of absinthe. Taste-wise, this is
a classic pre-ban Pontarlier-style absinthe, with a rich and powerful louche and noticable wormwood on the
palate. It's likely to come from one of the smaller Pontarlier producers. The colour is the peach-amber often
found in the early absinthes of Duval or Dornier Tuller, and this may well be a very early example of one of
these marques
SOLD
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Absinthe was finally banned in Belgium in 1905, in Switzerland in 1910, in the USA in 1912 and finally in France in 1915. Most of the great
absinthe-producing firms went bankrupt, or amalgamated, or switched to producing pastis. Some firms transferred their production to
Spain, where absinthe was never banned, and where it continues to be made on a small scale. A remnant of the Pernod company made
absinthe in Tarragona from 1918 until the mid '60's.
For more of our latest pre-ban absinthe offers, see our sister site, The Virtual Absinthe Museum.
absinthe-producing firms went bankrupt, or amalgamated, or switched to producing pastis. Some firms transferred their production to
Spain, where absinthe was never banned, and where it continues to be made on a small scale. A remnant of the Pernod company made
absinthe in Tarragona from 1918 until the mid '60's.
For more of our latest pre-ban absinthe offers, see our sister site, The Virtual Absinthe Museum.
This is the most important cache of Spanish-made Pernod ever
found - 30 bottles dating from the late 1950's, all with excellent
levels and sound corks, the absinthe perfectly preserved. The damp
storage conditions mean the original labels are all damaged to
some degree, and in some cases are missing entirely, but it's
precisely these conditions that have preserved the corks (and the
absinthe inside) so perfectly. All the bottles have the famous
embossed "Pernod" glass seal on the shoulder, and all have most
of their original neck foil. Each contains about 900ml of absinthe.
After the absinthe ban in France in 1915, a small part of the original
Pernod company decamped to Tarragona in Spain, and continued
found - 30 bottles dating from the late 1950's, all with excellent
levels and sound corks, the absinthe perfectly preserved. The damp
storage conditions mean the original labels are all damaged to
some degree, and in some cases are missing entirely, but it's
precisely these conditions that have preserved the corks (and the
absinthe inside) so perfectly. All the bottles have the famous
embossed "Pernod" glass seal on the shoulder, and all have most
of their original neck foil. Each contains about 900ml of absinthe.
After the absinthe ban in France in 1915, a small part of the original
Pernod company decamped to Tarragona in Spain, and continued
| The "BARCELONA CACHE" 30 intact Absinthe Pernod Fils (Tarragona) bottles. |
making absinthe according to the original recipes and protocols. Production continued in
a small way until the 1960's. This is the absinthe Hemingway wrote about in "For Whom
The Bell Tolls" and elsewhere, and is the closest thing available to pre-ban absinthe, at a
a small way until the 1960's. This is the absinthe Hemingway wrote about in "For Whom
The Bell Tolls" and elsewhere, and is the closest thing available to pre-ban absinthe, at a
fraction of the cost. This is an exceptional
opportunity to buy extremely well
preserved vintage absinthe from the
legendary house of Pernod Fils, at a very
advantageous price.
SOLD OUT.
opportunity to buy extremely well
preserved vintage absinthe from the
legendary house of Pernod Fils, at a very
advantageous price.
SOLD OUT.
A fine intact Absinthe Pernod Fils, good colour, aged but intact label, good level, intact neck foil, grey green branded
wax seal near perfect. A lovely bottle.
wax seal near perfect. A lovely bottle.
| An excellent early circa 1895 Absinthe Pernod Fils 68%, very good level, near perfect intact branded wax seal. The benchmark absinthe of the Belle Epoque. |
An excellent example of the benchmark absinthe of the Belle Epoque.
Click on the images to see higher res versions.
SOLD.
Click on the images to see higher res versions.
SOLD.
This is a rare find, very few US-labelled Pernod Fils bottles have survived in this sort of condition. Marvellous near
mint label, really excellent level, substantial remains of original green wax seal on the cork (which protrudes
about a millimetre above the lip of the bottle but which is original, untouched and in excellent condition). The
staining visible on the neck foil is not seepage from this bottle - another liquor bottle stacked above this one must
have leaked on it at some stage. US-labelled Pernod Fils like this is rare and very sought after.
mint label, really excellent level, substantial remains of original green wax seal on the cork (which protrudes
about a millimetre above the lip of the bottle but which is original, untouched and in excellent condition). The
staining visible on the neck foil is not seepage from this bottle - another liquor bottle stacked above this one must
have leaked on it at some stage. US-labelled Pernod Fils like this is rare and very sought after.
| An really beautiful Absinthe Pernod Fils "Green", labelled for the US market, excellent level, perfect label. A superb US-labelled version of the benchmark absinthe of the Belle Epoque. |
A wonderful bottle.
Click on the images to see higher res versions.
SOLD.
Click on the images to see higher res versions.
SOLD.
A very important find: a circa 1890 - 1900 "Vieille Absinthe Dornier", missing the label but otherwise in quite
outstanding condition. Remarkably good level, three-quarters of the way up the glass seal on the shoulder.
Crisply struck original green wax seal. Largely intact neck foiling. This bottle comes from cellar well known to
us from previous finds, it has lain undisturbed since - at least - the 1930's. The one litre capacity bottle
measures 31 cm tall and has a deep punt with inverted tip. The glass is heavy and handblown, with some
crudity, especially around the base. The bottle likely dates from the 1890's.
outstanding condition. Remarkably good level, three-quarters of the way up the glass seal on the shoulder.
Crisply struck original green wax seal. Largely intact neck foiling. This bottle comes from cellar well known to
us from previous finds, it has lain undisturbed since - at least - the 1930's. The one litre capacity bottle
measures 31 cm tall and has a deep punt with inverted tip. The glass is heavy and handblown, with some
crudity, especially around the base. The bottle likely dates from the 1890's.
| Absinthe DORNIER - TULLER, circa 1890 - 1900. A magnificent bottle of this famous old Pontarlier marque in outstanding condition. |
The Dornier Tuller distillery was established in Fleurier in 1878 by
Narcisse Dornier-Tuller. His son Albert established the Pontarlier arm of
the firm in 1886. Dornier-Tuller was a high-end brand whose products
commanded a premium price. The "Vieille Absinthe Dornier" was the
distillery's flagship product, aged in casks before release, and distilled
exclusively from wine alcohol.
Less than a handful of intact Dornier-Tuller bottles have been found in the
last 20 years. This is a rare opportunity for the serious collector to acquire
an intact example of one of the greatest absinthe marques of the pre-ban
era.
Narcisse Dornier-Tuller. His son Albert established the Pontarlier arm of
the firm in 1886. Dornier-Tuller was a high-end brand whose products
commanded a premium price. The "Vieille Absinthe Dornier" was the
distillery's flagship product, aged in casks before release, and distilled
exclusively from wine alcohol.
Less than a handful of intact Dornier-Tuller bottles have been found in the
last 20 years. This is a rare opportunity for the serious collector to acquire
an intact example of one of the greatest absinthe marques of the pre-ban
era.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
A MAJOR RARITY. PRICE ON REQUEST