Absinthe & Pastis - The finest anisées from France and Germany

St. George Absinthe Verte 0.7L 60% Absinthe - the evil green fairy? Absinthe was - and is - still considered by many people to be an inferior spirit that causes hallucinations and drives people crazy. That this is nonsense does not need to be explained here. But where the "fear" of absinthe comes from is already clear. The reason for this lies in Switzerland. Drinking absinthe was widespread there and heavy consumption sometimes had negative physical consequences. However, this was due to the relatively high methanol content that was found in many spirits at the time due to poor production methods. The thujone content - which is often blamed for the "absinthe madness" - was rarely higher back then than in today's bottlings, as studies have shown. When an alcoholic vineyard worker brutally murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters in 1905, absinthe was blamed. The man had consumed two glasses of it. The fact that he had previously drunk up to five liters of wine and other spirits was kept secret. This would have been bad for wine producers, who were actively involved in a debate about banning it. In the same year, the first countries in Europe banned absinthe, which the USA followed in 1912. In the years that followed, absinthe almost completely disappeared from the market and its sometimes excellent quality was forgotten. The only thing that stuck in people's minds was that absinthe makes you mad. Until the new century, the myth of absinthe was only kept alive by a few moonshiners who were finally able to convince governments that absinthe was not the "evil" drink they had in mind. The ban was gradually relaxed and was finally overturned in the USA in 2007. St. George Absinthe Verte The artisanal distillery St. George Spirits in California had been preparing for this day. While the sale of absinthe was still prohibited, it was not forbidden to distill it. This was done for the St. George Absinthe Verte. For a full 11 years before sales were permitted again. This time was necessary because producing an absinthe with a distinctive color and a harmonious combination of flavors is a highly complex issue. The experiment was a success and the St. George Absinthe Verte was the first legally produced absinthe to flow from an American still in 95 years. An enormously long period of time, but the wait was worth it! The St. George Absinthe Verte is produced in the traditional way without artificial additives or other gimmicks. Simply pure absinthe as it should be. The base alcohol is brandy, which is mixed with wormwood, fennel and star anise. This infusion is then distilled in 1,500 L copper pot stills and then mixed again with herbs and spices. Mint, tarragon, basil, lemon balm, hyssop, meadowsweet and nettle give the St. George Absinthe Verte its color and other flavors. The taste of the St. George Absinthe Verte Drunk neat, the Absinthe Verte from St. George Spirits is a strong, herbal hit on the taste buds. No wonder at 60% vol. We therefore recommend mixing the St. George Absinthe Verte with ice water in a ratio of 1:3. This is the only way it can open up and reveal its full flavor. This begins with notes of licorice and develops towards a citrus and herbal profile. Give absinthe - and especially the St. George Absinthe Verte - a chance. You won't be disappointed!

Ricard Pastis Anissée, 1 L, 45% Anisées - spirits with a long tradition In the world of spirits, aniseeds (aniseed drinks) have an old tradition. Already 3500 years ago, some peoples valued the effect of aniseed spirit on stomach and intestinal complaints. Based on this long tradition, aniseeds can now be found in all parts of the world. While the Turks call it Raki, in Italy it is known as Sambucca and in Greece as Ouzo. Absinthe: Famous and infamous The most famous and at the same time most infamous spirit made from anise is absinthe. Absinthe, which appeared as a healing elixir towards the end of the 18th century, reached its peak in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries as an important source of inspiration for artists and writers. After absinthe was banned in 1915 because of its alleged hallucinogenic effects, people looked for alternatives. Paul Ricard reinterprets absinthe The Frenchman Paul Ricard finally brought pastis onto the market in 1932. The production of this spirit is based on triple-distilled neutral alcohol, which is mixed with anise, star anise, liquorice and other herbs. It does not contain the active ingredient thujone, which is responsible for the effect of absinthe. Pastis Ricard quickly developed into one of the most popular aniseed drinks in the world and is traditionally drunk diluted with water. When diluted in this way, the pastis is colored milky by the so-called "Louche Effect". Pastis Ricard offers intense aniseed aromas with clear notes of liquorice and herbs. The self-respecting Parisian doesn't drink Pernod, he drinks Ricard!

Pernod, 1 L, 45% Pernod began producing absinthe as early as 1800, making it one of the oldest producers in this field. When absinthe was banned at the beginning of the 20th century, a lighter, tujon-free version of an aniseed spirit was produced, which made the Pernod company world famous.Pernod is a spirit characterized by delicate aniseed aromas and notes of selected herbs and spices, which is traditionally drunk mixed with ice-cold water and has a clear green color that turns emerald green when water is added. On the palate with strong aniseed aromas, fennel and spicy, slightly bitter herbal notes.