French Absinthe

France is the producer of some of the most authentic, traditional absinthe in the world. And it's no surprise, as France is where absinthe first became a national obsession. In the 19th century, absinthe was a part of every day life.

Absinthe in France, during the Belle Epoque:



Although absinthe was invented in Switzerland (Val-de-Travers), it is in France that it really expanded. And it is in Pontarlier, in 1805, that the most well-known distillery was founded: Maison Pernod Fils.

Absinthe was a originally a drink of the sophisticated upper class, however eventually it spread. By 1860 it had seduced every stratum of society, including the working class. It then had achieved such a success that it became France's national drink as much by its production as by its consumption. Indeed, at that time, more than 200 distilleries existed, and it was by far the most popular drink in cafés and restaurants!

The demand and consumption increased so much, especially amongst artists, it slowly became a symbol of alcoholism and was persecuted by temperance organizations. Wine growers, unhappy that they had lost so much custom to absinthe, joined forces with the anti-alcohol campaigners to fight against absinthe, and that is why the government decided to ban the drink and similar spirits in 1914, just after the first world war was declared.

Absinthe in France today:



A few absinthes started reappearing in 1999 after almost a century of Prohibition. Since then, the number of absinthes on the market has not stopped increasing, although the distilleries are much fewer than they used to be.

In the town that we can call the capital city of absinthe, Pontarlier, 2 distilleries are still active: the Francois Guy distillery and the Pernot Klainguer one. As a comparision: Pontarlier counted 25 distilleries in 1914!

The second most popular city for absinthe producers during the Belle Epoque was Fougerolles. A handful of small distilleries there are still making absinthe, including The Paul Devoille distillery, and Lemercier distillery.

In Saumur, in the Loire Valley, there is the Combier distillery whose work has been fundamental in the modern recreation of top quality absinthe. Appropriately, Combier's distillery building was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel (of 'Eiffel Tower' fame), and its stills came from the Pernod distillery at the end of the 19th century. Combier does sterling work distilling the Jade Liqueurs line of absinthe - recreations of historic absinthe.

Traditional absinthe today contains all the same plants and ingredients as it did over a hundred years ago.
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73 items,

Absinthe François Guy - 50cl

France / 45%
(63 Reviews)

This absinthe is produced in the pure traditional way and will enchant both novi...

François Guy is more aniseed than average and is produced in the pure traditional way, according to an ancient house recipe. This absinthe will enchant both novices and confirmed absinthe drinkers. According to a recipe more than a centur ...

 £55/Liter  £27.50
In stock
Popular

Absinthe Jade Terminus Oxygenee was created as an homage to one of the best absi...

The long awaited final chapter of Jade liqueurs' absinthe portfolio. The development of Jade Terminus Absinthe Oxygenee took several years: historical sleuthing, botanical research and patience were all necessary to produce this ...

 £85/Liter  £59.50
In stock

Absinthe Abisinthe Amer 72 - 70cl

France / 72%
(105 Reviews)

A perfumed absinthe, powerful and full of aniseed flavours.

Abisinthe Amer 72 is a perfumed absinthe, powerful and full of aniseed flavours. Ideal for an initiation to strong sensations. Abisinthe Amer 72 won a bronze medal a the 2004 Concours International des Eaux de Vie de Fruits in Metz (Intern ...

 £55/Liter  £38.50
In stock

Absinthe Roquette 1797 - 70cl

France / 75%
(160 Reviews)

Roquette 1797 has been brought back to life from an unpublished, hand-written ma...

Unique among absinthes, Roquette 1797 absinthe gives us a glimpse of what absinthe was like starting its first steps on the road to becoming the most popular drink in France. Roquette 1797 has been brought back to life from an unpublished, hand-written manuscri ...

 £77/Liter  £54
In stock
Popular
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Absinthe François Guy - 1L

France / 45%
(63 Reviews)

This absinthe is produced in the pure traditional way and will enchant both novi...

François Guy is more aniseed than average and is produced in the pure traditional way, according to an ancient house recipe. This absinthe will enchant both novices and confirmed absinthe drinkers.According to a recipe more than a century ...

 £45/Liter £50 £45
In stock

A Verte of the range of La Maison Fontiane absinthes.

La Maison Fontaine Verte is masterfully refined using an array of natural herbs including the world-renowned Pontarlier-grown Grande Absinthe. In combination with the natural herbal coloration this creates a classic floral Verte with rich herbal and peppery ...

 £71.50/Liter  £50
In stock

Absinthe Jade VS 1898 - 70cl

France / 65%
(36 Reviews)

A replica of the historical C.F. Berger absinthe. For connoisseurs !

Achieved by Ted Breaux! The Jade V.S. 1898 absinthe, a replica of the historical C.F. Berger, is an absinthe for connoisseurs. The distillery ...

 £85/Liter  £59.50
In stock

Created by T.A. Breaux for connoisseurs.

The Nouvelle-Orléans absinthe, created by T.A. Breaux, is an absinthe for connoisseurs. Colour: Pale forest green. Louche: Not too quick, not too slow, a good progressive louche.Aroma: Inviting and int ...

 £85/Liter  £59.50
In stock

Absinthe Libertine 68 Amer - 70cl

France / 68%
(42 Reviews)

Thanks to a powerful grand wormwood, this absinthe develops a very savoury bitte...

Libertine 68 Amer develops a very savoury bitterness, thanks to a powerful grand wormwood, Good for those who enjoy strong sensations. It is the third absinthe of a serie, following Libertine 55 and Libertine 72. It won a prize in the 2004 ...

 £49.50/Liter  £34.50
In stock

Absinthe Un Emile 68 - 70cl

France / 68%
(14 Reviews)

Lightly bitter, this absinthe produced in a traditional distillery will be a per...

Un Emile 68 is a lightly bitter absinthe produced in a traditional distillery. It will be a perfect initiation. This balanced green absinthe puts forward the tastes of wormwood and green anise. Its colour is obtained by maceration of Petite worm ...

 £64.50/Liter  £45
In stock

Mellow and with a light aniseed flavour, it is a refined absinthe. Very original...

Mellow and with a light aniseed flavour, Libertine 55 is a refined absinthe. Very original. It won a prize in the 2002 and 2005 Absinthiades in Pontarlier, France. It was also awarded a gold medal at the Concours Général Agricole ( ...

 £45.50/Liter  £32
In stock

Absinthe Berthe de Joux - 70cl

France / 56%
(22 Reviews)

An unique absinthe from la Belle Epoque, with mountainous fragrances from the Ju...

The Berthe de Joux absinthe, made by the Emile Pernot distillery, is the first original absinthe crafted entirely by our newly appointed master distiller, with very rich mountainous fragrances combined with a refinement reminding the greatest absinthes from the 19th century. ...

 £70.50/Liter  £49.50
In stock

Absinthe Authentique - 70cl

France / 65%
(27 Reviews)

Gold medal winner at the Absinthiades 2012 - a refreshing, extraordinary Verte.

This Absinthe was awarded the gold medal in the category Verte at the Absinthiades 2012! Coming from the Emile Pernot distillery, the Authentique is an authentic absinthe, that was developed by Dominique Rousselet, Emile Pernot's stillm ...

 £74.50/Liter  £52
In stock

Mellow and elegant, it offers very herbaceous scents and will please the beginne...

Enigma Verte offers very herbaceous scents and is elegant as well as mellow. An absinthe that will please beginners and confirmed drinkers. It is an authentic product produced according to a traditional Swiss recipe drawn from a treaty on the pr ...

 £64.50/Liter  £45
In stock

Absinthe Libertine 72 - 20cl

France / 72%
(64 Reviews)

Fine and Powerful at the same time, this absinthe is a ideal companion to discov...

Libertine 72 is fine and powerful. Its balance and its various plants make it a ideal companion to discover absinthe.Libertine 72 Intense was awarded the gold medal at the international competition in Lyon in 2019. It ...

 £77.50/Liter  £15.50
In stock

Absinthe L'Entêté - 70cl

France / 62%
(12 Reviews)

A fine Verte made at the Combier distillery in France. A fine hommage to the cla...

The Combier distillery is popular for their high quality absinthes and liqueurs. This absinthe made by Franck Choisne, the owner of the distillery. L'Entêté (can be translated as „the persistent“) is a p ...

 £64.50/Liter  £45
In stock

Absinthe Bourgeois - 50cl

France / 55%
(9 Reviews)

A new Absinthe from Emile Pernot - Absinthe Bourgeois. Its label represents the...

A new Absinthe from Emile Pernot - Absinthe Bourgeois. Its label represents the most popular absinthe poster of all times. Bourgeois used to be an absinthe brand during the Belle Epoque, where absinthe was consumed nearly everywhere, and the famous Pernod ca ...

 £69/Liter  £34.50
In stock

The "original recipe" aims to bring back the prestigious Pernod absinthe from th...

The label of the Pernod Absinthe with its old fashioned style aims to remind of the prestige and tradition of Pernod, and its recipe. It aims to bring back the original Pernod Fils - using a recipe from the 19th Century. This absinthe is ...

 £64.50/Liter  £45
In stock

Absinthe La Pontissalienne - 50cl

France / 56%
(10 Reviews)

Won a gold medal at the 2011 Absinthiades competition.

Absinthe La Pontissalienne comes from the Guy distillery, with a long history of absinthe making. With medium anise and a more complex and powerful wormwood profile than Absinthe Francois Guy, made by the same distillery. The Pontis ...

 £71/Liter  £35.50
In stock
Classic

Absinthe Jade Esprit Edouard - 70cl

France / 72%
(76 Reviews)

A replica of the historical Edouard Pernod absinthe. For connoisseurs!

Achieved by Ted Breaux! The Jade Esprit Edouard absinthe, a replica of the historical Edouard Pernod, is an absinthe for connoisseurs. By 189 ...

 £85/Liter  £59.50
In stock
Popular

Absinthe Jade 1901 - 70cl

France / 68%
(82 Reviews)

A replica of the historical Pernod Fils absinthe. For connoisseurs !

The Jade 1901 absinthe from Ted Breaux, a replica of the historical Pernod Fils, is an absinthe for connoisseurs.

 £85/Liter  £59.50
In stock
Popular

Absinthe Apocalypse - 50cl

France / 65%
(46 Reviews)

Apocalyptic Absinthe. Memento Mori. Genuine absinthe in a skull shaped bottle!

The Absinthe Apocalypse is not only an outstanding design, it is also a high-quality absinthe! The Absintherie Bourbonnaise has succeeded in creating a modern and stylish absinthe while respecting traditional techniques and ingredients. This is ...

 £71/Liter  £35.50
In stock
Classic

Absinthe Libertine 72 Intense - 70cl

France / 72%
(64 Reviews)

Fine and Powerful at the same time, this absinthe is a ideal companion to discov...

Libertine 72 is fine and powerful. Its balance and its various plants make it a ideal companion to discover absinthe. Libertine 72 Intense was awarded the gold medal at the international competition in Lyon in 2019. I ...

 £50.50/Liter  £35.50
In stock

Absinthe Fleur d'Absinthe - 70cl

France / 60%
(18 Reviews)

The wormwood sprig inside the bottle makes it unique and original. A French prem...

The Fleur d'Absinthe is unique and original because of the wormwood sprig inside the bottle. A French premiere.Fleur d'Absinthe received the silver medal at the Lyon International Competition in 2019. ...

 £50.50/Liter  £35.50
In stock
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