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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20 items,

AbsinthExplore Set – Jade

France
(8 Reviews)

Discover 3 spirits from Jade Liqueurs, made traditionally in Saumur, France. Thi...

All of Jade Liqueurs fine beverages are produced traditionally in Saumur, France. With the Jade AbsinthExplore Set you can try 3 of their fine absinthes. Jade Liqueurs range of ultra premium absinthe products are handcrafted and are distilled in ...

£32
In stock

Discover 3 spirits from La Maison Fontaine, made traditionally in Pontarlier, Fr...

All of La Maison Fontaine's fine beverages are produced traditionally in Pontarlier, France. With the La Maison Fontaine AbsinthExplore set you can try both of their fine absinthes, along with their exceptional chocolate and wormwood liqueur ...

£29
In stock

Get yourself the whole La Maison Fontaine family!

A set of the three masterpieces of the La Maison Fontaine range. Absinthe La Maison Fontaine Verte La Maison Fontaine Verte is masterfully refined using an array of natural herbs including the world-renowned Pontarlier-grown Grande ...

 £57.50/Liter  £121
In stock

With this set you get a bottle of Chartreuse Verte and a bottle of Chartreuse Ja...

With this set you get a bottle of Chartreuse Verte and a bottle of Chartreuse Jaune.

 £44.50/Liter  £62
In stock

With this set you get the whole range of Chartreuse liqueurs.

With this set you get the whole range of Chartreuse liqueurs.

 £55.50/Liter  £200
In stock

With this set you get 5 bottles of Chartreuse Elixir Végétal.

With this set you get 5 bottles of Chartreuse Elixir Végétal.

 £157/Liter  £78.50
In stock

Set Enigma - 1.4L

France
(1 Review)

 £67/Liter  £94
In stock

This set includes a bottle of Le Gin and a bottle of Le Gin Gin Calvados Cask Fi...

This set includes a bottle of Le Gin and a bottle of Le Gin Gin Calvados Cask Finish.

 £45/Liter  £63
In stock

With this set you get 6 bottles of Chartreuse Liqueur du 9e Centenaire.

With this set you get 6 bottles of Chartreuse Liqueur du 9e Centenaire.

 £60.50/Liter  £255
In stock

You get the three different Libertine absinthes from France.

This set includes the following three French absinthes: Libertine 55 Originale, Libertine 68 Amer and Libertine 72 Intense.These absinthes are produced by the Paul Devoille distillery in Fougerolles.

 £46/Liter  £97
In stock

With this set you get a bottle of Absinthe Serpis Classic 65% and a bottle of Se...

With this set you get a bottle of Absinthe Serpis Classic 65% and a bottle of Serpis Dry 55%.

 £35.50/Liter  £70.50
In stock
Organic

This gift set consists of a bottle of La Fine, La Blanche and La Verte.

This gift set consists of a bottle of La Fine, La Blanche and La Verte.

 £76.50/Liter  £145
In stock
Organic
New

This gift set consists of a bottle of La Fine, La Blanche, La Verte and La Sauge...

This gift set consists of a bottle of La Fine, La Blanche, La Verte and La Saugette.

 £73.50/Liter  £191
In stock

Set 4 x Absinthe Jade - 2.8L

France
(16 Reviews)

All bottles sold of this set are from the current batch.

 £76.50/Liter  £214.50
Out of stock

Discover all Jade absinthes with this set.

Get a free bottle of Coeur de Jade with this set!

 £70.50/Liter  £297
Out of stock

With this set you get a bottle of Absinthe Gustave and a bottle of the barrel ag...

With this set you get a bottle of Absinthe Gustave and a bottle of the barrel aged Gustave.These two absinthes are exclusively available on Absinthes.com.

 £78/Liter  £109.50
Out of stock

This set includes a bottle of Williams Pear Liqueur 70cl and a bottle of Mirabel...

This set includes a bottle of Williams Pear Liqueur 70cl and a bottle of Mirabelle Plum Liqueur 70cl - both produced by the Devoille distillery.

 £27.50/Liter  £38.50
Out of stock

With this set, you'll get 6 organic absinthes, produced at the Aymonier distille...

With this set, you'll get 6 organic absinthes, produced at the Aymonier distillery in France.

 £91/Liter  £364.50
Out of stock
Organic

Discover all absinthes from Awen Nature: Rouge, Safran, Finn Blanche and Verte!

Discover all absinthes from Awen Nature: Rouge, Safran, Finn Blanche and Verte!

 £63.50/Liter  £178
Out of stock

Set Pastis - 3.1L

France / 45%

This set includes five different pastis bottles.

This set includes the following Pastis bottles from France: Pastis Combier 0,7L, Pastis Janot 0,5L, Pastis 1811 0,5L, Pastis 1811 0,5L, Pastis Janot Bio 0,7L and Le Pastis du Liquoriste 0,7L.

 £32.50/Liter  £100.50
Out of stock
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