Swiss Absinthe

Where was absinthe invented? Switzerland is where it all began.

Swiss absinthe is all high quality, and the country has a legal definition of absinthe. The most common Swiss absinthe, known as "La Bleue", is clear. That Swiss absinthe tends to be white is not at all down to chance, but for a very good and surprising reason: That is - absinthe was banned, and the people in the Val de Travers, the centre of the absinthe world, refused to give up their absinthe and started distilling it illegally at home. Clear liquid was easier to disguise than green... Read on for more.

Absinthe in Switzerland during the Belle Epoque



Absinthe originally comes from Switzerland. As of the XVIIIth century in Couvet, Switzerland, Henriette Henriod, know as the "Mère Henriod", started producing an absinthe elixir used against number of diseases.

The popularity of this drink grew rapidly. Having noticed that, major Dubied bought the recipe and partnered with his son-in-law Henri-Louis Pernod with who he opened the company "Dubied Père & Fils in 1798". When he saw the business was working well, Henri-Louis Pernod decided to open a company of his own. He created his first distillery in Couvet, but when it became too small for him he crossed the border line and opened the first French distillery: the Pernod Fils company. By doing that, Pernod forged an inextricable link between his name and absinthe forever.

Absinthe was then a victim of its own success. Various incidents convinced the lawmakers that absinthe was dangerous enough to be forbidden, and on October the 7th 1910, absinthe was banned in Switzerland (following the lead of Belgium, Brazil and the Netherlands).

Soon after that, the air of the countryside was filled with a smell of burnt tires. The clandestine distillers had found a good way of hiding the characteristic smell of the cooking of absinthe. That is why between its ban and its re-legalisation (2005), absinthe never stopped existing in Switzerland!

Absinthe in Switzerland nowadays



On March the 1st 2005, absinthe was finally legal again in Switzerland, after 95 years of clandestine production and an untold number of bottles sold under the table.

Since then, quite a few former clandestine distillers and their relatives have started distilling legally, including Gaudentia Persoz, Claude-Alain Bugnon, and Philippe Martin of La Valote.

The fact that Swiss absinthe is doing so well proves that its quality is recognized and appreciated. The credit goes to the Val-de-Travers, cradle of birth of this delicious beverage.

Swiss absinthe is among the Absinthes.com team's favourites!
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47 items,
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Absinthe Blanche Neige - 50cl

Switzerland / 53%
(29 Reviews)

Blanche Neige is a Swiss La Bleue, a project by Absinthes.com! It was awarded Go...

Blanche Neige won the gold medal at the Absinthiades 2014. The fairest absinthe of them all... Our aim is always to share with you the finest of spirits. We've taken this dedication a step further by developing our own r ...

 £90/Liter  £45
In stock

Absinthe La Ptite - La Traditionnelle - 70cl

Switzerland / 53%
(19 Reviews)

Mellow, this absinthe is beautifully well-balanced. A high quality “Bleue”.

La Ptite absinthe is mellow and beautifully well-balanced. A high quality “Bleue”. It is produced from an original recipe, already used illegally before legalisation. This recipe has been updated since it was developed in 1898.

 £70.50/Liter  £49.50
In stock
Classic

Absinthe La Clandestine - 70cl

Switzerland / 53%
(78 Reviews)

La Clandestine absinthe has a complex aromatic palate and subtle bitterness. An...

La Clandestine absinthe reveals a very complex aromatic palate and a subtly bitter finish. Without doubt, this is one of the best La Bleue absinthes around.

 £74.50/Liter  £52
In stock

Absinthe La Capricieuse - 70cl

Switzerland / 72%
(21 Reviews)

Characterised by its final bitterness, this absinthe reveals a remarkable aromat...

La Capricieuse reveals a remarkable aromatic palette and a delicate final bitterness. A “Bleue” full of complexity. Made with more than 10 plants, this absinthe is issued from the same recipe as its sister la Clandestine. With ...

 £78.50/Liter  £55
In stock

Absinthe La Valote Martin: Marylin - 1L

Switzerland / 54%
(1 Review)

Mellow and elegant, this absinthe displays a personality full of roundness. Very...

La Valote Martin displays a mellow and elegant personality, full of roundness. Very charming. It is distilled by a man concerned about perpetuating the Green Fairy's myth, and who wants to guarantee a traditionally produced absinthe.

 £55/Liter  £55
In stock

Green Velvet - Absinthe Originale is an Ultra-Premium-Absinthe made at the Val-d...

Green Velvet VAL. 275 – La Bleue is as clear as the pure spring water from which it is made. The hand-picked herbs from the region lend it the original smooth absinthe taste with a subtle hint of liquorice. This combination is ideal for the world ...

 £113.50/Liter  £79.50
In stock

Absinthe La Valote Bovet - Le Chat - 1L

Switzerland / 54%
(14 Reviews)

Very mellow, this absinthe is nicely balanced. Worthy of the best “Bleues”.

The Bovet Le Chat absinthe is a very mellow and well-balanced absinthe. One can consider is a typical, classic Swiss Bleue with strong notes of aniseed and wormwood. Its fairly low abv. gives the Bovet Le Chat absinthe a very refreshing taste and therefore m ...

 £55/Liter  £55
In stock

Absinthe La Clandestine Wine Alcohol - 70cl

Switzerland / 53%
(5 Reviews)

La Clandestine absinthe has a complex aromatic palate and subtle bitterness. An...

La Clandestine absinthe reveals a very complex aromatic palate and a subtly bitter finish. Without doubt, this is one of the best La Bleue absinthes around.

 £78.50/Liter  £55
In stock

Absinthe Septante 7 - 75cl

Switzerland / 77%
(18 Reviews)

Simply the strongest Swiss absinthe.

The Septante 7 is one of the strongest Swiss absinthe from the Val-de-Travers. What makes this absinthe so intriguing is that although it has a very high abv, its taste os surprisingly well balanced. The Septante 7 Absinthe is aromatic, refreshing and strong at t ...

 £79.50/Liter  £59.50
In stock

Absinthe La Valote Martin l'Originale - 1L

Switzerland / 72%
(18 Reviews)

This absinthe reveals sweetness and very herbaceous flavours. A very elegant “Bl...

La Valote Martin l'Originale reveals sweetness and very herbaceous flavours. A very elegant “Bleue”. After La Valote Martin, Mr Martin offers a very interesting version of this absinthe with a higher level of alcohol. It is dis ...

 £59.50/Liter  £59.50
In stock

Absinthe La Clandestine - 20cl

Switzerland / 53%
(78 Reviews)

La Clandestine absinthe has a complex aromatic palate and subtle bitterness. An...

La Clandestine absinthe reveals a very complex aromatic palate and a subtly bitter finish. Without doubt, this is one of the best La Bleue absinthes around. Awarded the gold medal several times in contests, La Clandestine&nbs ...

 £105/Liter  £21
In stock

A high quality Swiss La Bleue, with a slightly higher alcohol content. Sweet and...

La Grenouillarde is a tribute to the birthplace of absinthe. The wormwood used to make La Grenouillarde is grown and cultivated around Boveresse, from the garden of the Maison des Chats, The House of Cats, a picturesque building with sc ...

 £56.50/Liter  £56.50
In stock

AbsinthExplore Blanche Neige - 50ml

Switzerland / 53%
(29 Reviews)

Blanche Neige is a Swiss La Bleue with a special twist: A hint of génépi. This a...

Blanche Neige won the gold medal at the Absinthiades 2014. The fairest absinthe of them all... Our aim ...

 £140/Liter  £7
In stock

AbsinthExplore La Clandestine - 50ml

Switzerland / 53%
(78 Reviews)

La Clandestine absinthe has a complex aromatic palate and subtle bitterness. An...

La Clandestine absinthe reveals a very complex aromatic palate and a subtly bitter finish. Without doubt, this is one of the best La Bleue absinthes around. Awarded the gold medal several times in contests, La Clandestine&nbs ...

 £130/Liter  £6.50
In stock

Absinthe DuVallon - 70cl

Switzerland / 53%
(4 Reviews)

This absinthe is issued from a family tradition. One of the best « bleues ».

The DuVallon absinthe is issued from a true family tradition. It represents without a doubt one of the best « bleues ». Its home-made production comprises only products 100% natural. Moreover, even though the family reci ...

 £71.50/Liter  £50
In stock

Made in the spirit of the 1900s.

This is a clear, barrel aged absinthe from the Val-de-Travers. It is distilled in very small quantities, and limited to 500 bottles in total. The still is so small, it can only make about 17l per distillation. All the ingredients that can be sourced locally have been especia ...

 £91.50/Liter  £68.50
In stock

Absinthe La Valote Bovet Tradition - 1L

Switzerland / 65%
(2 Reviews)

A classic Swiss Bleue from La Valote Bovet.

A delicious, quite untypical Swiss Bleue. The Bovet family takes great pride in distilling their absinthe, and strives to come up with creations that are different to the typical Swiss-style Bleues. This is why the Bovet Tradition absinthe is made at 65% abv. and ...

 £57.50/Liter  £57.50
In stock

Well rounded, a classic La Bleue.

Fée Verte du Val de Travers is distilled by Philippe Martin at the La Valote Distillery in the village of Môtiers in the Val-de-Travers, the birthplace of absinthe. Philippe Martin lives to spread the word about the green fairy and ...

 £55/Liter  £55
In stock

Slightly more bitter La Bleue.

Belle Epoque is distilled by Philippe Martin at the La Valote Distillery in the village of Môtiers in the Val-de-Travers, the birthplace of absinthe. Philippe Martin lives to spread the word about the green fairy and produces the most auth ...

 £55/Liter  £55
In stock

Absinthe La Capricieuse - 20cl

Switzerland / 72%
(21 Reviews)

Characterised by its final bitterness, this absinthe reveals a remarkable aromat...

La Capricieuse reveals a remarkable aromatic palette and a delicate final bitterness. A “Bleue” full of complexity. Made with more than 10 plants, this absinthe is issued from the same recipe as its sister la Clandestine. ...

 £105/Liter  £21
In stock

Absinthe La Valote Martin Nirvana - 70cl

Switzerland / 65%
(3 Reviews)

A top class Swiss absinthe, made in the Val-de-Travers by Philippe Martin.

Absinthe Nirvana is produced by Philippe Martin in Boveresse, the birthplace of absinthe. Ever since Philippe took over the Valote Martin distillery from his father in 2014, he has continued family tradition by distilling absint ...

 £116.50/Liter  £81.50
In stock

Absinthe HR Giger Zeitgeist - 50cl

Switzerland / 54%
(1 Review)

HR Giger's last ever project. A mellow Bleue distilled by Philippe Martin in the...

HR Giger Zeitgeist was named after a book called „HR GIGER and the Zeitgeist of the Twentieth Century“, which Giger and Stanislav Grof wrote together. Giger became extremely popular after he designed the creature in Ridley Scott's s ...

 £119/Liter  £59.50
In stock

AbsinthExplore La Ptite - 50ml

Switzerland / 53%
(19 Reviews)

Mellow, this absinthe is beautifully well-balanced. A high quality “Bleue”.

La P'tite absinthe is mellow and beautifully well-balanced. A high quality “Bleue”. It is produced from an original recipe, already used illegally before legalisation. This recipe has been updated since it was developed in 1898.

 £130/Liter  £6.50
In stock

Absinthe Septante 7 - 10cl

Switzerland / 77%
(18 Reviews)

Absinthe Septante 7 - a masterpiece from Willy Bovet.

This absinthe is also available in 75cl. Click here to read the complete product descrip ...

 £185/Liter  £18.50
In stock
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