Pernod Absinthe
Photo courtesy of Pernod Absinthe
Distiller Details
Maison Pernod Fils
Pontarlier, France
Website Facebook TwitterPrice Range
Premium — $51–$100
Where to Buy
THL: What is it?
Pernod Absinthe was the first commercially available absinthe, crafted from Grand Wormwood. This 136 proof product is bright green in color, not to be confused with its golden-colored cousin Pernod, an 80 proof, wormwood-free anise spirit created after the ban of absinthe in 1915.
THL: Why should you try it?
Mother Henroid of Couvet of Val de Travers, in the Canton of Neuchatel in Switzerland, created the original absinthe exilir from plants that she found in the Swiss Alps. A French doctor, Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, gave it its name and perfected the recipe before selling it to Major Dubied, a businessman who hired Henri-Louis Pernod to distill the product. The project was so successful that Pernod was able to open the first commercial absinthe distillery, The Maison Pernod Fils, in 1805. This original product is still produced in this distillery.
THL: Who makes it?
Pernod Absinthe is still distilled at The Maison Pernod Fils. The company stopped making it when absinthe was banned in 1915, closed down, and reopened 5 years later to create a wormwood-free version of their product. It was reintroduced to the European market in the late 1980s.
THL: What does it taste like?
Heavy on the anise, vegetal with a strong black licorice flavor
THL: How should you drink it?
As if Pernod isn't colorful enough, pour it into a Traffic Light cocktail to create a vibrant spectrum of flavors.
1 part Pernod Absinthe
1 part orange juice
2 parts cranberry juice
Pour ingredients into a glass half filled with ice.
