Absinthe & Pastis

Explore Our Absinthe and Pastis

Bottles of Absinthe and Pastis on a table, including a black bottle with a metallic absinthe spoon, a bottle wrapped in paper labeled "Pastis," and a person pouring a drink into a glass.

The Storied History of Absinthe

Artemisia Absinthium, Common Wormwood

Botanical illustration of Artemisia absinthium, featuring detailed drawings of leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds. Various parts of the plant are labeled in a vintage style.

Originally, the Egyptians used the absinthe plant as an herbal remedy.

Later, the Romans and Greeks used it as a potion composed of the absinthe plant and wine to treat stomach bugs.

Wormwood can be hallucinogenic when combined with alcohol if consumed in extremely large quantities, however, it has been established that a person would be seriously impaired by the alcohol long before they could be impaired by the wormwood.

Absinthe preparation with fountain, glasses, and sugar cubes.

Absinthe Distilled

In the 17th century, a Swiss doctor created an elixir d'absinthe, the first spirit-based absinthe. At that time, the spirit was primarily composed of anise, the absinthe plant (wormwood), and alcohol and was also used for medicinal purposes.

There are no set official regulations or area of appellation for the making of absinthe yet.

Some absinthe are distilled and therefore clear (Kubler), some absinthe are distilled and then colored (La Fee), and some are simply macerated in beet or grape spirit (La Muse Verte), enabling the final product to keep its beautiful natural green color and intense flavors which are derived from the plants used in the maceration.

The fogginess that occurs when adding water to pure absinthe comes from the anethol, a component of the anise plant which is insoluble in water. To obtain the best fogginess (louche), cold water needs to be added a few drops at a time to the absinthe.

Due to its strong flavors, absinthe is rarely the main ingredient in cocktails with notable exceptions like the absinthe frappé and Ernest Hemingway’s Death in the Afternoon.

However, absinthe frequently plays a supporting role in cocktails. Often used as a rinse, absinthe’s botanicals help bring depth to many classic cocktails such as the Sazerac and Corpse Reviver No. 2.

Absinthe in Cocktails

Absinthe in the Arts

Absinthe has a strongly-linked tradition with artistic circles. In fact, the "bohemian, artistic temperament" was a crucial factor that led to the long-term ban on absinthe making and consumption. 

If you want to learn more about absinthe's long influence in the arts and culture, we recommend this excellent article from Wikipedia.