Absinthe Spoon designed by Crazy Pig

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| Posted in | Posted on 4/02/2013



Crazy Pig Designs conjured up this incredibly detailed absinthe spoon. Its extremely rare with only a few created thus far. If you must get your "hands" on one, contact them as its a special order item only...

http://www.crazypigdesigns.com/

Tthe Neuzeller Distillery

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| Posted in , , , , , | Posted on 3/28/2013


We're going to introduce the Neuzeller Distillery to you today, popular for their Neuzeller absinthes, such as Malvales.

Each absinthe is flavoured with a different flower, which makes each product simply unique. The distillery's absinthe creations won two golds and one silver at the World-Spirits Award
 
 
 
Discover the Neuzeller Absinthes!
 
 
The History of the Neuzeller Distillery

Distilling and brewing have a long history in Neuzelle, a town in the German federal state of Brandenburg. The first inn, called the "Neue Krug vorm Closter" was only mentioned on records in 1589. It belonged to the local abbey, and the owner was the only one in Neuzelle who had a permission to distill alcohol. Back in those days, mainly potatoes and wine was used for distillation.



On April 16th, 1651, the inn was destroyed by a large fire, and so the owner returned the building to the abbey. The building stayed untouched, a local ruin, for more than 30 years until it was rebuilt by the abbot at the time. The inn remained possession of the abbey until it was sold in 1710.

In 1997, the tradition for distilling was re-evoked in the form of the newly founded abbey distillery using capital from 150 minor shareholders. Since 2008, the majority shareholder has been the young master distiller Nico Petri who is also behind some of the innovations in the product range. 
 
 
Absinthe Distillation at Neuzeller

 
Regardless of how charming historic alembics are, the Neuzeller distillery is convinced, that for distillation of ambitious products, modern equipment is a must. The alembics at the Neuzeller distillery are mostly made of copper (especially the parts that get into contact with the mash and alcohol vapour). Only the connecting parts and storage tanks are made of stainless steel. With a capacity of 150l, the alembics are relatively small yet do they represent an average size of eau-de-vie distilleries in Germany.

The alembic used for absinthe distillation at the Neuzeller distillery
 
The distillery made an exceptional move in producing absinthe, with natural colouring methods based on flowers being used in the production process: "Calendula" with marigold or "Neue Liebe" with roses. 
 
Depending on which distillate, they are stored for one or two years, in order for the taste to develop and for the absinthe to age. Nico Petri, head distiller at the Neuzeller distillery, says he has been playing around with his absinthe recipes for a couple of years, until he was fully satisfied with the results.
 
Absinthes by Neuzeller
 
Absinthe Calendula
  • Absinthe Malvales:  The Neuzeller Malvales is both strong and smooth. Flavoured with Hibiscus and quite popular among absinthe enthusiasts.
  • Absinthe Neue Liebe: It reveals herbal and fruity notes. Its light bitterness and an alcohol level that is lower than the three other Neuzeller absinthes, make this absinthe a very “feminine” one.
  • Absinthe Viridis Auxilium: Reveals herbal flavours and a very light bitterness. It is naturally coloured with plants such as Melissa, Hyssop and Petit Wormwood.
 


Interview with Nico Petri
 
 
Nico Petri, main shareholder and master distiller of the Neuzeller distillery.


Distillery Neuzeller - Photo property of Moz.de
Absinthes.com: When and how did you first discover the aperitif “absinthe”?
 
Nico: Someone gave me a bottle of absinthe as a present in 2007, and although impressed by the design and packaging, I found the actual product quite unappealing. The first thought that popped into my mind was – I'm never going near this stuff ever again. But somehow, I got very interested in how absinthe is made, and I started playing around with some recipes on my own.
 
Absinthes.com: According to you, what is the right definition of a “good absinthe” and what are the 3 fundamental elements critical to producing a fine absinthe in a distillery like yours?
 
Nico: To me, there is only one way to make real absinthe – traditional distillation from real, natural herbs. I don't think there should be any sugar or artificial colouring added to the product. The absinthes produced at our distillery are made entirely traditional, we simply use a slightly more modern technique. I use blossoms just to play around with the flavour, and to create something unique.

Absinthes.com: Do you think the German – or even European – market should be locked to naturally distilled absinthes only, or on the contrary, macerated and essences-based absinthes have also the right to exist and to be called “absinthe”?
 
(...) In order to read the rest of this exclusive interview, please visit the Absinthes.com blog.

Absinthe (1914 film)

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| Posted in , , | Posted on 3/20/2013


Absinthe is a 1914 American silent film starring King Baggot and Leah Baird and directed by Herbert Brenon. Some sources also credit George Edwardes-Hall as a director.

Jean Dumas, a Parisian artist, is introduced to the addictive liquor absinthe by his materialistic mistress, who also convinces him to rob his well-to-do parents' house. Jean is discovered and disowned by his parents, then he marries one of their maids, who becomes repelled by his poverty and leaves him for a wealthier man. Jean, suffering from drug-induced hallucinations, eventually turns to robbery as a means of supporting his habit and joins an Apache gang. One night, disguised as a cabby, he attempts to rob a passenger who turns out to be his wife. He drives her through Paris to the forest where he strangles her and leaves her for dead. The next morning, he returns to his parents' home where his father gives him a gun and turns him away. In the city streets, Jean is ridiculed by urchins and follows a company of soldiers.

Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated [IMP] production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Universal Films Special Feature].

Released 22 January 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format. / The production was shot in Paris, France. The film was rereleased in 1916 on State Rights basis by King Baggot.

Although the film is considered lost, you may never know who reads this and knows exactly where the film is!

Thoughts on this film? It sounds like anti-absinthe propaganda of the era through and through!

New Absinthe Products

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| Posted in , | Posted on 3/06/2013

Absinthe Originals has just been updated with more absinthe glasses, spoons, carafes, topettes and matchstrikers (pyrogènes).

I'd like to specially bring your attention on the 15-doses topette etched with the word "absinthe" in a leaf. This is the first time I find such a topette and it looks like it's coming from the Croismare glassworks. Have a look at their circa 1900 catalog side by side with the topette:



Here is a short article about topettes I wrote back in September last year. If you've already read it, feel free to skip it and have a look at my special offer further down.



Origins and uses of topettes 

"Topette" is the French name for a glass flask. Kind of. Originally, in the 18th century, a topette was a small narrow bottle, made for carrying alcohol discreetly anywhere. In the 19th century, topettes became little carafes with delimited doses; each dose being indicated either by an etched or enamelled number, or by a prominent fold. They were then called "carafons diviseurs" in French glassworks catalogues, which you could translate into "small divider carafes".

Their use was quite simple: an absintheur could stay all afternoon seated in a bistro with only 3 things on his table: a glass, a carafe filled with ice-cold water, and a topette. Once he had finished, all the bartender had to do was to count the number of absinthe doses missing in the topette and give him the bill.


postcard showing topettes on a French bar (collection of Scott MacDonald)

We believe that topettes were also used at home. Instead of buying a full bottle, absintheurs could buy 5, 8 or 10 doses of absinthe at the bistro just round the corner.



Special offer

Any order qualifying for free shipping (from 250 Euros) will receive a free 4/5 doses antique topette like this:



The topette will, of course, be shipped empty but with a cork so that you can use it straight away.

www.absintheoriginals.com

The Paul Devoille Distillery

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| Posted in , , , , | Posted on 10/29/2012

Today, we will continue this series with a quite small, yet sympathetic distillery in Fougerolles, France: Paul Devoille.
                                

The history of the Paul Devoille distillery

1859: 
The distillery was founded by Xavier Devoille. His son, Paul Devoille, was very dedicated to developing the distillery, and worked hard on its growth. This is why up until this day, the distillery is named after him. Paul Devoille was a very important person in Fougerolles, he held the position of the major for many years.

             
Left: a photo of the original certificate that enabled Paul Devoille to distill spirits in 1899. Right: An old receipt from Paul Devoille

1925: Paul Devoille left the distillery in the hands of his son-in-law, Raymond Gauttefroy, whose passion for distilling was so big, that he could ensure the survival of the business through another generation.

1972: Raymond retired, and decided to pass on the ownership of the distillery: To his own son-in-law, Jaques Veillet. He recognized the change in demand for spirits; consumers now preferred sweet liqueurs over eau-de-vie. The spirits business was tough at this time of the 19th Jentury, and a lot of distilleries went bancrupt or were struggling.

1986: Due to the bad financial position the distillery was in, Jaques Veillet decided to sell the distillery to an experienced business man, who already invested into a couple of other distilleries inside and outside on France. René Miscault bought the distillery, and made some rapid administrational changes. He also expanded their product range, and opened the distillery for visitors to the public. These measures may seem drastic, however, they saved the distillery in the end. Today, Hugues Miscault, the son of René Miscault, runs the distillery.

Absinthe distillation at Paul Devoille

Just like over 100 years ago, the wormwood is still stored in a spacious attic of the building of the distillery. The room where absinthes are distilled, is separated from the rooms where all other Devoille products are produced. Although the equipment used in the distillery is quite modern, the ways of making their products are still very traditional. The wormwood grows in a growhouse until it is old enough to be planted in the fields around Fougerolles. The harvesting of the wormwood is done by hand.

                
             The wormwood storage room.               A wormwood harvester

The most popular absinthe coming from Devoille is probably the Libertine. It is made after a recipe from 1894, that René Miscault is said to have found himself. The basis to this recipe is a mixture of maceration and distillation. Every plant is macerated on its own, and distilled afterwards. Then all the different distillates are being mixed together and macerated one more time, to give the Absinthe its green colouring.

                    
The alembics and distillation utilities may be modern, yet Devoille makes absinthe from a century-old recipe.
Paul Devoilles's absinthes and liquors

Apart from the Libertines, Devoille distills the Enigma Verte and Enigma Blanche. Absinthe Soixante-Cinq is a pretty interesting absinthe as well, with a quite spicy smell combined with a fruityness from the wine-alcohol base. Certainly, there are a lot of other spirits produced at Paul Devoille, such as eau-de-vies and liqueurs. From plum to strawberry, you can find nearly all of the common flavours. If you want to learn more, look at all the Devoille products on our website.
One of their latest inventions is unique to this day: Called Absinthe Creations, the distillers had the idea of enabling absintheurs to mix their own absinthe, according to their personal taste, at home. Therefore, Paul Devoille will be selling sets of tubes that contain alcoholic distillates of each of the herbs you find in absinthe. These kits are now available at Absinthes.com!

           
                         Absinthe creations: An interesting novelty by Paul Devoille

We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about where the Paul Devoille products are coming from, and that you will be awaiting our next newsletter featuring another distillery in one month's time.

Warm regards,

Absinthes.com

Absinthiades 2012 Winners

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| Posted in , , , , , , | Posted on 10/26/2012

We're back from an eventful weekend at the Absinthiades, which take place in Pontarlier every year. Now we would like to share our experience with you, and tell you who are this year's winners of course!
Since this calls for celebrations, we have created a very special offer for you: a unique set of the gold medal winners, along with a Bubble glass - plus a 10% discount. If you would like to find out more about this special offer right away, you will find all information on the bottom of this newsletter.



The winners 




There are two categories in every Absinthiades - one for all the Vertes of the competition, and one for the Blanches. The winner of the "Verte" category is
Absinthe Authentique, and the winner in the category "Blanche" is Absinthe La Maison Fontaine! In order for you to get an idea of why these absinthes were awarded gold, we have included a quick review for each of them:


Absinthe Authentique:

From the Emile Pernot distillery, the Authentique is an authentic absinthe that was developed by Dominique Rousselet, Emile Pernot's stillmaster. Absinthe Authentique is a young, fresh and with more powerful than usual wormwood notes.

Absinthe Authentique
 Colour: A clear, lively green.
 
 Nose: Hints of Pontarlier wormwood merge nicely with anise and fennel.
 Louche: The Authentique develops a lovely bright, white-green louche,
 which is neither too thick, not too thin.
 
 Taste: The anise and fennel combined with the wormwood lead to a
 wonderfully rounded mouthfeel and balanced taste.
 
 Finish: Refreshing.
                                                                                                  


Absinthe La Maison Fontaine: 

La Maison Fontaine has been masterfully refined using 15 natural herbs. Some are kept secret, others we’re happy to shout about – notably, the world-renowned Pontarlier-grown Grande Absinthe, which together with green anise and fennel is the “holy trinity” of any real Absinthe.
An exceptional, traditional Absinthe, a stimulating and refreshing drink.
 
Absinthe La Maison Fontaine Colour: Clear
 Nose: A nice smell of green anise and strong on wormwood
 characterizes this absinthe's smell.
 Louche: White clouds start to develop, drawing a couple of blue
 strings inside the absinthe glass.
 Taste: A both sweet and refreshing taste of anise, intense
 wormwood and strong on fennel.
 Finish: Soft and delightful, lingering.
 

If you would like to find out more about the scores, and which absinthes were awarded silver and bronze, you can read it all in our report about the Absinthiades on our blog.  

Now that we know which absinthes won the competition, we would like to tell you a little about what else we got up to during our time in Pontarlier: 

 
 

Friday, October 5th




After arriving in Pontarlier at around 6pm, we went straight to the theater, where the contest was held. First Pontarlier's major, and then the organizer of this year's event held a speech, and invited all guests to taste absinthes along with those that were included in the competition. One could have a wander around, chat, and meet old friends or make new ones.

 

Antoine (right) at the jury table

Later on, Antoine and Andrew were off to reviewing the 14 absinthes that made it into this year's competition, as part of the professional jury. As you will be able to tell from the photo album, both took this mandate very serious, and were highly concentrated throughout the whole two and a half hours. Once the professional jury had reviewed all absinthes, everyone met up again, and went for dinner. After that we went to a nice gathering with friends, absintheurs and connoisseurs back at the hotel.

Our report is full of beautiful pictures, smiley faces and a few words from Andrew about his experience as a member of the professional jury. It would be too much to cover in this newsletter, which is why we'd like to invite you to read the full report on our
blog.  


 
Warm regards,

Absinthes.com

Absinthe Originals - Absinthiades

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| Posted in , , , | Posted on 10/24/2012


Every year in Pontarlier is the Absinthiades 2012, an annual competition where European absinthes are assessed and evaluated by 3 different juries over the course of 2 days (read more about it on
Absinthes.com blog).

However, as a collector of absinthe antiques, the competition is not the main reason why I travel there every year. During this weekend, an absinthe antiques market where French collectors gather to sell, buy or exchange their treasures, is held.


I found a few things there again this year, some just for my personal collection, but a lot for Absinthe Originals. I will show them to you in a few minutes, but first I would like to say a few words about this annual meeting of absinthe aficionados, and most importantly: friends. Perhaps I can make you want to come and join us next year  ;-)

We usually all meet on the Friday afternoon in Pontarlier, have a lovely dinner around a fountain and a few absinthe glasses (what else?), and then host a private party at our hotel suite.

Saturday is the day for hunting absinthe antiques and have a chat with collectors, historians, writers and artists.

Then comes the afternoon, and the usual question: what are we going to do tonight?
This year, for the first time - but surely not the last time! - we organized a cheese fondue dinner in the Jura mountains, at a very charming farm right in the middle of nowhere.

 
After a few drinks out in the fresh air, it was getting dark and about time to go inside for this famous fondue! There is no electricity in the farm, which was a good thing, as we got to eat our fondue in candlelight and with a fireplace only, so romantic!
 

Then comes Sunday, the time to say "au revoir" to my friends and drive back home. Usually, this is a sad day...

As you can tell from looking at all these smiley faces on the photos, the Absinthiades is not only about absinthe and antiques, it’s also about friendship and having a great time together.


But let's have a look at my shopping bag now, to discover what kind of toys I brought back from Pontarlier: ten Cordon/Pontarlier/Tarragona glasses, an extremely rare spoon, eight saucers of various colours, four carafes, a wolf-pitcher, a matchstriker, and a few other nice antiques.
 

While most of the antiques shown here are coming from the Absinthiades public market, a few of them are coming from a more private deal with a collector, including this extremely rare Georges Heckmann Pontarlier glass:

You can now get this glass, as well all other antiques shown above, on Absinthe Originals.