Bringing out Clandestine Absinthe
Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that was distributed over the Black Market during the time of Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was banned and made illegal in France, Switzerland and lots of other countries in th early 1900s after being a popular liquor since its creation at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Absinthe ended up being especially well-liked by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre part of Paris buy absinthe. Artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway happen to be all enthusiasts of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is typically known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners did start to paint a bad picture of Absinthe during the late nineteenth century and early 20th century, blaming it for France’s growing problems with alcoholism and proclaiming that the compound thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic side effects. Many asserted that if Absinthe wasn’t banned then France would be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even held accountable for an alcoholic murdering his family even if he had been drinking other spirits following the Absinthe. Absinthe was forbidden and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, clearly there was obviously still an industry for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still produced and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was the house of Absinthe. It is actually claimed that Absinthe was created by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, as a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss town of Couvet in the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. In time, Couvet became the Swiss capital of Absinthe manufacturing and was obviously badly troubled by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is claimed to have went on distilling Absinthe and distilled it by using a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was well known for its great bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in lots of countries in the 1990s but legalization in Switzerland didn’t take place until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately sent applications for a license to promote Absinthe and was the first distiller to generally be awarded a license for Absinthe manufacturing in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s organization, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce different styles of Absinthe:-
– The famous La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an excellent premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It’s a clear Absinthe in a blue bottle and several people point out that it took its name from the blue reflections observed if the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was developed to meet the taste for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and it has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was produced to be sold to the French market which has strict Fenchone regulations and does not allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be marketed. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and it is thought to be psychoactive. This liquor is 55% ABV and won the esteemed Golden Spoon Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
– La Clandestine Originale Alcool du Vin – A distillation of La Clandestine Originale having a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for many who want their Absinthe to be a little more bitter and to have the traditional green color. The stunning label on this bottle is usually like antique labels depicting the Green Fairy.
The Artemisia-Bugnon makes use of herbs grown in the area like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavoured liquor useful reference. No artificial colors or additives are widely-used and many speak of the Absinthes using a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.
The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is available to buy on their web store but if you would like to try your hand at producing your personal Absinthe that contains wormwood then you can certainly utilize the essences from AbsintheKit.com to make your individual premium Absinthe.