Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that was distributed on the Black Market in the time of Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was restricted 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 19th century.
Absinthe had been especially popular with the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre area of Paris mysodawater. Artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway have been all enthusiasts of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is typically known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners began to paint a bad picture of Absinthe during the late 19th century and early twentieth century, blaming it for France’s growing problems with alcoholism and proclaiming that the substance thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic side effects. Many said that if Absinthe isn’t banned then France will 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 right after the Absinthe. Absinthe was forbidden and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, there was obviously still a market for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still made and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was the house of Absinthe. It is claimed that Absinthe was made by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, as being a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss town of Couvet in the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. Soon enough, Couvet had become the Swiss capital of Absinthe manufacturing and was obviously badly troubled by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is said to have carried on distilling Absinthe and distilled it by using a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was popular for its great bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in lots of countries in the 1990s but legalisation in Switzerland did not happen until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately requested for a license to sell Absinthe and was the first distiller to generally be awarded a license for Absinthe creation in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s business, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce various sorts of Absinthe:-
– The famous La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an excellent premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It is a clear Absinthe inside a blue bottle and some people claim that it got its name from the blue reflections noticed if the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was made to satisfy the taste for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was produced to be sold to the French market which has strict Fenchone restrictions and does not allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be distributed. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and is also considered to be psychoactive. This liquor is 55% ABV and won the prestigious Golden Spoon Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
– La Clandestine Originale Alcool du Vin – A distillation of La Clandestine Originale using a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for people who want their Absinthe to be a little more bitter and to possess the traditional green color. The stunning label on this bottle is the same as 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 site link. No artificial colors or additives are employed and several speak of the Absinthes using a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.
The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is accessible to buy on their online store but if you intend to try your hand at making your own personal Absinthe containing wormwood then you can certainly make use of the essences from AbsintheKit.com to make your personal premium Absinthe.