Introducing Clandestine Absinthe
Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe which was distributed on the Black Market during the time of Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was banned and made illegal in France, Switzerland and many other countries in th early 1900s after being a popular liquor since its creation on the turn of the nineteenth century.
Absinthe had been especially favored by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre section of Paris. Artists and writers which includes Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway happen to be all devotees of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is generally known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners started to paint a bad picture of Absinthe throughout the late 19th century and early twentieth century, blaming it for France’s growing issues with alcoholism and declaring that the chemical thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic effects. Many declared that if Absinthe was not banned then France will be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even held responsible for an alcoholic murdering his family regardless that he had been drinking other spirits 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’s 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 creation and was obviously badly affected by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is claimed to have carried on distilling Absinthe and distilled it with a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was recognized for its fantastic bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in lots of countries in the 1990s but legalization in Switzerland did not happen until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately requested for a license to sell Absinthe and was the first distiller to be granted a license for Absinthe creation in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s company, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce different styles of Absinthe:-
– The well-known La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an excellent premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It’s actually a clear Absinthe inside a blue bottle and a few people say that it got its name from the blue reflections observed when the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was developed to satisfy the flavors for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and contains an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was created to be sold to the French market that has strict Fenchone restrictions and does not allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be marketed. 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 slightly more bitter and also to possess the traditional green color. The beautiful 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 flavored liquor. No synthetic colors or additives are widely-used and several discuss about the Absinthes having a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.
The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is available to buy on their web shop but if you wish to try your hand at making your personal Absinthe comprising wormwood then you can definitely make use of the essences from AbsintheKit.com to make your individual premium Absinthe.