Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that was distributed over the Black Market during Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was forbidden and made outlawed 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 have been especially well-liked by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre part of Paris https://buy-absinthe.com. Artists and writers including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway were all enthusiasts of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is commonly known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners started to paint a negative picture of Absinthe throughout the late 19th century and early twentieth century, blaming it for France’s growing troubles with alcoholism and claiming that the compound thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic side effects. Many stated that if Absinthe wasn’t banned then France would be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even blamed for an alcoholic murdering his family even if he had been drinking other spirits right after the Absinthe. Absinthe was banned 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 home to Absinthe. It is claimed that Absinthe was created by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, being a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss area of Couvet in the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. Over time, Couvet took over as the Swiss capital of Absinthe creation and was obviously badly impacted by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is claimed to have went on distilling Absinthe and distilled it 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 several countries in the 1990s but legalization in Switzerland did not happen until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately applied for a license to promote Absinthe and was the first distiller to be awarded a license for Absinthe creation in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s firm, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce various sorts of Absinthe:-
– The well-known 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 a few people claim that it took its name from the blue reflections noticed when the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was created to satisfy the flavour for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and it has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was produced to be distributed to the French market which has strict Fenchone laws 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 renowned 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 those who want their Absinthe to be slightly more bitter and to have the traditional green color. The attractive label on this bottle is just like antique labels depicting the Green Fairy.
The Artemisia-Bugnon uses herbs grown in the area like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavoured liquor useful link. No synthetic colors or additives are widely-used and many talk about the Absinthes possessing a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.
The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is available to buy on their online store but if you wish to try your hand at creating your own personal Absinthe containing wormwood then you can certainly make use of the essences from AbsintheKit.com to produce your personal premium Absinthe.