Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that was distributed within the Black Market during the time of Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was forbidden and made illegal in France, Switzerland and lots of other countries in th early 1900s after being a popular liquor since its creation in the turn of the 19th century.
Absinthe ended up being especially favored by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre part of Paris www.mysodawater.com. Artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway have been all fans of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is commonly known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners began to paint a bad picture of Absinthe during the late 19th century and early 20th century, blaming it for France’s growing troubles with alcoholism and declaring that the compound thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic effects. Many said that if Absinthe wasn’t banned then France would be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even held responsible for an alcoholic murdering his family even though he had been drinking other spirits after the Absinthe. Absinthe was banned and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, 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’s claimed that Absinthe was developed by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, as being a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss town of Couvet within the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. Soon enough, Couvet took over as the Swiss capital of Absinthe production and was obviously badly impacted by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is said to have carried on distilling Absinthe and distilled it using a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was well known for its wonderful bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in lots of countries in the 1990s but legalisation in Switzerland did not take place until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately applied for a license to sell Absinthe and was the first distiller to become granted a license for Absinthe creation in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s company, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce many different types of Absinthe:-
– The famous La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an award winning premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It is a clear Absinthe in a blue bottle and several people say that it got its name from the blue reflections seen once the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was created to satisfy the flavour for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and contains an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was created 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 regarded as psychoactive. This liquor is 55% ABV and won the exclusive 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 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 utilizes herbs grown in the area like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavoured liquor blog here. No artificial colors or additives are utilized and lots 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 internet store but if you intend to try your hand at creating your own personal Absinthe containing wormwood then you can certainly utilize the essences from AbsintheKit.com to create your personal premium Absinthe.