Presenting Clandestine Absinthe
Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that was distributed on the Black Market in the time of Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was prohibited and made illegal in France, Switzerland and many other countries in th early 1900s after being a popular liquor since its creation at the turn of the 19th century.
Absinthe ended up being especially favored by the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre area of Paris. Artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway have been all supporters of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is typically known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners started to paint a bad picture of Absinthe during the late 19th century and early twentieth century, blaming it for France’s growing troubles with alcoholism and declaring that the compound thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic side effects. Many stated that if Absinthe isn’t banned then France has got to be nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even held responsible for an alcoholic murdering his family even if he had been drinking other spirits right after the Absinthe. Absinthe was restricted and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, there was obviously still an industry for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still made and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was the home 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 area of Couvet within the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. Over time, Couvet became the Swiss capital of Absinthe manufacturing and was obviously badly impacted 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 several countries in the 1990s but legalization in Switzerland didn’t occur until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately sent applications for a license to market Absinthe and was the first distiller to be awarded a license for Absinthe manufacturing in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s business, 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 some people say that it got its name from the blue reflections seen when the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was made to satisfy the taste for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and it has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was developed to be sold to the French market which has strict Fenchone laws and does not allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be marketed. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and it is regarded as 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 having a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for individuals who want their Absinthe to be a little more bitter and also to have the traditional green color. The stunning label on this bottle is the same as antique labels depicting the Green Fairy.
The Artemisia-Bugnon utilizes herbs grown in your community like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavored liquor. No synthetic colors or additives are utilized and lots speak of 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 web store but if you wish to try your hand at creating your individual Absinthe comprising wormwood then you can definitely make use of the essences from AbsintheKit.com to make your very own premium Absinthe.