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Absinthe and Gunpowder
Several different schemes were put in place to compensate the absinthe distilleries both for the
revenues they lost due to the ban, and for their existing stocks of absinthe. One of the most
interesting was the purchase, re-distillation and reuse of absinthe to make the gunpowder for shells.
A letter dated February 1916 sent by the Magnou
Distillery to erstwhile absinthe producers, informing
them that they could sell their reserves of now illegal
absinthe to the distillery, which was authorized to
pay them a fair price for a product they could no
longer sell directly.

The letter goes on to explain that the distillery would
redistill (rectify) the absinthe into pure alcohol
(named BON GOUT), which would then be sold on
to the French Ministry of War, to be used in the
manufacture of gun powder. The letter stipulates
that the absinthe could only be delivered in barrels
or demijohns (and not in regular bottles) and that
the purchase price would be 8% over cost.

Courtesy of Peter Schaf Collection.
From the Washington Post, 3rd October 1915
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The Prohibition of Absinthe The Aftermath of Prohibition Absinthe and Gunpowder
Absinthe and Gunpowder. Courtesy of Peter Schaf Collection.
Absinthe and Gunpowder. Courtesy of Peter Schaf Collection.
From the Clearfield Progress, 4th November 1915