Extrait d'Absinthe E.Albado, Habana. Circa 1930
The first bottle ever discovered of vintage Cuban absinthe.
Pre-Castro Cuba had a considerable history of absinthe production - Hemingway drank it there, and used to stock up on his
frequent marlin-fishing trips to the island, where he later bought a house. This bottle, produced by the Aldabo Distillery (also known
as a rum and curacao producer) appears to be a good quality, naturally coloured absinthe, and likely dates from the mid 1930's. It's
in overall excellent condition. This is a unique and almost certainly unrepeatable opportunity to taste an absinthe of the greatest
historical interest and romance, most likely the exact product that gave rise to the famous 1931 Hemingway quote:
“Got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks. Great success shooting the knife underhand into the piano."
Tasting notes: Nothing like the anise-rich Spanish style one might expect. Undiluted, the absinthe has a creamy, honeyed nose,
and an unusually yellowish colour (less golden than it appears in the photographs). When iced water is added, the absinthe
louches only faintly and a distinct wormwood aroma develops. On the palette there is a rum-like quality (undoubtedly the base
alcohol for this was made from sugar cane) and an powerful bitter wormwood aftertaste, which lingers in the mouth. It's possible
wormwood was used both in the macerate, and in the coloring step. A fascinating and very unusual absinthe.
The absinthe will be carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps. 30ml
is enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
The first bottle ever discovered of vintage Cuban absinthe.
Pre-Castro Cuba had a considerable history of absinthe production - Hemingway drank it there, and used to stock up on his
frequent marlin-fishing trips to the island, where he later bought a house. This bottle, produced by the Aldabo Distillery (also known
as a rum and curacao producer) appears to be a good quality, naturally coloured absinthe, and likely dates from the mid 1930's. It's
in overall excellent condition. This is a unique and almost certainly unrepeatable opportunity to taste an absinthe of the greatest
historical interest and romance, most likely the exact product that gave rise to the famous 1931 Hemingway quote:
“Got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks. Great success shooting the knife underhand into the piano."
Tasting notes: Nothing like the anise-rich Spanish style one might expect. Undiluted, the absinthe has a creamy, honeyed nose,
and an unusually yellowish colour (less golden than it appears in the photographs). When iced water is added, the absinthe
louches only faintly and a distinct wormwood aroma develops. On the palette there is a rum-like quality (undoubtedly the base
alcohol for this was made from sugar cane) and an powerful bitter wormwood aftertaste, which lingers in the mouth. It's possible
wormwood was used both in the macerate, and in the coloring step. A fascinating and very unusual absinthe.
The absinthe will be carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps. 30ml
is enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
The original bottle from which the samples are drawn.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
An Absinthe Albado sample
before and after the addition
of water.
Click on the thumbnails for
enlarged images.
before and after the addition
of water.
Click on the thumbnails for
enlarged images.
Absinthe H. Bazinet Jeune, circa 1910
A circa 1910 Absinthe H. Bazinet, in very good condition, labelled for the US market. It was removed from the cellars of a
Manhattan townhouse in the 1970's, and has been in an air-conditioned storage facility ever since. As shown in the photo, the
level of the liquid is unusually good, and the label is close to perfect. The contents are bright and clear.
Founded in 1880, H.Bazinet were an important Pontarlier-basd producer whose absinthe commanded a premium price in the
1900's. Like other top-quality producers, they used an entirely natural chlorophyllic coloration process.
This is the first intact bottle of this brand from the pre-ban era recorded so far.
Tasting notes: Clear and bright, with a few traces of sediment at the bottom of the bottle - a remnant of the chlorophyllic
coloration. Undiluted, the absinthe has an attractive nose - the wine alcohol base is evident. The colour is light amber with green
tinges at the edges. The louche is quite slow but very good. The aromas develop as water is added - both herbal and floral notes
are evident. Absolutely delicious on the palette - smooth and honeyed with a mild butterscotch character. A hint of wormwood
bitterness on the aftertaste, which is very long. A superb absinthe of great subtlety and complexity.
The absinthe will be carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps.
30ml is enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
A circa 1910 Absinthe H. Bazinet, in very good condition, labelled for the US market. It was removed from the cellars of a
Manhattan townhouse in the 1970's, and has been in an air-conditioned storage facility ever since. As shown in the photo, the
level of the liquid is unusually good, and the label is close to perfect. The contents are bright and clear.
Founded in 1880, H.Bazinet were an important Pontarlier-basd producer whose absinthe commanded a premium price in the
1900's. Like other top-quality producers, they used an entirely natural chlorophyllic coloration process.
This is the first intact bottle of this brand from the pre-ban era recorded so far.
Tasting notes: Clear and bright, with a few traces of sediment at the bottom of the bottle - a remnant of the chlorophyllic
coloration. Undiluted, the absinthe has an attractive nose - the wine alcohol base is evident. The colour is light amber with green
tinges at the edges. The louche is quite slow but very good. The aromas develop as water is added - both herbal and floral notes
are evident. Absolutely delicious on the palette - smooth and honeyed with a mild butterscotch character. A hint of wormwood
bitterness on the aftertaste, which is very long. A superb absinthe of great subtlety and complexity.
The absinthe will be carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps.
30ml is enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
The original bottle from which the samples are drawn.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
An Absinthe Bazinet sample before
and after the addition of water.
Click on the thumbnails for
enlarged images.
and after the addition of water.
Click on the thumbnails for
enlarged images.
Absinthe Pernod S.A. Tarragona, circa 1935
A circa 1935 Absinthe Pernod S.A, from the Tarragona distillery, in very good condition. Pernod S.A was the Spanish
successor to Edouard Pernod, and these bottlings are far scarcer than the more commonly found Pernod Fils versions.
Pernod S.A. ceased production in 1938, when it was absorbed into the larger Pernod group.
Tasting notes: Less amber than the Bazinet. Delicious typically Pernod-like nose, with an appealing floral quality. Thick and
creamy louche. Anise fairly prominent in the Edouard Pernod style, with some badiane evident. Much more complex than
1960's Pernod Fils Tarragona.
The absinthe will be carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps.
30ml is enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
A circa 1935 Absinthe Pernod S.A, from the Tarragona distillery, in very good condition. Pernod S.A was the Spanish
successor to Edouard Pernod, and these bottlings are far scarcer than the more commonly found Pernod Fils versions.
Pernod S.A. ceased production in 1938, when it was absorbed into the larger Pernod group.
Tasting notes: Less amber than the Bazinet. Delicious typically Pernod-like nose, with an appealing floral quality. Thick and
creamy louche. Anise fairly prominent in the Edouard Pernod style, with some badiane evident. Much more complex than
1960's Pernod Fils Tarragona.
The absinthe will be carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps.
30ml is enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
An Absinthe Pernod S.A.
sample before and after the
addition of water.
Click on the thumbnails for
enlarged images.
sample before and after the
addition of water.
Click on the thumbnails for
enlarged images.
The original bottle from which the samples are drawn.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
Absinthe Berger, circa 1900
The contents are in excellent condition, and identical to samples I've tasted from another Absinthe Berger bottle. The colour is
amber - no real trace of the original green remains. On the nose, anise and the classic Berger "baby-powder" aroma are present,
while on the palette the absinthe is warm, rich and spicy. If Premier Fils was the light feminine brand, Berger is the heavy
masculine marque. You could imagine smoking cigar with a glass of this.
Berger, based in Couvet and Marseilles, was one of the largest and most popular producers. Their Swiss-style absinthe was
enormously popular in the south of France, and was also exported all over the world, especially to South America, where they,
rather than Pernod Fils, were the market leaders.
The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile 25ml amber glass sample bottles. 25ml is enough for one normal glass, or
two small tasting samples.
The contents are in excellent condition, and identical to samples I've tasted from another Absinthe Berger bottle. The colour is
amber - no real trace of the original green remains. On the nose, anise and the classic Berger "baby-powder" aroma are present,
while on the palette the absinthe is warm, rich and spicy. If Premier Fils was the light feminine brand, Berger is the heavy
masculine marque. You could imagine smoking cigar with a glass of this.
Berger, based in Couvet and Marseilles, was one of the largest and most popular producers. Their Swiss-style absinthe was
enormously popular in the south of France, and was also exported all over the world, especially to South America, where they,
rather than Pernod Fils, were the market leaders.
The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile 25ml amber glass sample bottles. 25ml is enough for one normal glass, or
two small tasting samples.
| An Absinthe Berger sample before and after the addition of water. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images. |
The original bottle from which the samples are drawn.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
Absinthe Premier Fils, circa 1910
For the first time ever, I'm proud to offer a bottle of one of the most famous of all the absinthe grande marques, decanted into 25ml
tasting samples. Original bottles of Absinthe Premier Fils are far rarer than the equivalent from Pernod Fils and the absinthe
itself is completely different - paler, with a wonderfully subtle olive green colour (still amazingly well preserved), with a warm
perfumed quality and a hint of violets on the nose. The louche is beautiful, but softly translucent rather than milky in the manner of
Pernod Fils. All in all, a quintessentially feminine absinthe.
Premier Fils, based in Romans, was a high-end producer whose absinthe commanded a premium price, and was one of the
relatively few absinthe distillers that used an entirely natural herbal coloration process, something they proudly advertised on their
label.
The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile 25ml amber glass sample bottles. 25ml is enough for one normal glass, or
two small tasting samples.
For the first time ever, I'm proud to offer a bottle of one of the most famous of all the absinthe grande marques, decanted into 25ml
tasting samples. Original bottles of Absinthe Premier Fils are far rarer than the equivalent from Pernod Fils and the absinthe
itself is completely different - paler, with a wonderfully subtle olive green colour (still amazingly well preserved), with a warm
perfumed quality and a hint of violets on the nose. The louche is beautiful, but softly translucent rather than milky in the manner of
Pernod Fils. All in all, a quintessentially feminine absinthe.
Premier Fils, based in Romans, was a high-end producer whose absinthe commanded a premium price, and was one of the
relatively few absinthe distillers that used an entirely natural herbal coloration process, something they proudly advertised on their
label.
The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile 25ml amber glass sample bottles. 25ml is enough for one normal glass, or
two small tasting samples.
| The original bottle from which the samples are drawn. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images. |
| A Premier Fils sample before and after the addition of water. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images. |
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| The Virtual Absinthe Museum Web Shop |
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| Vintage Absinthe III - Previously Sold Samples |
Occasionally, rather than sell a vintage bottle intact, we decant it into 25 or 30ml sample bottles, which are sold individually.
This allows a wider group of people to experience the thrill of tasting vintage absinthe, at a more affordable price. For
reference, here are photos of some interesting bottles we've sold over the last year in tasting sample form. These bottles
have already been sold, and are no longer available.
Click here to return to the Vintage Absinthe For Sale page.
This allows a wider group of people to experience the thrill of tasting vintage absinthe, at a more affordable price. For
reference, here are photos of some interesting bottles we've sold over the last year in tasting sample form. These bottles
have already been sold, and are no longer available.
Click here to return to the Vintage Absinthe For Sale page.
I am always a buyer for sealed bottles of vintage absinthe in good condition.
Je suis toujours un acheteur pour de pleines bouteilles de vieille absinthe.
Je suis toujours un acheteur pour de pleines bouteilles de vieille absinthe.
Absinthe Edouard Pernod 65% circa 1910-1914
A circa 1910-1914 Absinthe Edouard Pernod 65%, in very good condition, originally discovered in a cellar just outside Pontarlier. As
shown in the photo, the level of the liquid is exceptionally good (above the base of the neck seal), and the labels well preserved, both
signs of excellent storage. The contents are bright and clear.
Based in Couvet and in Pontarlier, Edouard Pernod were a first rank producer, the sister company of Pernod Fils. Their absinthe is
similar to Pernod Fils in character, but with an additional underlying spiciness, reminiscent of Berger and other Swiss marques.
Tasting notes: Clear and bright, no noticeable sediment. Undiluted, the absinthe has a very attractive nose, with the wine alcohol base
evident. The colour is the typical light amber of well preserved vintage absinthe. The louche is rich and creamy. The aromas develop as
water is added - complex herbal and spicy notes are evident. Delicious on the palette - rich, with a noticeable butterscotch character.
Lingering aftertaste. An absolutely classic absinthe.
The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps. 30ml is
enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
A circa 1910-1914 Absinthe Edouard Pernod 65%, in very good condition, originally discovered in a cellar just outside Pontarlier. As
shown in the photo, the level of the liquid is exceptionally good (above the base of the neck seal), and the labels well preserved, both
signs of excellent storage. The contents are bright and clear.
Based in Couvet and in Pontarlier, Edouard Pernod were a first rank producer, the sister company of Pernod Fils. Their absinthe is
similar to Pernod Fils in character, but with an additional underlying spiciness, reminiscent of Berger and other Swiss marques.
Tasting notes: Clear and bright, no noticeable sediment. Undiluted, the absinthe has a very attractive nose, with the wine alcohol base
evident. The colour is the typical light amber of well preserved vintage absinthe. The louche is rich and creamy. The aromas develop as
water is added - complex herbal and spicy notes are evident. Delicious on the palette - rich, with a noticeable butterscotch character.
Lingering aftertaste. An absolutely classic absinthe.
The absinthe has been carefully decanted into sterile laboratory-grade 30ml amber glass sample bottles with teflon-lined caps. 30ml is
enough for one large glass, two smaller glasses or three small tasting samples.
76 bottles of privately bottled Absinthe Pernod Fils, originating from glass demi-johns removed from the Pernod Fils distillery one
week before the prohibition of absinthe came into effect in August 1914.
The cache originates from the cellar of a descendant of a once substantial liquor distributor, which operated from 1890 to around
1950. The present elderly owner inherited the bottles from his father, who purchased several glass demi-johns of absinthe from
Pernod Fils in the week immediately prior to the ban on absinthe being enacted in August 1914. The contents of these demijohns
(probably around 20-30 litres each) were then bottled (with professional equipment - the corks and wax seals are of the same quality
as a commercial bottling) for the private consumption of the family. There were reportedly originally around 300 bottles, and they were
drunk up to the beginning of the Second World War, after which a cache of the remaining intact bottles - from which these 76 originate -
were left untouched and forgotten until the present day.
week before the prohibition of absinthe came into effect in August 1914.
The cache originates from the cellar of a descendant of a once substantial liquor distributor, which operated from 1890 to around
1950. The present elderly owner inherited the bottles from his father, who purchased several glass demi-johns of absinthe from
Pernod Fils in the week immediately prior to the ban on absinthe being enacted in August 1914. The contents of these demijohns
(probably around 20-30 litres each) were then bottled (with professional equipment - the corks and wax seals are of the same quality
as a commercial bottling) for the private consumption of the family. There were reportedly originally around 300 bottles, and they were
drunk up to the beginning of the Second World War, after which a cache of the remaining intact bottles - from which these 76 originate -
were left untouched and forgotten until the present day.
Samples from two different bottles in the cache, before and after the addition of water. As one would expect there is some variation
between different bottles in the cache - some are slightly browner, others are slightly greener. The overall colour range and louche
are both typical of pre-ban Pernod Fils. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
between different bottles in the cache - some are slightly browner, others are slightly greener. The overall colour range and louche
are both typical of pre-ban Pernod Fils. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images.
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| These are photographs of the bottles as packed for removal from the cellar. Click on the thumbnails for enlarged images. |
