Finest & Rarest, dealing in rare and ancient
cognac, Chartreuse, whisky and other spirits.
cognac, Chartreuse, whisky and other spirits.
Le site frère de ce site-ci, en francais,
Le Musée Virtuel de l'Absinthe.
Le Musée Virtuel de l'Absinthe.
Absinthe Originals for
authentic Belle Epoque
era absinthe antiques.
authentic Belle Epoque
era absinthe antiques.
Absinthe Classics,
for the finest modern
absinthes with
worldwide delivery.
for the finest modern
absinthes with
worldwide delivery.
The Absinthe Spoon The premier source
for fine replica spoons, glasses and fountains.
for fine replica spoons, glasses and fountains.
| This website and all its contents Copyright 2002- 2007 Oxygenee Ltd. No pictures or text may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission of the site owner. |
Absinthe Originals
for authentic Belle
Epoque era absinthe
antiques.
for authentic Belle
Epoque era absinthe
antiques.
Le site frère de ce site-ci, en francais,
Le Musée Virtuel de l'Absinthe.
Le Musée Virtuel de l'Absinthe.
Absinthe Classics,
for the finest modern
absinthes with
worldwide delivery.
for the finest modern
absinthes with
worldwide delivery.
Finest & Rarest, dealing in rare and ancient
cognac, Chartreuse, whisky and other spirits.
cognac, Chartreuse, whisky and other spirits.
The Absinthe Spoon The premier source
for fine replica spoons, glasses and fountains.
for fine replica spoons, glasses and fountains.
| Visit our new Absinthe Poster site: www.absintheposters.com. |
Absinthe Posters,
for fine-art prints
of the greatest
absinthe images.
for fine-art prints
of the greatest
absinthe images.
Absinthe Posters, for fine-art prints
of the greatest absinthe images.
of the greatest absinthe images.
| Absinthe...the Green Fairy...La Fée Verte....no other drink has the same romantic history - the French Impressionists....Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Manet, Van Gogh....Paris in the Belle Epoque....the cafes of Montmartre....the muse of writers from Verlaine and Rimbaud to Joyce and Hemingway. Of course, there's a darker side to absinthe as well - no other drink has ever roused the same degree of passionate condemnation, and no other drink has ever been banned outright in the way absinthe was in the years leading up to 1915. All that remains today of this fabled era are the ghosts of the Green Fairy...absinthe antiques and absinthiana....slotted spoons for holding the sugar cube, dose-marked glasses, advertising carafes, matchstrikers or pyrogenes for the grande marques, absinthe advertising posters, manufacturers catalogues and postcards....echos of La Heure Verte a century ago. |
Welcome from Oxygénée
Your guide to the lost world of absinthe and La Fée Verte
Your guide to the lost world of absinthe and La Fée Verte
Your guide to the lost world of absinthe and La Fee Verte is Oxygénée, a passionate absintheur
and artémisophile. Oxygénée takes his online name from the smiling bon vivant, seen in
Tamagno's famous poster enjoying a glass of Cusenier's Absinthe Oxygénée - one of the
greatest brands of the era. When he's not busy updating this site - new items are added to the
Virtual Museum every month - or scouring rural France for forgotten bottles of pre-ban
absinthe, Oxygénée runs Oxygenee Ltd, a UK based company specializing in absinthe, and rare
and ancient spirits.
If you're new to absinthe, begin your journey into the world of the Green Fairy by reading
Oxygénée's Absinthe FAQ and visiting the Virtual Museum, and then follow up by consulting
the many other sections, all outlined below.
and artémisophile. Oxygénée takes his online name from the smiling bon vivant, seen in
Tamagno's famous poster enjoying a glass of Cusenier's Absinthe Oxygénée - one of the
greatest brands of the era. When he's not busy updating this site - new items are added to the
Virtual Museum every month - or scouring rural France for forgotten bottles of pre-ban
absinthe, Oxygénée runs Oxygenee Ltd, a UK based company specializing in absinthe, and rare
and ancient spirits.
If you're new to absinthe, begin your journey into the world of the Green Fairy by reading
Oxygénée's Absinthe FAQ and visiting the Virtual Museum, and then follow up by consulting
the many other sections, all outlined below.
Virtual Absinthe Museum
Absinthe history, literature, advertising art and antiques
Absinthe history, literature, advertising art and antiques
The Virtual Absinthe Museum showcases the Oxygénée collection of absinthiana - an
enormous range of original artifacts documenting every aspect of the history of La Fee
Verte, from its use as a medicinal elixir in ancient times, to its heyday as a fashionable
aperitif in the 19th century and its prohibition at the beginning of the 20th. Here you'll find
examples of the rarest and most beautiful absinthe spoons, glasses that glow green
because of their uranium content, absinthe fountains, carafes and pitchers, art
nouveau-style advertising cartons and posters, catalogues, invoices and ephemera from
the leading absinthe distillers, books, journals and newspapers of every description,
propaganda from the anti-absinthe temperance movement, and counter-propaganda from
the equally passionate supporters of the Green Fairy - the whole fabled history of absinthe
is here.
enormous range of original artifacts documenting every aspect of the history of La Fee
Verte, from its use as a medicinal elixir in ancient times, to its heyday as a fashionable
aperitif in the 19th century and its prohibition at the beginning of the 20th. Here you'll find
examples of the rarest and most beautiful absinthe spoons, glasses that glow green
because of their uranium content, absinthe fountains, carafes and pitchers, art
nouveau-style advertising cartons and posters, catalogues, invoices and ephemera from
the leading absinthe distillers, books, journals and newspapers of every description,
propaganda from the anti-absinthe temperance movement, and counter-propaganda from
the equally passionate supporters of the Green Fairy - the whole fabled history of absinthe
is here.
Oxygénée's Absinthe FAQ
Comprehensive answers to all your absinthe questions
Comprehensive answers to all your absinthe questions
This is the most detailed, accurate and comprehensive Absinthe FAQ on the web. This
information is constantly being updated and expanded, both to take into account new historical
research, and to keep abreast of the latest news from the ever expanding modern absinthe
renaissance. The most commonly asked questions - what is wormwood, what is absinthe, how
is it made, how is it drunk, is it safe to drink, what are absinthe's so-called "secondary effects,
what is thujone - are all answered here. As for its history, there's a detailed discussion of the
earliest origins of absinthe, its growth in popularity, it's impact on artists and writers like Van
Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec, Verlaine, Oscar Wilde and Hemingway, the ferocious anti-absinthe
campaign against it that resulted in its prohibition in the early 1900's, and its remarkable rebirth
nearly a century later.
information is constantly being updated and expanded, both to take into account new historical
research, and to keep abreast of the latest news from the ever expanding modern absinthe
renaissance. The most commonly asked questions - what is wormwood, what is absinthe, how
is it made, how is it drunk, is it safe to drink, what are absinthe's so-called "secondary effects,
what is thujone - are all answered here. As for its history, there's a detailed discussion of the
earliest origins of absinthe, its growth in popularity, it's impact on artists and writers like Van
Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec, Verlaine, Oscar Wilde and Hemingway, the ferocious anti-absinthe
campaign against it that resulted in its prohibition in the early 1900's, and its remarkable rebirth
nearly a century later.
Absinthe Distillation
How absinthe is made, from herb to finished product
How absinthe is made, from herb to finished product
A step-by-step illustrated account of the making of absinthe, based on actual
distillations at the historic Emile Pernot distillery in Pontarlier.
We follow the entire process - from the cultivation and harvesting of young
wormwood plants, to the painstaking selection and preparation of the dried herbs,
the maceration of the herbal mixture in alcohol, followed by distillation and
rectification using the distillery's historic Egrot alambics - unchanged since the
absinthe era - and finally the all important chlorophyllic coloring process that gives
absinthe its mysterious and romantic green hue.
distillations at the historic Emile Pernot distillery in Pontarlier.
We follow the entire process - from the cultivation and harvesting of young
wormwood plants, to the painstaking selection and preparation of the dried herbs,
the maceration of the herbal mixture in alcohol, followed by distillation and
rectification using the distillery's historic Egrot alambics - unchanged since the
absinthe era - and finally the all important chlorophyllic coloring process that gives
absinthe its mysterious and romantic green hue.
Absinthe Ritual
The correct way to prepare and drink an absinthe
The correct way to prepare and drink an absinthe
Unlike many everyday aperitifs, absinthe was historically almost always prepared and drunk
in a highly specific way - this, the so-called "absinthe ritual" was part of the reason for its
popularity and for the unique position it's always held in the pantheon of drinks. While the
elements of the basic ritual are well known - the sugar cube positioned on a perforated spoon
placed on top of the glass, iced water dripped on the cube, slowly dissolving it and diluting
the absinthe dose in the glass with the sugared water - there are many refinements which
both enhance the pleasure of preparing the drink and subtly improve the taste of the finished
absinthe. They're all discussed in detail here, and illustrated with two streaming videos.
There's also a page devoted to an alternative preparation ritual - the little known, but
fascinating and historically sanctioned "glass-in-a-glass" method
in a highly specific way - this, the so-called "absinthe ritual" was part of the reason for its
popularity and for the unique position it's always held in the pantheon of drinks. While the
elements of the basic ritual are well known - the sugar cube positioned on a perforated spoon
placed on top of the glass, iced water dripped on the cube, slowly dissolving it and diluting
the absinthe dose in the glass with the sugared water - there are many refinements which
both enhance the pleasure of preparing the drink and subtly improve the taste of the finished
absinthe. They're all discussed in detail here, and illustrated with two streaming videos.
There's also a page devoted to an alternative preparation ritual - the little known, but
fascinating and historically sanctioned "glass-in-a-glass" method
Absinthe Web Shop
Buy French and Swiss absinthe, spoons, glasses & fountains, books, CDs
Buy French and Swiss absinthe, spoons, glasses & fountains, books, CDs
Here you'll find both our own web shop, and links to our three sister sites: Absinthe Classics,
which sells the very finest modern absinthes, including the award winning Doubs and Jade absinthe
ranges; The Absinthe Spoon which offers a huge selection of replica absinthe spoons, glasses and
fountains at unbeatable prices; Absinthe Originals, the premier source for authentic Belle Epoque
era absinthe antiques and absinthiana..
The Virtual Museum Web Shop offers absinthe-related books - both bestsellers and limited edition
private press releases, links to our Amazon and AllPosters stores, and a range of unique gifts
including the acclaimed sterling silver absinthe grilles made by the Virginia-based artist Kirk Burkett
We guarantee safe arrival. All orders are despatched by priority airmail - usually 2 to 3 days for
European destinations, 5 to 7 days for the USA and Canada. For fragile items, our packaging is
bulletproof. We offer secure online ordering facilities, with payment by Visa or MasterCard.
which sells the very finest modern absinthes, including the award winning Doubs and Jade absinthe
ranges; The Absinthe Spoon which offers a huge selection of replica absinthe spoons, glasses and
fountains at unbeatable prices; Absinthe Originals, the premier source for authentic Belle Epoque
era absinthe antiques and absinthiana..
The Virtual Museum Web Shop offers absinthe-related books - both bestsellers and limited edition
private press releases, links to our Amazon and AllPosters stores, and a range of unique gifts
including the acclaimed sterling silver absinthe grilles made by the Virginia-based artist Kirk Burkett
We guarantee safe arrival. All orders are despatched by priority airmail - usually 2 to 3 days for
European destinations, 5 to 7 days for the USA and Canada. For fragile items, our packaging is
bulletproof. We offer secure online ordering facilities, with payment by Visa or MasterCard.
Absinthe Print Shop
Buy prints of the most extraordinary absinthe posters and art
Buy prints of the most extraordinary absinthe posters and art
An ever-expanding range of high quality reproductions of many of the rarest, most beautiful and most
interesting posters, artworks and photographs in the Oxygénée collection. Most of these images are not
available elsewhere on the web, and many are based on unique originals. They range from gorgeous
art-nouveau creations - Absinthe Robette, Absinthe Blanqui, and Absinthe Rosinette all come
immediately to mind - to whimsically humorous images like the famous Absinthe Bourgeois "Chat Noir"
and Absinthe Barth's cheerily monocled society gent, to the sometimes frightening but always
compelling posters produced by both the pro- and anti-absinthe movements.
The images are available in full colour poster or print format, in a wide range of sizes.
interesting posters, artworks and photographs in the Oxygénée collection. Most of these images are not
available elsewhere on the web, and many are based on unique originals. They range from gorgeous
art-nouveau creations - Absinthe Robette, Absinthe Blanqui, and Absinthe Rosinette all come
immediately to mind - to whimsically humorous images like the famous Absinthe Bourgeois "Chat Noir"
and Absinthe Barth's cheerily monocled society gent, to the sometimes frightening but always
compelling posters produced by both the pro- and anti-absinthe movements.
The images are available in full colour poster or print format, in a wide range of sizes.
Absinthe Collectors Forum
Discuss absinthe and absinthe-related art and antiques
Discuss absinthe and absinthe-related art and antiques
This is a bilingual forum, designed to facilitate communication between English and
French enthusiasts. Posts in either English and French are acceptable, and the
underlying software itself can be switched to select either language. The focus of
the forum is on the history of absinthe, and on the art, antiques and collectibles
associated with it.
All users can enter and read the forum, but it is necessary to register if you wish to
post. Registration usually only takes a matter of minutes, but since each application
is individually validated, you may have to wait a few hours for approval.
French enthusiasts. Posts in either English and French are acceptable, and the
underlying software itself can be switched to select either language. The focus of
the forum is on the history of absinthe, and on the art, antiques and collectibles
associated with it.
All users can enter and read the forum, but it is necessary to register if you wish to
post. Registration usually only takes a matter of minutes, but since each application
is individually validated, you may have to wait a few hours for approval.
Absinthe Movies from the Silent Film Era
NEW! The 4 Earliest Absinthe Movies 1899-1913 on DVD
NEW! The 4 Earliest Absinthe Movies 1899-1913 on DVD
Almost from the very outset, motion picture producers found a lucrative niche producing
films with an anti-alcohol message. As the much demonized focus of the French
temperance movement, absinthe was soon given a starring role as villain-in-chief.
After years of painstaking searching in libraries, archives and private collections in Italy,
France, Holland and the US, Oxygénée has tracked down some of these forgotten relics
from the dawn of the motion picture era - restored and digitally remastered, they are now
available here, in most cases for the first time since their initial release nearly a century ago.
films with an anti-alcohol message. As the much demonized focus of the French
temperance movement, absinthe was soon given a starring role as villain-in-chief.
After years of painstaking searching in libraries, archives and private collections in Italy,
France, Holland and the US, Oxygénée has tracked down some of these forgotten relics
from the dawn of the motion picture era - restored and digitally remastered, they are now
available here, in most cases for the first time since their initial release nearly a century ago.
Absinthe Images and Stock Photos
A small selection of images from the Virtual Absinthe Museum available for licensing for online use, print or TV and film.
A small selection of images from the Virtual Absinthe Museum available for licensing for online use, print or TV and film.
Blog
Oxygénée's absinthe blog, The Wheat of Virgin Spaces. Updated 30th April.
Oxygénée's absinthe blog, The Wheat of Virgin Spaces. Updated 30th April.
Sitemap
An overall sitemap of the Virtual Absinthe Museum website.
An overall sitemap of the Virtual Absinthe Museum website.
Visit the Musée de l'Absinthe in Auvers sur Oise
Although not affiliated with this site (which is purely an online museum), we strongly recommend a visit to the Musée de l'Absinthe in Auvers sur Oise,
about an hour outside Paris. Founded by Marie-Claude Delahaye, the doyenne of French absinthe historians, the Musée de l'Absinthe is entirely dedicated to
the history and lore of absinthe and La Fee Verte, with a wonderful collection of art, posters, historical documents and absinthe artifacts.
44 rue Callé, Auvers sur Oise 01-30-36-83-26 Oct.-May weekends 11am-6pm ; June-Sept. Wed.-Sun. 11am-6pm
Although not affiliated with this site (which is purely an online museum), we strongly recommend a visit to the Musée de l'Absinthe in Auvers sur Oise,
about an hour outside Paris. Founded by Marie-Claude Delahaye, the doyenne of French absinthe historians, the Musée de l'Absinthe is entirely dedicated to
the history and lore of absinthe and La Fee Verte, with a wonderful collection of art, posters, historical documents and absinthe artifacts.
44 rue Callé, Auvers sur Oise 01-30-36-83-26 Oct.-May weekends 11am-6pm ; June-Sept. Wed.-Sun. 11am-6pm
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Original Vintage Absinthe
Buy pre-ban absinthe from the Belle Epoque era.
Buy pre-ban absinthe from the Belle Epoque era.
Vintage absinthe is far rarer than ancient cognac, pre-prohibition bourbon, or
any other vintage spirit. Every surviving bottle is a precious relic. No more
than a few hundred people on earth have tasted even a sample of vintage
absinthe (most of them via this website), and only a few dozen have been
privileged to own one of the few remaining sealed bottles. We continually
search throughout France, Switzerland and Spain for these bottles - when we
occasionally find them, they sell immediately to clients on our waiting list. Visit
our Web Shop to find out more, and to add your name to the list.
any other vintage spirit. Every surviving bottle is a precious relic. No more
than a few hundred people on earth have tasted even a sample of vintage
absinthe (most of them via this website), and only a few dozen have been
privileged to own one of the few remaining sealed bottles. We continually
search throughout France, Switzerland and Spain for these bottles - when we
occasionally find them, they sell immediately to clients on our waiting list. Visit
our Web Shop to find out more, and to add your name to the list.
Join our Mailing List
Receive our monthly email newsletter
Receive our monthly email newsletter
To receive our very popular monthly email newsletter,
please click on the green box at left. A small form will
pop up, allowing you to enter your name and email address
(if you don't see it, check that you don't have a pop-up
blocker running). Newsletter subscribers get advance
please click on the green box at left. A small form will
pop up, allowing you to enter your name and email address
(if you don't see it, check that you don't have a pop-up
blocker running). Newsletter subscribers get advance
notice of new additions to the Museum, and preferential purchasing on new releases (including vintage absinthe samples!). There's no
charge to subscribe, and you can cancel at any time. We will never pass your details on to anyone else.
We operate a double-opt-in system: once you've entered your details, you'll receive an automated email asking you to validate your
information (if you don't receive this automated confirmation email, please check in your Bulk Mail folder). As soon as you've
responded to this email by clicking the attached link, your name will be added to our list.
charge to subscribe, and you can cancel at any time. We will never pass your details on to anyone else.
We operate a double-opt-in system: once you've entered your details, you'll receive an automated email asking you to validate your
information (if you don't receive this automated confirmation email, please check in your Bulk Mail folder). As soon as you've
responded to this email by clicking the attached link, your name will be added to our list.
Oxygénée's Absinthe Web Directory
Links to all our sister sites, and other recommended websites.
Links to all our sister sites, and other recommended websites.