Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe that has been distributed over the Black Market in the time of Absinthe prohibition.
Absinthe was banned and made illegal in France, Switzerland and several other countries in th early 1900s after becoming a popular liquor since its creation in the turn of the nineteenth century.
Absinthe had been especially popular with the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre section of Paris. Artists and writers including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway were all supporters of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is typically known.
Anti-alcohol campaigners began to paint a bad picture of Absinthe during the late nineteenth century and early 20th century, blaming it for France’s growing problems with alcoholism and claiming that the compound thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic effects. Many stated that if Absinthe isn’t banned then France would be a 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 forbidden and prohibition began.
Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland
During prohibition, there was clearly obviously still an industry for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still produced and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was home to Absinthe. It is claimed that Absinthe was developed by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, being a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss area of Couvet in the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. In time, Couvet had become the Swiss capital of Absinthe creation and was obviously badly troubled 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 recognized for its great bootleg Absinthe.
Absinthe was legalized in many countries in the 1990s but legalization in Switzerland did not occur until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately applied for a license to sell Absinthe and was the first distiller to be awarded a license for Absinthe production in Switzerland.
Claude-Alain Bugnon’s organization, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce different styles of Absinthe:-
– The well-known La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an award winning premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It’s actually a clear Absinthe in a blue bottle and a few people claim that it took its name from the blue reflections noticed if the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was produced to fulfill the taste for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and it has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was produced to be distributed to the French market which has strict Fenchone laws and doesn’t allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be marketed. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and it is thought to be 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 having a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for people who want their Absinthe to be slightly more bitter and to hold the traditional green color. The stunning label on this bottle is usually like antique labels depicting the Green Fairy.
The Artemisia-Bugnon uses herbs grown in the region like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavoured liquor. No artificial colors or additives are widely-used 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 producing your own personal Absinthe that contains wormwood then you can utilize the essences from AbsintheKit.com to produce your personal premium Absinthe.