La Clandestine Absinthe is a popular [1], prize-winning [2], La Bleue, or clear, Swiss absinthe brand produced by Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries. It is a highly alcoholic, anise-flavored, distilled liquor containing the herb wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), and when prepared with cold water will louche. La Clandestine Absinthe comes in five styles: La Clandestine Originale at 53% abv (alcohol by volume); the stronger La Capricieuse at 72% abv; the Recette Marianne at 55% abv, a low fenchone absinthe created to meet French fenchone regulations; a wine-based version of La Clandestine Originale; and Angélique Verte Suisse at 72% abv, a verte, or green, absinthe.
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La Clandestine Absinthe
According to "underground distiller" Claude-Alain Bugnon, La Clandestine is based on a 1935 recipe by Swiss distiller Charlotte Vaucher [3] which Bugnon had been circulating unofficially for several years prior to the Swiss lifting a near one-hundred year ban on absinthe March 1, 2005. [4] Following the lift, Bugnon applied for an official license and became one of the first distillers in the historically important Val-de-Travers region to be granted one. It is now commercially produced and sold by Artemisia-Bugnon. La Clandestine is served in a manner similar to the traditional 19th century French method, differing only in the use of sugar. The manufacturer recommends that La Clandestine be served without sugar. [5]
La Capricieuse
La Capricieuse, at 72%, was added in summer 2005, in response to the demand for a stronger absinthe in several of company's markets worldwide.
La Recette Marianne
La Recette Marianne, at 55%, was launched in autumn 2005, in response to fenchone regulations in France. It was this absinthe which won the Golden Spoon award at the Pontarlier Absinthiades in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Angélique
Angélique, at 72%, is the first Verte Suisse absinthe from the La Clandestine distillery, and was launched at the 10th Annual Absinthe Festival at Boveresse, Switzerland, in June 2007.
References
- ^ [Wormwood Society vote - Absinthe Forum voting on preferred brands (at the time of voting there were an estimated 250 absinthes available).
- ^ [1] Recette Marianne: the Golden Spoon winner for the third consecutive year.
- ^ Brand history Retrieved 19 May 2007
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle article reproducing New York Times story of November 4, 2004 Retrieved 2 January 2008
- ^ Reference to drinking "au naturel," i.e. without sugar Retrieved 20 May 2007
External links
- La Clandestine Absinthe - Brand website
- Fée Verte Review - Independent website confirming that La Clandestine had been sold for "years" prior to its official launch.
