Lemercier Freres Pastis 1811 France 50 cl 45%

An old recipe sat gathering dust in the attic above the distillery at Fougerolles. It had been up there long enough that nobody remembered it. In 2017 it was brought back down, and the result now stands in the bottle.

Expert description

Lemercier Freres Pastis 1811 is a French Pastis produced at Distillerie Lemercier Frères in Fougerolles and bottled at 45%.

Seeds and plants are macerated and distilled: wormwood, gentian, liquorice root and star anise. The gentian is what makes it different, pulling in an earthy bitterness that most pastis from Marseille simply does not carry. The wormwood points straight back at the distillery's absinthe heritage.

Lemercier Frères was founded in 1811 and is the oldest distillery in Fougerolles, in Franche-Comté. The house is known for three things: Kirsch with AOC status, absinthe, and since 2017 this pastis. Pastis 1811 has taken gold at the IWSC.

The bottle holds 50 cl rather than the usual 70.

Tasting notes

Nose

Star anise and liquorice, though milder than you would expect. Underneath sits something green and herbal from the wormwood, and a dry, almost root-like tone from the gentian.

Palate

Soft and round to begin with, liquorice root and anise up front. Then the bitterness from gentian and wormwood arrives and tightens the whole thing up.

Finish

Dry and long. The anise lingers while the herbal bitterness slowly takes over.

Specifications

Name: Pastis 1811
Distillery: Distillerie Lemercier Frères
Region/Country: Fougerolles Franche-Comté France
Type: French Pastis
ABV: 45%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 3176980600688
Serving suggestion: 1 part Pastis to 5 parts iced water

Flavour profile

Anise · Liquorice · Bitter · Herbal · Dry

Did you know?

Fougerolles is the cherry capital of France and holds its own AOC for Kirsch. Lemercier Frères has been distilling in the same buildings for more than two hundred years and still takes visitors on tours.

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Frequently asked questions about Lemercier Freres Pastis 1811

Why is it called 1811?

After the founding year. Distillerie Lemercier Frères opened in 1811 and is the oldest distillery in Fougerolles. The pastis itself is new, arriving only in 2017 and built on a recipe found in the distillery attic.

What does gentian do to the flavour?

It brings a dry, earthy bitterness of the kind you know from French aperitifs such as Suze. In a pastis that is unusual, and it is exactly what pulls Pastis 1811 away from the sweeter Marseille style.

Is it sweet?

Less than most. The liquorice root brings sweetness, but wormwood and gentian cut through it, so the overall impression is dry. If you are used to Ricard or Pernod, this one will feel tighter.

How is it served?

One part pastis to five parts iced water. Pour the water into the pastis and watch it go milky white, then add ice afterwards. If you want it stronger, drop to four parts water.

Why is the bottle only 50 cl?

That is the format Lemercier uses for Pastis 1811. Expect around a third less in the bottle than a standard size when you compare it with other pastis.

Can it be used in cocktails?

Yes, and the bitter profile fares better in drinks than sweeter pastis does. A dash to rinse the glass in a Sazerac, or a teaspoon in a Corpse Reviver No. 2.

What is the connection to Absinthe?

Direct. Lemercier Frères also makes absinthe, and the wormwood in Pastis 1811 is the same plant that gives absinthe its name. When absinthe was banned in France in 1915, pastis became the alternative, and here the two traditions meet in one bottle.

What does it suit at the table?

Charcuterie, hard cheese and a plate of salted almonds. The bitterness handles rich food better than sweeter pastis does, and it stands up to the strong sausages of Franche-Comté.