Pernod Absinthe

About Pernod

The Pernod Ricard distillery was founded by Henri-Louis Pernod back in 1805, and his refined absinthe-based pastis, with its characteristic green color, quickly gained great popularity among the French in the early 1800s. Today the house also produces pure absinthe, recreating the original, historic expression that made the Pernod name famous before absinthe was banned across much of Europe. For newcomers, Pernod Absinthe is an authentic, historic entry into the category, while connoisseurs will appreciate the house's more than 200 years of experience balancing wormwood's sharp character.

History & Background

Henri-Louis Pernod founded his distillery in 1805 in the French-Swiss border town of Pontarlier, home to the era's absinthe production, and his recipe quickly became the very standard for French absinthe throughout the 1800s. When absinthe was banned in France in 1915 following a contentious moral campaign, the house had to shift production to the anise-based pastis that has since become best known under the Pernod name. After the absinthe ban was gradually lifted from the late 1990s onward, Pernod resumed production of genuine absinthe, returning to its historic roots.

Production & Style

The absinthe is distilled from wormwood, anise and other herbs using the classic Pontarlier method and coloured naturally green through a second herbal maceration after distillation.

Signature Style

Herbal, Anise-Like, Complex
Expect the bitter depth of wormwood, a clear anise sweetness, and a complex, herbal finish, classically served with iced water dripped over a sugar cube.

Facts

Did You Know?

Pernod was so closely tied to absinthe that the word "pernod" was for decades used as a synonym for the drink in parts of France, even when referring to other brands.

Like Pernod? You should also try:

Hapsburg.