Verdrenne Pastis des Terres Rouge Anise Liqueur France 70 cl 45%

Turenne sits in the Corrèze, where the sandstone turns the soil rust red and the fields look as if they were coloured from below. That ground gave the pastis its name. Terres Rouges — the red earths.

Expert description

Vedrenne Pastis des Terres Rouges is a French Pastis distilled at Distillerie des Terres Rouges in Turenne and bottled at 45%.

The recipe draws on more than ten plants and spices. Star anise, green anise and liquorice root form the backbone, and on top of it sit white and green cardamom, juniper, mace, caraway, wormwood, coriander and clove. Each botanical is handled separately and only brought together afterwards, which is why you can pick them apart in the glass instead of meeting one flat wall of anise.

The colour comes purely from the plants and the liquorice. No colouring is added, and 45% gives the pastis enough weight to hold its aromatics together once the water goes in.

Distillerie des Terres Rouges belongs to Vedrenne, the Burgundian liqueur house from Nuits-Saint-Georges that also makes Pagès and Salers. The pastis has been given a new label design that puts the region's red sandstone front and centre.

Tasting notes

Nose

Green fennel and star anise arrive first. Cardamom sits behind them with a dry streak of juniper, and the liquorice root turns up slowly.

Palate

Anise, sweet liquorice and a spiced warmth from clove and mace. A cool, minty streak cuts through the middle and keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

Long and heavy with liquorice, caraway and coriander underneath. The wormwood leaves a small bitter tail right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Pastis des Terres Rouges
Distillery: Distillerie des Terres Rouges
Bottler: Vedrenne
Region/Country: Turenne Corrèze France
Type: French Pastis
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: 1 part Pastis to 5 parts iced water

Flavour profile

Anise · Liquorice · Spiced · Herbal · Fresh

Did you know?

The red sandstone around Turenne is so distinctive that the whole area is called the Pays des Terres Rouges. The village is built from it, and in the afternoon sun the houses glow red.

See our full range of Vedrenne Liqueur

See our full range of Pastis

Frequently asked questions about Vedrenne Pastis des Terres Rouges

What sets Pastis des Terres Rouges apart from an ordinary Pastis de Marseille?

The spice layer. Where a classic Marseille pastis leans hard on star anise and liquorice, this one adds cardamom, juniper, mace, caraway and clove on top. The result is drier and more spiced, and the anise no longer takes up the whole glass.

How do you mix it properly?

One part pastis to five parts iced water, and the water goes into the pastis rather than the other way round. It turns milky white immediately. Ice goes in last, never first, because ice in undiluted pastis shuts the aromatics down.

Why does Pastis turn cloudy when water is added?

It is called the louche. Anethole from star anise and green anise will not dissolve in water, so it drops out as microscopic droplets that scatter the light. That is why the glass shifts from clear amber to milky white in a couple of seconds.

Is the colour natural?

Yes. It comes from the infusion of plants and liquorice root, not from added colouring. That is one reason the shade varies slightly from batch to batch.

What does it go with?

It is built as an aperitif, and it holds up next to olives, anchovies, tapenade and grilled vegetables. The spiced side also makes it good with lamb and anything cooked with fennel. Behind the bar it works as the anise component in place of absinthe in classics such as the Sazerac.

How long does an opened bottle last?

A long time. At 45% and with a high load of essential oils it changes only slowly, and a couple of years on the shelf does no harm. Keep it dark and cool, because light fades both the colour and the anise notes.

What is the difference between Pastis and Absinthe?

Pastis was born as a replacement when absinthe was banned in France in 1915. Absinthe is distilled with wormwood and usually bottled far stronger, while pastis is built on star anise and liquorice root and comes across sweeter and rounder. Terres Rouges does carry wormwood in its recipe, and you can taste it in that bitter tail.

Which glass should you use?

A tall straight glass of around 25 cl with room for water and ice. The shape keeps the anise aroma gathered above the surface. Have a look at the glassware.