Stacole Craft Spirits Book

Absinthe / Pastis

VILYA SPIRITS USA, MONTANA Vilya Spirits produces Classic French-style absinthe from the finest botanicals, grown and wild crafted from the heart of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, the Rocky Mountains in Montana, and the fertile river valleys of the Pacific Northwest. Extrait d’Absinthe Blanche #398595 / 750ml / $46.67 With Absinthe Blanche, Grand wormwood, green anise, fennel, coriander, angelica, elecampane, lemon balm, Roman wormwood, and other botanicals are distilled with grain neutral spirits and combined with Cascade Mountain spring water to recreate this romantic beverage from the Belle Époque. Pronounced herbal and woodsy aromas lead to complex, earthy notes of anise, fennel, grand wormwood and spicy peppercorn on the clean, balanced palate. 4.5/5 “Really, really nice.” Wormwood Society Extrait d’Absinthe Verte #322048 / 750ml / $53.99 Absinthe Verte has pronounced herbal and woodsy aromas that lead to layers of marshmallow, anise, dried sage and green, spring forest vegetation. The mid-palate is richly textured with intense herbal flavors that merge with lively notes of black peppercorn on the finish. 4 Stars F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal Gold Medal 2014 Denver International Spirits Competition

CORSAIR DISTILLERY KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE Red Absinthe Superieure #831083 / 750ml / $43.99 Traditional spirit, with a modern twist—a unique interpretation, combining a traditional absinthe recipe and ‘fine-tuning’ it with unconventional ingredients like citrus, tarragon and red Hibiscus flowers. Corsair Red is a distinctive expression that will also add a unique element to both classic and modern cocktails. Gold Medal 2011 Int’l Review of Spirits Awards “Craft Distillery of the Year” Whisky Magazine; LEOPOLD BROTHERS DENVER, COLORADO Leopold Brothers is an award-winning, small-batch distillery in Denver, where Todd and Scott Leopold are bringing oldworld methods to craft spirits with rich, complex results. Leopold Brothers hand-crafts artisanal products from their state of the art, fully sustainable eco-distillery. Absinthe Verte #477846 / 750ml / $58.50 Created following the traditions of 19th Century European master distillers, this is a clean, straightforwardand refreshing absinthe: pale straw yellow-green liquid with a wallop of licorice aroma and flavor and medium body. Adding ice water coaxes out more complex lime and cinnamon scents, as well as lemon, orange and anise notes on the finish. “Excellent Absinthe” Wormwood Society Silver Medal International Wine & Spirits Competition

The history of absinthe is a cocktail of myth, conjecture and controversy. A turn-of-the-twentieth-century favorite of artists and writers, the spirit was banned in the United States in 1912 because it was believed to be hallucinogenic. Just a few years ago, it once again became legal in America to buy the high-alcohol, anise-flavored liquor. The term “absinthe” comes from Artemisia absinthium, the scientific name for its key ingredient, wormwood. Long before distillers discovered it, the herb was used for medicinal purposes. The production of absinthe is much like that of gin: High-proof neutral spirit is infused with a blend of botanicals, including wormwood, and redistilled. Traditionally, the alcohol is infused a second time before bottling to intensify the flavor and create the signature green color. Many modern producers skip this final step and use dyes instead.

1