Absinthe: Nouvelle-Orléans

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As the popularity of absinthe swept through France during the mid 19th century, the "green fairy" began making her way over to the "Paris" of the New World, Nouvelle-Orléans (New Orleans). French-speaking travelers and immigrants alike carried their passion for absinthe with them to this vibrant port city, and before long, French chemiste Antoine Peychaud was doling out "healthy" absinthe cocktails from his Royal St. apothecary shop. The popularity of absinthe surged in French-speaking Louisiana, and when Henri Degas and Oscar Wilde spent time in New Orleans in the latter part of the 1800s, they had no trouble finding imported French absinthes among other familiar comforts. By the advent of the 20th century, cafés like the famous Old Absinthe House were making a name for themselves by cooling the humid summers with Sazeracs, absinthe frappes, and even an occasional absinthe crème de glace. The New Orleans based Legendre Company even established their own version of an artisanal Marseillaise absinthe, which quickly became a local icon. Unfortunately, it all came to a halt with the U.S. ban on absinthe in 1912.. or did it?

Absinthe Nouvelle-Orléans represents the inspired work of native New Orleanian T. A. Breaux, and its heritage is rooted in the original New Orleans absinthes that made the Sazerac cocktail and absinthe frappe famous. Its unique distillation of stimulating herbes toniques is just what the Belle Époque apothecaries prescribed for various subtropical ailments. With its light, refreshing mouthfeel to its delectable floral finish, who would believe it was a "medicine"? Absinthe Nouvelle-Orléans presents the connoisseur with a unique perfume and texture that disappeared along with the artisanal marques almost a century ago. We invite you to see why we truly consider Absinthe Nouvelle-Orléans to be "l'Esprit du Vieux Carre".

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