Absinthe
Absinthe originated in Switzerland in the late 18th century. The finished product is derived from using a base spirit, in this case our three grain vodka, to extract the flavors of a list of botanicals. The main ones being fennel, anise, and wormwood. The chemical compound thujone which can be extracted in small amounts from the wormwood led to stories of hallucinations and psychoactive properties.
Thus the tall tale of “the little green fairy” was born. Some believe that these exaggerations came from an orchestrated smear campaign led by the temperance movement and the wine industry. However it came about it led to a multi country ban on the spirit. Turns out the small amount of thujone present cannot be blamed for so-called visions of flying, green, tiny creatures but perhaps sipping too much of a spirit that is traditionally bottled at 120 proof can.
We learned a lot about the spirit during the creation of this release. It is incredibly difficult to achieve the flavors, nuance, and complexity we were seeking without creating a black licorice bomb of tongue numbing presentation.
Coloring the spirit is a whole other thing. We NEVER use artificial colors at The Block. So the yellow-green hue is an extraction of botanicals post distillation. This color plays a role in the common presentation of the spirit. Because of its’ high ABV it is traditionally served with ice water added over a sugar cube to tame it. The anise and fennel contain oils that are not soluble in water so once diluted they drop out of solution and create a milky white color. This transition of green to milky white is called the louche. We did not perfectly achieve this transition.
We love the flavor and believe we understand how to achieve the louche next time, but that is what 225 is about: Tasting while the process is still on going. You get the front row seat to something that may not be perfected yet. That’s the fun part.
Cheers to the little green fairy.
Absinthe originated in Switzerland in the late 18th century. The finished product is derived from using a base spirit, in this case our three grain vodka, to extract the flavors of a list of botanicals. The main ones being fennel, anise, and wormwood. The chemical compound thujone which can be extracted in small amounts from the wormwood led to stories of hallucinations and psychoactive properties.
Thus the tall tale of “the little green fairy” was born. Some believe that these exaggerations came from an orchestrated smear campaign led by the temperance movement and the wine industry. However it came about it led to a multi country ban on the spirit. Turns out the small amount of thujone present cannot be blamed for so-called visions of flying, green, tiny creatures but perhaps sipping too much of a spirit that is traditionally bottled at 120 proof can.
We learned a lot about the spirit during the creation of this release. It is incredibly difficult to achieve the flavors, nuance, and complexity we were seeking without creating a black licorice bomb of tongue numbing presentation.
Coloring the spirit is a whole other thing. We NEVER use artificial colors at The Block. So the yellow-green hue is an extraction of botanicals post distillation. This color plays a role in the common presentation of the spirit. Because of its’ high ABV it is traditionally served with ice water added over a sugar cube to tame it. The anise and fennel contain oils that are not soluble in water so once diluted they drop out of solution and create a milky white color. This transition of green to milky white is called the louche. We did not perfectly achieve this transition.
We love the flavor and believe we understand how to achieve the louche next time, but that is what 225 is about: Tasting while the process is still on going. You get the front row seat to something that may not be perfected yet. That’s the fun part.
Cheers to the little green fairy.
Absinthe originated in Switzerland in the late 18th century. The finished product is derived from using a base spirit, in this case our three grain vodka, to extract the flavors of a list of botanicals. The main ones being fennel, anise, and wormwood. The chemical compound thujone which can be extracted in small amounts from the wormwood led to stories of hallucinations and psychoactive properties.
Thus the tall tale of “the little green fairy” was born. Some believe that these exaggerations came from an orchestrated smear campaign led by the temperance movement and the wine industry. However it came about it led to a multi country ban on the spirit. Turns out the small amount of thujone present cannot be blamed for so-called visions of flying, green, tiny creatures but perhaps sipping too much of a spirit that is traditionally bottled at 120 proof can.
We learned a lot about the spirit during the creation of this release. It is incredibly difficult to achieve the flavors, nuance, and complexity we were seeking without creating a black licorice bomb of tongue numbing presentation.
Coloring the spirit is a whole other thing. We NEVER use artificial colors at The Block. So the yellow-green hue is an extraction of botanicals post distillation. This color plays a role in the common presentation of the spirit. Because of its’ high ABV it is traditionally served with ice water added over a sugar cube to tame it. The anise and fennel contain oils that are not soluble in water so once diluted they drop out of solution and create a milky white color. This transition of green to milky white is called the louche. We did not perfectly achieve this transition.
We love the flavor and believe we understand how to achieve the louche next time, but that is what 225 is about: Tasting while the process is still on going. You get the front row seat to something that may not be perfected yet. That’s the fun part.
Cheers to the little green fairy.