Pernod Paris Liqueur

About Pernod

Absinthe, which is a spirit traditionally derived from wormwood, star anise and fennel, has a long and colorful history. While its origins remain unclear, the use of medicinal wormwood dates back to ancient Egypt. In the 18th and 19th centuries, absinthe was distributed by the French Army to its troops as a cure for several digestive diseases, including dysentery and tropical fever. When the troops returned home, they brought their taste for absinthe with them.

A French doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, knew of absinthe’s medical benefits, and believed there could be a business in distilling the spirit commercially for non-medical purposes. Ordinaire did not know how to distill spirits, however, and looked to 21-year-old Swiss distiller Henri Louis-Pernod for help. They set up a distillery together in 1798, and by 1805 Pernod had opened his own distillery in Pontarlier, France, exporting absinthe to the U.S. as early as 1827.

The popularity of absinthe grew, particularly among bohemian artists and writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Vincent van Gogh and Oscar Wilde, all known to be absinthe drinkers. By the mid-1800’s absinthe had established itself as a pre-dinner drink throughout parts of Europe to be enjoyed during "The Green Hour", which referred to the spirit’s vivid hue.