Absinthe, a historic and enigmatic spirit, has been captivating enthusiasts for centuries with its unique blend of botanicals and anise-flavored allure. Known for its mystical reputation, choosing the right brand of absinthe can elevate the tasting experience to unparalleled heights. From traditional Swiss styles to contemporary reinterpretations, a variety of top-tier brands stand out for their exceptional craftsmanship and flavor. For a comprehensive guide to some of the best absinthe brands available today, read on to discover more about these captivating labels and what sets them apart.
Illustration of absinthe
Best brands of absinthe in 2025
Pernod
Pernod, a renowned absinthe producer, crafts its spirit with a 68% alcohol by volume, using a recipe inspired by the 1805 original, incorporating grand wormwood, fennel, and anise. Although absinthe was banned in the 1920s, Pernod has continued to produce this spirit, now with thujone levels below 10mg per liter, maintaining a traditional production process. Its current distillery is located in Thuir, France. You can find more information about Pernod Absinthe on their website.
La Clandestine
La Clandestine, established in 2001, is a highly regarded Swiss absinthe producer, crafting their signature "La Bleue" absinthe using a 1935 recipe with over 10 natural botanicals, including Grande Wormwood, and is distilled in copper alembics to 53% ABV; the brand also offers a 72% ABV version and a 15% ABV Crème d'Absinthe; its traditional, hand-crafted methods result in a complex, smooth spirit, celebrated worldwide by absinthe connoisseurs. For more information, visit their official website.
Jade Liqueurs
Jade Liqueurs, founded in 2000 by T.A. Breaux, is renowned for its meticulous recreation of classic absinthes, using original 19th-century recipes and historic stills, with some absinthes, like the Jade Esprit Edouard, reaching 72% ABV; since 2004, Breaux personally produces each batch at the Combier Distillery in France, ensuring authenticity by analyzing vintage bottles and selecting high-quality botanicals, resulting in spirits that transport connoisseurs back to the Belle Époque. Jade Liqueurs absinthes have been recognized in publications and documentaries for their accurate recreation of historical absinthe. You can explore their offerings on their official website.
Kübler
Kübler, a renowned Swiss absinthe producer since 1863, crafts their spirit in the Val-de-Travers, the birthplace of absinthe, using a traditional family recipe and nine botanicals, including wormwood, and bottles it at 53% ABV for their "La Bleue" expression; they also have a "Verte Suisse" bottled at 72% ABV. The brand is now run by fifth-generation distiller, Yves Kübler, who helped lift the Swiss ban on absinthe in 2005 and the US ban in 2007. Kübler absinthe is known for its natural ingredients, and lack of added sugar or artificial colors, and is considered by many to be one of the best. You can find more information about the brand.
Lucid
Lucid Absinthe, crafted at the historic Combier Distillery in France, is considered a top producer, renowned for its traditional methods using Grande Wormwood and a 62% ABV (124 proof) recipe developed by T.A. Breaux, and was the first genuine absinthe legally available in the U.S. after a 95-year ban in 2007; its flavor profile features anise, fennel, and earthy notes, and it is produced with whole European herbs without any added flavors or dyes. For more information, visit their official website.
Mansinthe
Mansinthe, a Swiss-made verte absinthe developed in collaboration with Marilyn Manson and launched in 2007, is a highly alcoholic spirit at 66.6% ABV, distilled from wormwood, anise, and fennel, and known for its natural green hue and traditional, unsweetened flavor; it was developed over two years, and the label features an original Marilyn Manson painting. For more details, visit the official Mansinthe website.
La Fee
La Fée, established in 2000, is a distinguished absinthe producer, renowned for its traditional French methods, and was the first to legally distill absinthe in France since the 1915 ban. Their flagship La Fée Parisienne is a classic Verte, distilled at 68% ABV using nine botanicals, including grand wormwood, and is endorsed by the Musée de l'Absinthe. Their range includes the Bohemian, a Czech-style absinthe, and the extra supérieure X•S range, made using traditional methods. La Fée also uses maceration to naturally color their absinthe, ensuring a high-quality, authentic experience and was awarded "Absinthe Producer of the Year" in 2022.
Vieux Pontarlier
Vieux Pontarlier, crafted in the historic "Capital of Absinthe," Pontarlier, France, is a premium absinthe distilled at one of the last remaining distilleries, using pre-ban logbook notes and antique alembic stills, with a base of chardonnay grape spirit from Burgundy and locally grown wormwood, resulting in a complex flavor profile with a 65% ABV. This absinthe was developed over five years by Peter Schaf, a professional absintheur. It is celebrated for its balanced anise and fennel notes, highlighting the minty taste of Pontarlier wormwood, and is considered by some to be the gold standard for absinthe. It has received the highest recommendations and awards, such as a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2008. For more information, visit the official Tempus Fugit Spirits website.
Obsello
Obsello, an award-winning Spanish absinthe, is crafted using a traditional distillation process with nine whole herbs, including high-quality wormwood and Alicante anise, resulting in a smooth, balanced flavor profile with hints of vanilla and a creamy texture. Bottled at 50% ABV and containing less than 10mg per kg of thujone, this "Verte" absinthe is naturally colored using chlorophyll extracted from herbs and is made from a Penedes wine stock base rather than grain or beet alcohol. It won a bronze medal in the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was awarded a gold medal at the Chicago Beverage Tasting Institute Competition. Obsello was developed by American distiller Bryan Davis, who co-founded the distillery in Spain in 2006, after which he returned to the US and developed innovative distillation techniques. You can explore more about Obsello on their official page.
Nouvelle-Orléans
Nouvelle-Orléans absinthe, crafted by Jade Liqueurs, stands out as a premier producer, with their 68% ABV "Supérieure" expression, a tribute to the absinthe enjoyed in the city during the late 1800s, and is meticulously distilled in the historic Combier Distillery in France using traditional methods, earning acclaim for its complex, herbaceous, and spicy character; this absinthe is celebrated for its authenticity, having been developed by New Orleans native T.A. Breaux, and is ideal for classic cocktails like the Sazerac, reflecting the city's rich absinthe history. You can find more about the product on the official website.
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