Absinthe is a spirit with a past dripping in prestige and mystery. Termed 'the green fairy' by artists and writers at the turn of the 19th century, this drink has been elevating the minds and lives of people for centuries. Although historically banned for its supposed psychoactive ingredient thujone, absinthe has been on a resurgence since this was lifted in the 1990's.
In the modern day, you can find many distilleries producing high-grade Absinthe the traditional way. Pernod, La Fee and Distilleries De Provence have all cemented themselves in the French absinthe market, while English and Czech cold mixed absinth producers are making a name for themselves as well. To help you choose which one to try first, we've ranked the top 10 best absinthes in the UK available to buy on Amazon!
Quick List - Top Absinthes
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From this simple buying guide you'll come to know how to discern a great bottle of Absinthe from merely a good one. With alcohol percentage, production process, origin and ingredients all influencing the quality of a particular Absinthe, once you know what to look out for, you'll be sipping in style and feeling tipsy in no time!
Absinthe is a drink most people don't know too much about. With a lot of countries having no legal definition of absinthe, it can make the scope for quality and distilling processes rather vast and confusing. We've broken it down into the two main ways in which absinthe is made, traditionally distilled or cold-mixed bohemian style.
European countries like France, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden have formal legal requirements as to the production of absinthe. This means that all absinthe coming out of these countries must adhere to the traditional distilling processes that make absinthe a historical drink for the ages.
It's distilled in a similar manner to high-end gin, whereby the botanicals of anise, fennel and wormwood are macerated in already distilled alcohol. This blend is then distilled at least once more with additional herbal ingredients, giving the spirit a very unique complexity and texture that is unmistakably absinthe.
This is regarded as being the traditional way of making absinthe, so if you're after the real absinthe deal check the origin of your absinthe. Also note that the traditionally distilled spirit is always spelt 'absinthe', unlike cold mixed 'absinth' with the 'e' dropped at the end.
Cold mixed bohemian-style absinth was invented in Czechoslovakia in the late 1980's. Seen as a cheaper and easier way to produce absinthe, cold mixed has revolutionised the industry.
Now many modern absinthes are produced using this cold mixed method that uses a high-percentage alcohol blended with flavouring essences and artificial colouring. This hastened production process is why cold mixed absinthes are commonly referenced as being flavoured vodka, or absinthe schnapps.
This style of absinthe production is illegal in the European countries stated above, but is gaining traction throughout the UK, Czech Republic, Canada and America as it's more affordable and easier to produce. Just be wary of clever branding and unnecessarily high price-tags associated with cold mixed absinth.
All Absinthe's worthy of your time and desire are flavoured with three integral ingredients; grande wormwood, green anise and florence fennel. These herbs and botanicals are either macerated into the base alcohol through the distillation process, or cold mixed through the bohemian production style.
These three ingredients are known as 'the holy trinity' of absinthe production. Wormwood includes the controversial psychoactive additive of thujone, while anise and fennel give absinthe its liquorice flavour. But to spice things up a bit, many absinthe produces throw a few more (sometimes secret) herbs and spices into the mix.
Herbs and botanicals commonly included are lemon, peppermint, hyssop, nutmeg and coriander. These ingredients add a little bitterness or sweetness, and always uniqueness, helping to separate an absinthe from the pack. They also help to impart particular flavour notes, while giving the absinthe its opaque colour when poured.
Traditionally absinthe is bottled with an alcohol content of between 45-74% ABV, with most absinthes of today sitting between 55-68%. Although, some brands have opted for lower percentage absinthe at 40% to make it more accessible and drinkable while out on the town.
Some of the modern French absinthe distilleries are bottling absinthe with as high as 84% ABV and some cold-mixed bohemian producers up to 90%. This is absinthe that is not to be taken lightly, with the obvious potential of going overboard very quickly.
Absinthe with a low alcohol percentage will be cheaper, of lesser quality and not specifically intended for the ritualistic way of drinking absinthe. This high percentage is why absinthe is always recommended to be drunk in a particular way using sugar, water or ice. This will dilute the alcohol content making it more pleasant on the palate.
Most absinthes will come in full-sized 700 ml bottles. This is the industry standard for not just absinthe, but every spirit under the distilling sun. This is great if you're committed to absinthe and polishing off a bottle is a responsible yet perceivable task. However, it's maybe not quite as ideal for those wanting to try absinthe for the first time.
This is why there's now a market for absinthe that comes in test tubes. Sounds weird right? Well it kind of is, but that doesn't make it any less clever. You can now find 20 ml tubes of absinthe which are perfect to gift to unsuspecting friends, or to see if absinthe is for you.
If you're still a little weirded out by the tubes, and don't want to commit to a 700 ml bottle, look for scaled-down 200 ml bottles instead. There's even fully-equipped absinthe gift boxes that come with all the appropriate drinking bits, enabling you to drink absinthe the right and recommended way.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Distilleries de Provence Grande Absente | ![]() | A Drink to Behold | |
2 | Pernod Absinthe Supérieure | ![]() | Very Traditional Absinthe of the Highest Quality | |
3 | La Fee Parisienne Absinthe | ![]() | French Absinthe With Cocktail Guide | |
4 | Distilleries De Provence Absinthe Absente | ![]() | Traditional French Recipe With Absinthe Spoon Included | |
5 | Trenet Absinthe | ![]() | Spicy Herbal Tasting Absinthe Produced in France | |
6 | Sebor Absinth | ![]() | A Best Selling Absinthe Made in the Czech Republic | |
7 | La Fee NV Absinthe Verte | ![]() | Popular Low Alcohol Absinthe for Mixing With Drinks | |
8 | Zymurgorium The Original Manchester Absinthe | ![]() | Stylish and Modern Take on the Mystical Absinthe Spirit | |
9 | Tubeoptics Finest Absinthe Box Set | ![]() | All Inclusive Absinthe Gift Box to Intrigue Your Friends and Family | |
10 | Absinth Black Absinthe Test Tubes|Pack of 3 | ![]() | Three Tubes of Absinthe Produced in the UK |
From the well respected Distilleries De Provence comes their Grande Absente Absinthe. Everything about this esteemed drink emanates the classic character of absinthe in all its glory, ringing true to being a top-shelf spirit of the grandest notion.
Distilled traditionally in France with wormwood, green anise, star anise and of course fennel, this absenthe tastes and acts like it should. With additional spices, herbs and botanicals imparting flavour notes of mint and lemon balm, this is possibly the best absinthe in the world!
Pernod absinthe is steeped in era-defining absinthe history. Created in 1805 in France's first recognised absinthe distillery, it's a recipe not to be messed with. A remarkable absinthe that's older than some countries, this bottle holds true to the original recipe.
This gives the absinthe a taste that's very clean on the palate, with both grand and petite wormwood being found in the blend. With hints of the botanicals hyssop and melissa, its flavours taste like liquorice and lemon zest.
At just 200 ml this bottle of absinthe from La Fee is perfect for a special occasion. And at 68 %, you will have no trouble feeling the effects of this potent spirit from the very first drink. This particular absinthe has sandlewood spice flavour notes, making it certain to give you plenty of pep to your step.
La Fee have kindly included an absinthe cocktail guide to help you along your merry drinking way. This guide also divulges some of the rich La Fee distilling history, making you a convert before you've even twisted the lid off.
Distilleries De Provence are another French distillery producing high-end absinthe the traditional way. This is their 55% absente even comes with your very own absinthe spoon and drink serving instructions.
The additional flavour notes are of lemon balm and mint spirits making this a sure-fire drink to freshen the breath and clear out the cavities. Being a full-sized bottle at 700ml, we think it's very well priced, made by a stronghold of French absinthe distilling and designed to inebriate in style.
This is a full-bodied, full-sized absinthe distilled the traditional way in France by the Trenet brand distillers. It's all about the spicy herbs and botanicals, with peppermint, cloves and cinnamon included in the mix.
These spicy flavours are complemented with a slightly bitter undertone and rounded off with the holy trinity of grand wormwood, anise and fennel, making for a fiery and hearty 60% absinthe. Be sure to pull your socks up before giving this one a go!
This absinthe contains a secret blend 13 herbs and spices, redefining the much-reviled emerald brew of centuries past and giving it a distinct flavour unlike any other. Making for an intriguing take on the traditional absinthe recipe's, we highly recommend it if you're looking to try something new.
Sebor's absinth is produced in the Czech Republic using the modern cold mixed method of production. This is what makes it so well priced and popular. It does, however, also mean that the quality will not be at quite the same level as some of the French offerings.
La Fee have firmly cemented themselves in the French absinthe industry. Being the first company to commercially distill absinthe the traditional way since the 1915 ban. This is their low alcohol content absinthe that's perfect for pairing with lemonade, ginger ale and even energy drinks.
Popular in many Parisian bars and nightclubs Envy absinthe has taken ahold of the drinks market. Knowing it's distilled the traditional way by a famed distillery makes the price quite astonishing, but then again, the lower than standard alcohol content is what makes this absinthe affordable.
Zymurgorium are the proud distillers of many spirits that come straight from their small batch factory in Manchester. Their undeniably bold branding and story give them a certain craft charm, while remaining all about high-quality spirits.
At £44.47 for 500ml it's certainly up there with the most expensive absinthes on this list, and considering it has been cold mixed, we think that's a little high. Obviously, you're buying into the backstory, but it's maybe not the best value for money.
This striking gift box from Tubeoptics has everything you need to give absinthe a good and honest go. It comes with 4 absinthe tubes with an extremely high alcohol content of 70%, 4 sugar cubes, 1 ornate absinthe spoon and a 1ml pipette, helping you to get it just right.
This absinthe has been produced in the UK using the cold pressed bohemian method of production. Still as a gift for friends or family, it's destined to catch them by surprise, and once you start unravelling the history behind absinthe, they'll be lining up the glasses in no time.
Absinth Black is a UK based absinthe producer that uses the cold mixed method of production. These three plastic tubes are perfect for anyone looking to give absinthe a try for the first time. With a very minimal price-tag, they require no commitment to enter the absinthe drinking realm and see if it's for you.
Unfortunately, there is little info as to the flavour notes, making it more than likely to be flavoured simply with wormwood, anise and fennel. Obviously the quality will be on the lower-end too, but that won't stop you from getting loopy for less.
Absinthe is a drink with a complex past, but a sure-fire future. Very little has changed in terms of the Absinthe recipe since its inception by a French Doctor in 1790. It almost always comprises of a base alcohol which is then distilled with wormwood, anise, fennel and a few other herbs to enhance its flavour and produce its unmistakable green colour.
The inclusion of wormwood allows for thujone to enter the mix, thujone being the much debated psychoactive ingredient that was thought to turn people coo-coo in the early 1900's. This has since been debunked and is now thought to have been a scare tactic during the US prohibition era, turning drinkers back to the sweeter notes of French wines.
If you're one of the many Brits who like to have a well-stocked fridge or alcohol cupboard then we've got a few more top 10 rankings for those who like a stiff drink. From alcohol subscription boxes, to vodka and craft beer, there's something to suit everyone's taste!
With absinthe having such a rich and infamous history, it's certainly a drink to elevate any evening to unthinkable heights. Whether it's the thujone, the high alcohol percentage or a little slice of placebo brought on by all of the above, absinthe has captured the attention of great thinkers and drinkers for centuries, and now it's your turn!
Author: Connor Macanally
No. 1: Distilleries de Provence|Grande Absente
No. 2: Pernod|Absinthe Supérieure
No. 3: La Fee|Parisienne Absinthe
No. 4: Distilleries De Provence|Absinthe Absente
No. 5: Trenet|Absinthe
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