About Vilya Superior Absinthe Verte
Using grand wormwood, green anise, fennel, coriander, angelica, elecampane, melissa, and Roman wormwood, the Legates still source most of their ingredients from their 15-acre farm — the alpine climate, they argue, makes some of the best herbs. Once the herbs have been harvested, they are blended with a pure grain spirit and Rocky Mountain spring water and then distilled in a handcrafted copper alembic still from Portugal. Reminiscent of classic French absinthe and made with the three traditional ingredients (wormwood, anise and fennel), Superior Absinthe Verte is bottled by hand at 136 proof. Rich and herbaceous, it is spicy yet savory initially, and gives way to well-measured notes of artemisias and coriander.
The custom of drinking absinthe — which traditionally has a natural green color and is often called
la fée verte, or the "green fairy"- gradually became so popular in bars, cafés, and cabarets that, by the 1860s, the hour of 5 p.m. was called
l'heure verte, or the "green hour". Enjoy
l'heure verte with a bottle of Superior Absinthe Verte!
About Vilya Spirits
Absinthe, which is a spirit traditionally derived from grand wormwood, 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.
Spurred by the temperance movement and winemakers, absinthe became associated with hallucinogenic effects. One critic claimed that absinthe would "make you crazy and criminal," and that it would "provoke epilepsy and tuberculosis." In 1905, Swiss farmer Jean Lanfray murdered his family after consuming considerable quantities of wine, brandy and two glasses of absinthe. While Lanfray had a history of alcoholism, Swiss teetotalers seized the moment and passed a referendum making absinthe illegal.
Absinthe was likewise prohibited in the United States from 1912 until 2007. During that time, Joe and Jules Legate began cultivating an herb garden on their farm in Kalispell, Montana. When they realized that many of the herbs they were growing were used in the production of absinthe, they began pouring over rare manuscripts and recipes, tasting all the absinthe they could get their hands on, before opening Vilya Distillery. After hundreds of experiments, they finally settled on the recipe for Superior Absinthe Verte.
About Other Spirits
We understand that some people are explorers at heart, and the classics just won't cut it.
For those people, many other unique spirits are not listed in the main categories but are still worth the mention, such as absinthe, aperitivos, and other Special spirits.
You're welcome to check our excellent special spirit selection, find your favorite in the Top 10 list of other spirits, or explore the Best other spirits under $50.
