This Jade Absinthe is made in reference to the original Pernod Fils Absinthe of the early 20th century. The distiller Mr. Ted Breaux is a well known Absinthe enthusiast and chemist, famous for making authentic reproductions of vintage Absinthes of the Belle Epoque era. And indeed, this PF 1901 Absinthe of the Jade line is tasty and delicious, read more about its story in the next paragraph.
What is the story of Jade Absinthe PF 1901?
Absinthe PF 1901 is a tribute to what is the most iconic and most widely distributed pre-ban Absinthe: Pernod Fils from Pontarlier, France. PF 1901 takes its name from the year in which the original Pernod Fils distillery in Pontarlier caught fire. When the distillery was rebuilt and repaired, out-dated alembics were replaced by the most modern equipment of the time. The old alembics were either destroyed by the fire and sold for scrap or sold off to smaller distilleries. The Combier Distillery purchased two of these 1100 liter stills and installed them along with the 8 smaller stills which had been a part of the distillery since 1894. The importance of this history and especially the authenticity of these two circa 1870s alembics were not overlooked when Ted Breaux chose the Combier Distillery in which to make Jade vintage Absinthes clones. PF 1901 is a classic Absinthe, balanced and crisp, with an appetizing herbal aroma and a smooth, lingering aftertaste.
It should be noted that a large cache of pre-ban Pernod Fils Absinthe has recently been discovered and amongst the well-preserved bottles, there were a few in a remarkable state of preservation, retaining their original color and freshness. Those who have been fortunate enough to have been able to taste these and have also tasted the pre-release Jade PF 1901, are unanimous in their remarks as to the striking similarities between the vintage bottles and the Jade clone.
The man behind Jade Absinthe: Ted Breaux
Ted Breaux is an American chemist and distiller known for reviving authentic absinthe. Born in New Orleans, Breaux's interest in Absinthe led him to study vintage bottles using advanced analytical techniques. He discovered that Absinthe did not contain harmful levels of thujone, debunking myths about its dangers.
In 2000, he founded Jade Liqueurs, producing Absinthe based on traditional recipes. His flagship product, Jade PF 1901, and other offerings are celebrated for their authenticity. Breaux's work influenced the lifting of Absinthe bans in the U.S. and Europe, earning him recognition as a leading authority on Absinthe. His contributions extend to the craft distilling field, marked by a commitment to authenticity and scientific rigor.
