Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits has released Absinthia Barrel-Aged Absinthe, a new version of their award-winning Absinthia Blanche.

This farm-to-glass certified organic absinthe is made with California grapes plus botanicals from Oregon, including fresh wormwood (artemisia absinthium,) star anise, fennel seed, and coriander seed. Absinthia Spirits’ traditional distillation process uses copper pots and vintage Swiss recipes.

Absinthe has a storied past. Once illegal in the United States, it had a reputation as a favorite of bohemians and artists, and the nickname “the green fairy.” But the ingredient thujone, which was standard in many varieties of absinthe and thought by some to cause hallucinogenic effects, is now highly regulated. Today, absinthe in the United States is largely thujone-free. Despite its mythical fame, modern absinthe is simply a uniquely flavored botanical spirit.

“I’ve wanted to make a barrel-aged absinthe for some time,” says Absinthia Vermut, founder and creator of Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits. (And if you are wondering, Absinthia was her nickname, changed later to her legal name. Vermut, which means wormwood in German, was the last name she was born with.)

 “The months spent maturing it in a charred barrel mellows the anise and bring out delicious creamy notes of vanilla and caramel that blend beautifully with the other botanicals,” she says.

World Absinthe Day is coming up on March 5th, which would be a great excuse to try the new barrel-aged absinthe or any of Absinthia’s Bottle Spirits’ varieties of this unique beverage.

If you love women-owned spirits brands, you’ll definitely enjoy our article about The Bitter Housewife, a female-led company creating mixers for all types of cocktails.