St. George Spirits Absinthe -- No Longer Green...
...with envy, that is.
You see, when the first batch of the the Absinthe Verte was released back in December, I missed the chance to get a first-release bottle. So I've been waiting with bated breath (since August, if you want to know the truth) to get my paws on my very own bottle.
Today, C and I made our way to the distillery right around noon, fortuitously bumping into a couple of friend who had gotten in line just before us. Fortuitous because the wait was a stultifying two-and-a-half hours. In icy cold weather. And biting wind. On an empty stomach. And no caffeine.
Like I say, fortuitous, because if the company hadn't been good, C and I would likely have killed each other!
In any case, the wait was more than worth it. I'm not a huge fan of licorice or anise, but the final product out of the labs at St. George is so unique, and so incredibly complex, that the the fennel-type flavors are but a single facet of the overall experience.
The first sip is almost cloyingly sweet, with a saccharine finish that keeps on giving. But each subsequent sip reveals a new flavor -- tarragon, lemon balm, star anise. The fragrance, too, develops depth before your eyes, as the melting ice awakens the volatile oils in the liquor.
Is it any wonder that this magical green elixir inspired such art and poetry?
At last check-in, the distillery still had some bottles of Absinthe Verte left (there were around 1,000 bottles available today). Failing that, you might try one of the handful of retailers who have the remaining allotment of the stuff: Hi-Time Wines, Jug Shop, K&L Wines, Wally Wines & Spirits or D&M Liquor.
St. George Spirits
2601 Monarch St
Alameda, CA
510.864.0635
Tags: Hangar One, St. George Spirits, Absinthe, Liquor, Lance Winters, San Francisco, Alameda, Oakland, Food & Drink
I love that top photo.
Posted by: Tea | February 04, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I saw Lance on Saturday night, I told him I thought his Absinthe was "salad-y" at which point he suggested a crouton rim. I am so going to try it for laughs...
Posted by: sam | February 04, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Man, I was back in the Bay Area over the Christmas holiday and missed out on the first release because I showed up on Saturday. As a former inhabitant of both Alameda and Jack London Square, it's awesome to see all the good work the folks at St. George Spirits are doing... even if I have to watch from afar in Seattle!
Posted by: jack | February 06, 2008 at 10:01 PM
They still have a few bottles of Second Release Absinthe Verte available for sale at the Hangar. I don't know exactly how many are left, but I picked up two bottles this afternoon (Feb. 14).
Cheers!
Posted by: Mike S. | February 14, 2008 at 02:14 PM