Buyers Guide to Absinthe Approved for Sale in the United States
In October 2007 regulations prohibiting the sale of absinthe in the United States changed. New regulations allow absinthe to be manufactured and distributed in the U.S. as well as imported from other countries around the world. Consumers now have a wide varity of absinthes to choose from. The Buyers Guide will provide information about the different brands being sold around the country.




Absinth (Non-Standard and Novelty Spirits)Absinthe (Basic Absinthe)Distilled White "Clear" AbsintheAbout Absinthe Masters CategoriesDistilled Green Absinthe
(Click on the links above to view categories.)

Absinthe on the Buyers Guide is organized into one of four Masters Categories. Categories will provide consumers with the means of discerning premium-authentic absinthe from inferior products.

Help Promote Absinthe's Return

Some brands listed on this site may not be available in your area. If so, please ask your local spirits retailers and favorite bars to carry them, this will help to promote the return and success of absinthe.

Featured Absinthe

Vieux Pontarlier Absinthe


In the Spotlight
Vieux Pontarlier Absinthe

Vieux Pontarlier (pronounced ‘View Pon-tarr-lee-ay’) Absinthe Française Superiéure evolved from the decade-long research and experience of professional ‘ Absintheur’ Peter Schaf, and is distilled at the 120 year-old Emile Pernot Distillery, one of only two working distilleries left in Pontarlier, France – the ‘Capital’ of absinthe. Few in the world have the knowledge and competency required to produce a high quality absinthe. Even fewer have access to wormwood plants from the best ‘terroir’ in the mountainous regions found in between France and Switzerland, and especially the plateau of Pontarlier. This famous spirit is created using hand-written protocols from the distillery, age-old distilling techniques and equipment from absinthe’s heydays.

Vieux Pontarlier 65 is carefully crafted in small batches using antique alambic stills that were specifically designed to make absinthe. This historic spirit is distilled using Pontarlier-grown wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), which is considered the finest in the world. Additionally Spanish green anise seed, Provançal fennel and a variety of aromatic herbs and spices round out this historic recipe. Faithful to the original formulations, there is no sweetening added of any kind - its refreshing taste is obtained entirely from the combination of plants and the distiller’s skill. 

Vieux Pontarlier was awarded a Double Gold and Best in Class at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and no other absinthe has since been awarded as highly. It is the favorite of the cocktail historian David Wondrich and has been selected two years in a row as one of the Top Spirits in the World by noted spirits critic Paul Pacult.