The target was matching pre-ban, pre-fire Pernod Fils absinthe, and I'm predisposed to believe Ted Breaux's superlative claims:
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.
Sazerac Cocktail History at the What's Cooking America makes little notice of the absinthe, discussing the history involving Peychaud. As I read it, "patent medicine" usually involved some drug (opioid, coca extract) we can't accurately replicate:
The Sazerac cocktail is to New Orleans what the margarita is to the southwest. It is reported to be the first cocktail every invented (at least in the United States). Antoine Amadie Peychaud, a Creole apothecary, is given the credit for first inventing the Sazerac cocktail in the 1830s. In 1795, he immigrated to New Orleans from the West Indies and opened a drugstore called Pharmacie Peychaud. Like many "chemists" of his day, he sold his own patent medicine; Peychaud's Bitters, a proprietary mix of aromatic bitters said to relive his clients' ailments. His medical toddy soon became very popular and friends gathered regularly to sample his late-night drinks.Also see Liqueurs de France's note on the Sazerac, specifically the "Cognac Sazerac-de-Forge."
I still can't find my old spoon from Lucullus (many, many thanks to Mr. Moody), but this one from eAbsinthe.com is lovely-- the photo doesn't do it justice...
A.k.a. “Portrait of Angel Fernández de Soto”-- sounds like Christie's can sell it. From The New York Times:
A federal judge refused yesterday to bar Christie’s in New York from auctioning a painting by Picasso that a German banker’s heir says was sold under duress in Nazi Germany.Hmmm... would nullifying that pre-war sale be a precedent for judging other dubious sales throughout history? What about treaties?
Coverage of the "Absinthiades" in Pontarlier-- absinthe paraphernalia meet up in Pontarlier, Switzerland and the absinthe blog where it was posted-- "The Wheat of Virgin Spaces," the Oxygenee blog.
