Early 1934 Legendre Herbsaint Pint

 A quick photo of a very recent find.
We were very lucky to obtain another example, of the one of the earliest surviving Herbsaint pint bottles, which is now resting next to another early production pint.
In the coming days we will be posting a group of surviving Herbsaint pints to show how production varied over the years.

Stay Tuned...

Legendre Absinthe Trio

 

The Prohibition Repeal era Legendre Absinthe bottles are quite rare to find, with very few survivors, as most were relabeled, or recalled, and replaced, with the newly renamed Legendre Herbsaint back in early 1934.

These early Legendre Absinthe bottle were all hand bottled by J. Marion Legendre, in the finished attic of his family home, during the early production of Legendre Absinthe, and Legendre Herbsaint.

Most surviving Legendre Absinthe bottles are missing the round Legendre shoulder seal, which makes finding an ancient survivor a rare and unique surprise.

Drinking Absinthe at The Old Absinthe House circa 1909

Occasionally one finds a surprise on the written side of a vintage postcard.

This 1909 Postcard featuring The Old Absinthe House is a fairly common vintage postcard, but the real gem, was this written description of absinthe served at The Old Absinthe House:

 "Absinthe is a great French drink, this is the only place in this country where they drip it, Holes are worn in the marble, an inch deep."

 

80 Years Of Legendre Herbsaint

 March 1st, 2014 Legendre Herbsaint, The Spirit Of New Orleans, turns 80!

Happy Birthday Herbsaint!

Early 1934 Legendre Herbsaint Items

A little grouping of 1934 Legendre Herbsaint items, including the earliest known '34 Herbsaint pint bottle, a '34 Herbsaint Mini, a 1934 Legendre Herbsaint Booklet,22 Ways of Enjoying Herbsaint and an unused 1934 Herbsaint label date stamped June '34, by the Indiana Liquor Control Board.

L. E. Jung GREENOPAL

One of the many chapters in the shared history of New Orleans, and Absinthe was an old New Orleans distiller L. E. Jung. (Later to be known as L. E. Jung & Wulff)

L. E Jung distilled absinthe, among their many types of bitters, liquers, and liquors during their roughly sixty year history. From the surviving information, it appears that L.E. Jung produced a copy of C.F. Berger's absinthe , both as a verte, and a blanche.

When the USA banned absinthe in 1912, L.E Jung would reformulate their Absinthe in 1913 and produce what may well have been the first American Absinthe substitute, called GREENOPAL.

This extremely rare surviving example of GREENOPAL, now resides in our collection

During the long dry spell of prohibition, L.E. Jung would produce a non-alcoholic absinthe cordial, until repeal, then L.E. Jung & Wulff (renamed following the death of Louis Jung in 1926, when business partner Fred Wulff became head of the company) would resume production of absinthe in December 1933, until ordered to cease absinthe production by the FACA in early 1934

During this period Jung & Wulff would use a rotating group of names for their absinthe substitute, trying to gain market traction for their product. Greenopal would resurface under the house brand of Solari’s market in the mid-1930s.

The New Orleans Absinthe Manufacturers Association

A quick iPhone photo to preview a coming attraction.
The New Orleans Absinthe Manufacturers Association.

Below are two of the three New Orleans distillers that formed The New Orleans Asbinthe Manufacturers Association.

Three rare survivors...