What is absinthe?
Absinthe is a spirit that is believed to be originally invented by a group of sisters, The Henriod Sisters. The sisters created this magical elixir for the health benefits in the 18th century, particularly the stomach settling that the combination of herbs provided. When the sisters realized they had created something far more brilliant, they “gave” they recipe to a French doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, for him to sell. This original recipe evolved into the modern day absinthe, which is a spirit flavored and colored with various herbs, including: Wormwood, fennel, and anise seed. At Third Stage, we use these herbs as well as a blend of six other unique herbs sourced from around the world.
Isn't absinthe illegal?
Absinthe has been legal for production and consumption in the United States since 2007. Before then, it was banned for 95 years in the United States, and even longer in other parts of the world. Finally the government realized that the ban on absinthe was misguided, and the ban was repealed. You can now enjoy Third Stage wherever it is served. But drink responsibly, Third Stage has a high alcohol content and must be enjoyed in moderation.
Will absinthe make me Trip?
No. It has been proven that there are no psychoactive effects as a result of drinking authentic absinthe. During the ban on absinthe, many cheap and fake absinthes were made in people's homes that were colored using toxic chemicals. These chemicals would sometimes cause hallucinatory effects.
Absinthe was extremely popular with poets and other artists in the 1800s due to the creative effect it was said to give, not hallucinatory.
Why is Third Stage green?
A true Absinthe Verte such as Third Stage is naturally colored by mixing additional herbs with the clear distillate. The chlorophyll from the plants is extracted by the high proof alcohol, giving absinthe a rich green color. Some absinthe's can also be clear (Swiss Absinthe), where the second set of herbs are not added.
An authentic absinthe's green color can turn a yellowish-brown over time, due to the breakdown of the chlorophyll. This should never be considered a flaw as it is sign of a naturally created absinthe using traditional methods. We bottle Third Stage in a green bottle in order to keep as much light out as possible, as light speeds up the color changing process. Store Third Stage out of the heat and light as much as possible; however, any color change is purely aesthetic and has no effect on the flavor.
Where is Third Stage made and can I take a tour?
We partner with an amazing distillery just south of downtown Nashville, called Nashville Craft Distillery. Besides Third Stage, Nashville Craft produces a wide range of other spirits and gives tours daily, except Mondays. Stop by to see how the distillation process works and pick up a bottle of Third Stage while you’re at it.
Where can I buy Third Stage?
Third Stage is always available for sale at Nashville Craft Distillery at 514 Hagan Street in Nashville, where you can also tour the facility where it’s made. We are also sold at many bars and stores around Tennessee and are looking to expand into nearby states. Check out our locations map for the most up to date locations for purchase.
How do you drink absinthe?
Third Stage can be enjoyed in many ways. The traditional method of drinking absinthe is the drip method. This method goes as follows
1. Fill the bottom of an absinthe glass with absinthe
2. Place an absinthe spoon over the top of the glass
3. (Optional step) Place a sugar cube on top of the absinthe spoon.
4. Slowly drip cold water over the sugar cube and watch the absinthe turn cloudy (called the "louche"). The louche is a result of the cold water releasing the trapped essential oils from the concentrated absinthe. This is a key step to fully enjoy the botanical aromatic and flavor of Third Stage.
5. Fill with around 3-4 parts water per part of absinthe depending on your strength preference. Once the sugar cube is dissolved, stir the mixture with the absinthe spoon until fully dissolved.
Third Stage also goes well with many cocktails (see our recipes section). We encourage you to get creative and find the concoction that suits you best.