Herbsaint Anise Liqueur

Herbsaint Anise Liqueur is New Orleans in a bottle — a 90 proof (45% ABV) 750mL anise-flavored liqueur, America's original absinthe substitute, created in 1934 and still the defining ingredient of the official Sazerac cocktail. Made by macerating anise, fennel, and other herbs and spices in neutral spirits, it's drier and less sweet than European pastis-style liqueurs, and it louches beautifully — turning cloudy white with water. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Proof / ABV: 90 proof (45% ABV) — 750mL (confirm shelf bottle is the standard, not the 100-proof "Herbsaint Original")
• Style: anise liqueur (Liqueur d'Anis), New Orleans
• Production: botanical maceration in neutral spirits; produced by the Sazerac Company
• History: created 1934 by J. Marion Legendre as a legal absinthe substitute; "Herbsaint" is French/Creole for "sacred herb" (wormwood)
• Signature serve: the Sazerac — New Orleans' official cocktail

Drink Herbsaint Wherever Absinthe Is Called For

That was the tagline from day one — and it's still true. After Prohibition's repeal, J. Marion Legendre, who had learned absinthe-making while stationed in France during WWI, launched "Legendre Absinthe"; the federal government made him rename it, and Herbsaint was born. Nine decades later it's the non-negotiable rinse in a proper Sazerac — the cocktail that is, legally, the official cocktail of New Orleans. Keep it with your absinthe and cocktail supplies, browse more liqueurs, or explore everything from Herbsaint at Del Mesa.

Tasting Notes

Bold, aromatic anise with licorice richness and a strong herbal backbone: anise and licorice on the nose with fennel, subtle mint, and dry herbal under-notes; a palate of sweet licorice, green fennel seed, and sharp star anise; a long, dry-licorice finish with subtle spice (Blackwell's, Spiritly UK, Unwind Bottle Shop).

How to Enjoy

The Sazerac: rinse a rocks glass with Herbsaint, then stir rye whiskey, sugar, and Peychaud's bitters over ice. For the classic louche, pour over ice and add cold water — watch it bloom cloudy white. It also lifts any cocktail that calls for absinthe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Herbsaint absinthe?
No — it's an anise liqueur created as a legal absinthe substitute in 1934, and the brand's own tagline says to use it "wherever absinthe is called for."

What is the Sazerac?
New Orleans' official cocktail: rye whiskey, sugar, and Peychaud's bitters, stirred and served in a Herbsaint-rinsed glass.

Why does it turn cloudy with water?
The "louche" — anise oils precipitate out of solution when diluted, the same effect as in absinthe and pastis.

The soul of the Sazerac, straight from New Orleans — get Herbsaint Anise Liqueur at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.