NV Absinthe Verte

NV Absinthe Verte is La Fée's modern French green absinthe — the NV ("Envy") expression from the La Fée Absinthe house, founded by George Rowley after some four years of R&D drawing on the Schimmel Library, Europe's oldest herbal library, and launched circa 2008 as the world's first premium mainstream absinthe. Produced in France, it blends the classic absinthe trinity of grand wormwood, fennel, and star anise with a modern twist — peppermint, cocoa pods, and Madagascan vanilla — through gentle maceration and distillation. It is specifically designed to louche on contact with ice, vivid lime-green in the glass, lush enough to drink on its own or as a cocktail mixer. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Style: Verte (green) absinthe — distilled, not a liqueur
• Botanicals: Grand wormwood, fennel, star anise, peppermint, cocoa, Madagascan vanilla
• Origin: France — La Fée / George Rowley, circa 2008
• Character: Designed to louche on ice; vivid lime-green

The Green Fairy, Modernized

NV takes its name from envy — one of the seven deadly sins, the green-eyed monster — and its mission from the nightlife era: an absinthe built for bars rather than museums. La Fée's Rowley spent years researching historical recipes before creating a verte that keeps the wormwood-anise soul while adding cocoa and vanilla softness. Browse more absinthe and the NV Absinthe range.

Tasting Notes

Vivid lime-green. The nose is herbal aniseed with fennel and a faint vanilla sweetness, subtle cocoa beneath the wormwood character. The palate is lush and herbal — the classic trinity carried on a softer, modern frame with the vanilla and cocoa rounding the edges.

How to Enjoy

Serve over ice and watch it louche, or dilute 1:2 to 1:5 with cold water in the traditional ritual. NV was built for cocktails too — try it in an NV Mojito or as a rinse in a Sazerac-style build.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is absinthe made from?

Traditional absinthe is distilled from the "holy trinity" of botanicals: grand wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), green anise, and fennel. NV adds peppermint, cocoa pods, and Madagascan vanilla to that base.

Does absinthe make you hallucinate?

No — that is a historical myth from the era of poorly made, adulterated absinthe. Modern absinthe's only real danger is its alcohol content; drink it like any strong spirit.

How do you drink absinthe properly?

Traditionally diluted with cold water (1:2 to 1:5), which triggers the louche — the milky opalescence as the oils come out of solution. NV is specifically designed to louche on contact with ice.

The modern green fairy — order NV Absinthe Verte online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.