We recently connected with Absinthia Vermut and have shared our conversation below.
Absinthia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
When I think about my legacy, it’s rooted in my love for absinthe and art history, and my passion for trailblazing in an industry where women are still underrepresented. Absinthe has been more than a profession—it’s connected me to a rich past while allowing me to carve out a place in a male-dominated field, reviving an often misunderstood spirit.
From the beginning, I was drawn to the art and culture surrounding absinthe. It wasn’t just the drink that captivated me but its history, its stories, and the creativity it inspired across centuries. I knew I wanted to be part of that tradition, honoring its past while pushing it forward. My legacy, I hope, will be helping people rediscover absinthe—celebrating its history and propelling it into new, exciting directions.
I want to be remembered for bringing absinthe back into the cultural conversation—not just as a drink but as a symbol of artistic inspiration and individuality. Absinthe’s history is deeply intertwined with art, from Impressionists to poets and musicians, and my love for art history has driven me to keep that connection alive. Through my work, I want to modernize absinthe, making it relevant and inspiring today as it was during the Belle Epoque.
Breaking into a male-dominated industry hasn’t been easy, but I hope to be seen as someone who pushed boundaries, created space for diversity and made it a bit easier for others to follow. Absinthe, like me, was once an underdog, but that only motivated me to push harder. My journey reflects perseverance, creativity, and a deep commitment to innovation while honoring tradition.
Through Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits, I’ve aimed to modernize absinthe, celebrating its legacy while making it exciting for today’s drinkers. I want to be remembered not just for crafting absinthe but for elevating it—showing that it’s more than its myths. It’s a spirit steeped in history and creativity, and through my book The Green Fairy’s Canvas, I hope to leave a lasting reminder of the connection between art and absinthe.
Ultimately, I hope my legacy shows that it’s possible to thrive as a woman in a space that wasn’t always welcoming. I want to be remembered for building something meaningful and lasting, empowering others through mentorship and example, and for bringing absinthe’s history to life while forging a path for its future.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
For those who may not know me, I’m Absinthia, the founder of Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits. My journey into the world of absinthe and craft spirits has been a wild one, rooted in my love for art history. I’ve always been fascinated by artists like Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso, who had deep connections with absinthe. To me, absinthe became this magical thread linking art, culture, and history.
I started making absinthe over two decades ago, long before it was legal in the U.S. Back then, it was a mysterious, almost forbidden spirit, and that intrigue pulled me in. I loved the idea of reviving something with such a rich artistic legacy while creating something modern. When the U.S. absinthe ban was lifted, it felt like the perfect time to turn that passion into something real—thus, Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits was born.
At Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits, we craft absinthes and non-alcoholic mixers inspired by creativity, history, and quality. Our absinthes include Verte, Blanche, Barrel Aged, and our naturally blue Absinthe Bleue, colored with butterfly pea flower. We also make non-alcoholic mixers—Caged Heat, Cherry Bomb, Crimson Smoke, and Fairy Dust—that are full of flavor and complexity, whether you’re drinking with or without alcohol.
What sets us apart is our commitment to craftsmanship and authenticity. We use organic botanicals and Napa Valley grapes to create natural sweetness without added sugar. Every bottle we make is crafted with intention and care, from distillation to bottling.
We solve a real problem for our clients, especially with our mixers—offering an alternative to boring, overly sweetened options for those skipping alcohol. Our mixers bring complexity and depth of flavor, so even when you’re not drinking, you’re still enjoying something special. And with our absinthes, we’re showing people that this often misunderstood spirit can be beautiful, complex, and versatile in cocktails.
I’m proud of the role we’ve played in reviving absinthe’s reputation and helping people rediscover it. Our absinthes have won multiple awards, and it’s been amazing to see the industry embrace our work. But what I’m most proud of is being a woman in this space. The spirits industry, especially in niche areas like absinthe, is still male-dominated, and I’ve worked hard to create something meaningful and lasting as a woman entrepreneur. I’ve built Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits with a focus on supporting other women-owned businesses and breaking down barriers.
What I want people to know is that we’re about more than just making great absinthe and mixers—we’re here to celebrate creativity, history, and craftsmanship. When you buy from us, you’re getting something crafted with care and passion, and you’re becoming part of a story that stretches back to the artists and creators who were inspired by absinthe long ago.
Our brand honors the past while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible today. Whether creating a never-before-seen cocktail or breathing new life into a once-forbidden spirit, we want people to feel like they’re part of something special. I love what I do, and I’m excited to share that passion with everyone who’s curious enough to join me on this journey.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Yes, my side hustle did turn into my full-time business, and honestly, it’s been quite the adventure. It all started more as a personal passion. I never set out thinking I’d end up running a company focused on absinthe and craft mixers. My love for absinthe is deeply tied to my love for art history. I was fascinated by how absinthe inspired these incredible artists and creators, and it made me want to explore the drink more closely.
I started making absinthe back in 1997, and on April Fools’ Day that year, I was first called “Absinthia.” The name stuck, and it felt like destiny because later, I discovered that my last name means “wormwood” in German — wormwood being a key ingredient in absinthe! At first, it was just a hobby, something I did out of curiosity and love for the drink’s rich cultural history. But when the absinthe ban was lifted in the U.S., I saw an opportunity to turn that passion into something bigger.
That’s when my side hustle started to shift into a full-fledged business. I knew that absinthe had a history of being misunderstood, and I wanted to create something that honored its past while offering a fresh, modern take on it. That’s how Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits came to life. What started as an experiment quickly grew into a business that aimed to revive absinthe for today’s drinkers while celebrating its artistic legacy.
One of the key milestones for us was when we began winning industry awards. When Absinthia Absinthe Verte earned 95 points and Best in Category from the Beverage Testing Institute and I was named Best Woman Distiller by Sunset Magazine, it felt like a major validation of all the hard work and dedication we had put in. It was clear that we weren’t just making something niche — we were creating something that resonated with a much larger audience.
Another major turning point was expanding into non-alcoholic craft mixers. We saw that people wanted exciting, complex alternatives when they weren’t drinking, so we developed mixers like Caged Heat and Fairy Dust, a delicious way to enjoy the flavor of absinthe without the alcohol. This move helped us scale up, reaching a broader audience beyond just absinthe lovers, and brought our brand into the spotlight for cocktail enthusiasts who wanted to enjoy something special, with or without alcohol.
Looking back, it’s amazing to think that what began as a personal experiment has turned into a full-time career. The journey hasn’t always been easy, especially as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built. Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits has become not just a business but a way to share my passion for absinthe and its history with the world. What started as a side hustle driven by curiosity and love for art has grown into something much larger — and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most significant stories of resilience in my journey isn’t just about building a business — it’s about how absinthe brought me to New Orleans and changed my life. My first visit to New Orleans was back in 2014 for Tales of the Cocktail, and from the moment I arrived, I felt this incredible connection to the city. New Orleans has such a rich history with absinthe, and being there surrounded by that culture was like a magnetic pull. I knew this was where I was meant to be, both personally and professionally.
But the timing wasn’t quite right for me to make the move. My daughters were still in school, and as much as I wanted to pack up and immerse myself in the New Orleans absinthe culture, I knew I had to wait. It was a different kind of resilience, one that involved patience and trust in the process. I put my plans on hold, focusing on raising my daughters and supporting them through those important years.
Every year that passed, New Orleans kept calling me back, especially as my business grew. But I stayed committed to the decision to wait until my daughters graduated. In 2024, the moment finally came. I moved my youngest into her freshman dorm, packed my bags, and made the move to New Orleans! It was like everything had aligned — the love for absinthe that first brought me here, my passion for the craft, and my personal journey all came together.
New Orleans feels like home now, the perfect place to continue building Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits. That period of waiting and resilience made the transition that much more meaningful. Absinthe was the reason I first visited New Orleans, and it’s what guided me back. Moving to New Orleans wasn’t just about relocating — it was about stepping fully into the life I had been working toward for years. And now, every time I walk through the French Quarter, I feel that same pull that brought me here in the first place, knowing that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.absinthia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/absinthiasbottledspirits
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/absinthiasbottledspirits
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/absinthiavermut/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/absinthia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbsinthiasBottledSpirits
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/absinthiasspirits
