Absinthe Fans, Mixologists See Green with Integrity Spirits' 'Trillium'

Oregon distillers/alchemists look to distribute legendary he-licks-her nationally

PORTLAND, Ore., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrity Spirits
(http://www.integrityspirits.com), a Portland-based craft distillery, announced
today that its new "Trillium" Absinthe -- one of the first
legally-available absinthe products in the United States, and the first
ever produced in its home state -- is now on shelves in Oregon liquor
stores. In 2007, the U.S. loosened regulations on the production of this
legendary and somewhat mysterious he-licks-her (illegal in this country since
1912) ... and opened the gates to a whole new experience for fans of
premium spirits.

Trillium, named for an exquisite wildflower found in the Pacific
Northwest, is as eclectic as its alchemist creators: award-winning Master
Distiller Kieran Sienkiewicz and his partner, Apprentice Distiller Richard
Phillips. In keeping with its historic French-Impressionist roots, the pair
handcrafts the liquor in small batches with all-natural botanicals: lemon
balm, damiana, hyssop, star anise, and of course wormwood (which delivers
the now-legal amount of the chemical thujone that makes absinthe, well ...
absinthe!). The resulting brew shines with the traditional "Green Fairy"
glow and a distinctive flavor that sets it apart from all other spirits.

Connoisseurs can enjoy Trillium in a ceremonial, "pour it over the
sugar cube" approach -- but, absinthe isn't just for Van Gough any more.
Trillium is sure to set a new trend for mixologists and bartenders, being
one of the first truly new liquor categories to hit the market in decades,
offering a wealth of inventive cocktail recipes. Collectors may also enjoy
its designer bottle, created by ID Branding (http://www.idbranding.com). The
bottle was imported from France and screen printed with an elaborate label
depicting each botanicals used in its creation.

While Trillium is available only in Oregon liquor stores, distributors
outside of Oregon can contact Integrity Spirits directly to inquire about
availability. So, whether you're an absinthe fan or wanna be, start asking
for Trillium wherever you buy liquor, and in your favorite bars, today.
While you're at it, also ask for Integrity Spirits' Lovejoy Vodka and 12
Bridges Gin brands (named to celebrate their hometown) -- two top-shelf new
entries into the premium spirits stratosphere, complete with designer
labels that are bound to draw a dedicated fan base of their own.

About Integrity Spirits

Integrity Spirits is comprised of two guys who live their craft and
concoct handmade premium liquors that incorporate natural ingredients and
never fail to exceed the expectations. In addition to its flagship product,
Trillium Absinthe, this Portland, Ore.-based craft distillery also produces
Lovejoy Vodka and 12 Bridges Gin. To see the distillers live and in action,
visit Integrity Spirits at 909 SE Yamhill or go to
http://www.integrityspirits.com.



SOURCE Integrity Spirits

Damiana reputedly makes your balls trip.

Damiana, that's a new one to me.

Once again, it's not about making good Absinthe.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yet another mixologist's absinthe.

Indeed™!

One of the most traditional absinthe herbs, damiana is even more traditional than wormwood, so I hearsay.

Ok, I understand, there are some noroms™ in the industry and pushin' absinthe as cocktail-spirit is so kewel these days, and the highly-esteemed absinthe experts are of course mixologists, butt for FUCK'S SAKE cannot it die?!

In the meantime absinthe "experts" have had their say: http://www.lafeeabsinthe.com/content/view/140/88/

And there is more:

It's zombie-sinth:



Empyreuma like you've never tasted it before.

Prolly will be good fer the Corpse Reviver #2.

Butt do ya see? Long ago, it was just "our absinthe can be drunk with or without sugar", nowadays, none of these is mentionin' their products can be drunk the traditional way at all; from the very beginning they are "perfect for cocktails and for cocktails only". They have done the same to vodka, they have done the same to whiskey/whisky, they have done the same to cognac and brandy, it is becumin' normal; there is nuthin' wrong in the fact IT IS SO FOOKIN' WRONG!

And what iffen more drives me round the bend are those mixologists! I can understand, sum people are drinkin' cocktails and from time to time I might do one myself, butt spirits from scratch were created to be consumed NEAT or followin' a certain method of preparation (like absinthe), how can we savour some intriguin' nuances when it will be masked with tons of useless substances that pollute the spirit? Gin is good with tonic I admit, butt it is fookin' good alone with nuthin' else. Absinthe is best with just water-how can I revel in extrait when its only purpose are "limitless cocktail options"?

O tempora, o mores!

Label design itself is beautifully done. Hate the bottle. Hate the white "wax" on top.

That label on that bottle makes it look more like toilet water than booze.

Ha! To have your xit perfumed, use just a tablespoon of our newest, the most kewelest Toilettesinthe.

Agreed. It could work nicely on a different bottle, though.

Why would anyone drink Oregon absinthe?

Star anise?

I'll skip it.

From Wikipedia:

Damiana today is conventionally made into a tea, although smoking it alone or blended with Cannabis or other herbs is also commonplace. In herbal medicine, damiana is used to treat conditions ranging from coughs to constipation to depression. The herbal supplement is reputed to help with energy, emphysema, low estrogen, frigidity, hot flashes, impotency, infertility, menopause, Parkinson's disease, PMS, inflammation of prostate, Lou Gehrig's disease, and more dealing with reproductive organs in both males and females.

I suppose it's kinda like scuffin' around
outside the door scroungin' butts
and sharin' whatcha got while waiting
for that Pacific Distillery to open.

Marcin' time,
so to speak.

I think I prefer Trillian, not sure.

From Frida Snell's Black Trillium album

I'm not opposed to a distiller using star anise, provided it's done carefully, the old Legendre & Co. was able to use it fairly well in the old Herbsaint.

Click to view attachment

Unfortunately, too many others use it with far too heavy a hand in the modern era.

Hard to say what this Trillium stuff is like, though after St. George and the way they use star anise, I'm not too hopeful.

Impy, btw, what was the ratio of star anise to green anise in Herbsaint of the heyday?

The modern Herbsaint has a coarser anise profile than the old stuff.

I could say more, but this thread isn't the place....

There's no such thing as coincidence.

More crap. I'll wait for the Pacique.

Moonman used to like damiana in his absinthe.

So did Yammering Nattering Nutjob.

Is that what caused the off flavor or was that his base?

Mistakes are easily made when exporting made up traditions to the US. The brand name is a misspelled Dutch word which should be: klassiek (classic). They also misspelled their own name(!), which is Dirkzwager and not Dickwager.

HA! I knew not only their herb bill is skrewed. Thanks buddy for shedin' sum light. Before gettin' into trend of absinthe-makin' what were they doin' btw? Do the descendants of van Gogh family know they are using Vincent and his paintings to promote their lies?

Selling crap, like the popular Florijn genever. The Netherlands have no absinthe tradition whatsoever, except for Van Gogh who lived in France. Ironically his mug became iconic for trendy swill. I've never met his family.

'xactly.

AFAIK van Gogh tried absinthe for the very time when he came to his brother Theo and he introduced him to Gauguin and Lautrec (it was in May of 1886). While in Netherlands, it is very probable he was guzzlin' genever together with his mistress-Clasina Maria Hoornik aka Sien (the relationship which lasts from January of 1882- November of 1883).

Well i think I'm gonna buy a bottle of that Trillium Crap.
Hopefully I can talk the local stores into getting other stuff.

Still I'm just happy it's legal in Oregon now.

Dumass™

Gotta try the crap so you can say it's crap.
Otherwise it's just informed conjecture.

You misspelled "disaster
narrowly averted."

Update on Trillium-delirium

The best thing about absinthe catching on here will be that sooner or later we'll read an article about absinthe that isn't written by some pregnant housewife who's never tried it before.

They still won't be able to taste
anything more than licorice.

If only.

It's all about the depravity.

...from Dr. Cockguzzler!

That rules out making absinthe.

Yup, that's
been done.

I can't wait to see the Rachel Ray line of absinthe accessories.

It doesn't rule out making a GOOD absinthe.

Good absinthe has already been made -- but not by dipxits.

No wonder Oregon has never been called the center of the absinthe univserse.

Do reporters do more research than a google search any more?

Do they even Google?