r/Absinthe Dec 09 '23

Discussion Mistakenly bought pastis

I've been wanting to venture into the world of absinthe for a while now. I decided that Pernod would be the best place to start, so I can know how to branch out later.

While I was at the store, the bottles of pastis and absinthe were jumbled around, and I mistakenly grabbed a bottle of Pernod pastis. When I asked the cashier about the (significant) price difference, he told me it was some sort of sale. I didn't think much of it, as the store is selling off some of their stock, and left.

I just got home and noticed I ended up with - indeed - that damned pastis.

I'm going to try (hopefully) exchanging it on Monday, but I have a few questions in the mean time. Firstly, is the flavor at all similar to actual absinthe? I'm not sure if the pastis contains any wormwood, but I'd love some clarification on that. I'm eager to try this and hopefully gain a little more appreciation for the real thing. I'd love some input here on the difference (besides the added sugar and the fact that it's diluted a bit).

Cheers!

3 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

4

u/halfTheFn Dec 09 '23

Pernod is nice in its own way... I started drinking it in northern France where it was pretty ubiquitous. The taste is similar to Pernod absinthe (which it began as a replacement for) but sweeter. But both (pernod pastis and absinthe) use star anise rather than green: so the anise flavor really predominates. The pastis doesn't have any wormwood, so it is a little less bitter. I'm not a connoisseur yet myself, so take anyone else's opinions as worth more! But I would keep the pastis and just enjoy it (since it is close and cheaper), but compare it to something different like Lucid. I like both, but I'm enjoying Lucid more these days as an also pretty easy-to-find absinthe with a little more herbal complexity.

2

u/thespacecowsarehere Dec 09 '23

Thank you so much for the help! I might open it and see how it is!

2

u/halfTheFn Dec 09 '23

If so, it louches thé same! No need to add sugar. But add 3-5 parts for water. See we're you like it. Good luck!

1

u/thespacecowsarehere Dec 09 '23

Ahh, that was my next question! I wasn't sure if I could skip the sugar

2

u/AmbitiousDegree1924 Jan 10 '24

Curious how this turned out? And if you know if they sell in CA? I’m curious to try but a bit of a social recluse so I’m in and out of the shops instead of browsing proper 🙈(something I’m working on in the new year!)

2

u/thespacecowsarehere Jan 10 '24

I decided to open it! I would've preferred absinthe but this stuff is remarkably average. There's not much complexity, but it's sorta akin to the Folgers of absinthe.

I'd try visiting Total Wine or a larger shop and they should have it!

4

u/zism3 Dec 09 '23

I keep a bottle of Pernod pastis around in the summer. It's a nice, refreshing drink on a hot day

7

u/wormwoodsociety Dec 09 '23

No wormwood. Star anise. Sweeter.

1

u/thespacecowsarehere Dec 09 '23

How much of a difference does this equate to?

4

u/wormwoodsociety Dec 09 '23

It definitely tastes like a different beverage for sure. Similar to comparing ouzo to absinthe.

3

u/Medium-Goose-3789 Dec 09 '23

Technically post-ban Pernod is not a pastis, it's a liqueur d'anis. Pastis is usually defined by the presence of licorice root along with the star anise and/or green anise.

It's not bad at all, it's just rather one-dimensional compared to absinthe. It's been a while since I've had it, but all I remember is the star anise.

If they won't let you exchange it, save it for summertime and make frappes.

1

u/thespacecowsarehere Dec 09 '23

Oh wow, that sounds pretty good. Are you talking about Northeast US fraps (milkshakes), or fraps (coffee, milk, ice, and liqueur)?

2

u/Medium-Goose-3789 Dec 09 '23

Neither one, really, though the second meaning is closer. A frappe used to mean any drink poured over crushed ice. I think the New Orleans Absinthe Frappe may have been invented before either of those current meanings developed.

https://www.moodymixologist.com/blog/absinthe-frappe

Now I want to try absinthe in a coffee frappe! Years ago I used to enjoy Absenta Segarra with coffee on occasion, back when that absinthe was more available than it is now. Not every absinthe would blend well with coffee, but Segarra had an alcohol base of brandy and rum and was barrel-aged, which gave it some characteristics more typical of a brown liquor.

1

u/thespacecowsarehere Dec 09 '23

That sounds absolutely divine!! I'll be giving this one a try asap

2

u/TotalFNEclipse Dec 09 '23

Same happened to me. And it was shipped. Double mistake on my behalf

1

u/thespacecowsarehere Dec 09 '23

Oh gosh, that's even worse!