La Fee NV Absinthe Verte 750ML

La Fee NV Absinthe Verte 750ML is a French absinthe distilled with Grand Wormwood, cocoa, and vanilla, bottled at 40% ABV in a 750ml format. Named France Absinthe of the Year at the 2017 Berlin International Spirits Competition, this expression stands apart from conventional absinthes by incorporating Madagascan vanilla and cocoa pods alongside traditional botanicals — a formula developed by creator George Rowley during research at the Schimmel Library, the oldest herbal library in Europe.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 proof)  |  Origin: Rhône-Alpes, France  |  Style: Absinthe Verte  |  Distillery: Cherry Rocher (est. 1705)

Production & Heritage

La Fee NV Absinthe Verte is produced at the Cherry Rocher distillery in La Côte-Saint-André, in the Isère department of southeast France. Founded in 1705, Cherry Rocher is one of the oldest operating distilleries in France and has deep roots in herbal liqueur production. Created by George Rowley in 2008, the NV expression uses a grain-neutral spirit base that undergoes gentle maceration and distillation with six key botanicals: Grand Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), fennel, star anise, peppermint, cocoa pods, and Madagascan vanilla. The inclusion of cocoa and vanilla distinguishes this bottling from more austere, traditional-recipe absinthes, lending it a rounder, more approachable character while maintaining the herbal backbone expected of a genuine absinthe verte.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A vivid, dazzling lime-green color in the glass precedes an aromatic wave of herbal aniseed, underscored by fennel and a faint sweetness hinting at vanilla. There is a subtle cocoa undertone beneath the dominant wormwood herbal character.

Taste: The entry is smooth and creamy, with anise and fennel arriving first before the mid-palate opens up with layered sweetness — vanilla and cocoa weave through the herbal core. By the peak, peppermint emerges alongside lemon zest, adding brightness and preventing the sweetness from becoming heavy. The overall impression is intense yet well-balanced.

Finish: Medium-long with a creamy texture that gradually recedes into lingering fennel and cool mint. A gentle bitterness from the wormwood surfaces on the tail end, grounding the finish with classic absinthe character.

How to Drink La Fee NV

The traditional French ritual is the recommended primary serve: place a sugar cube on a slotted absinthe spoon over the glass, then slowly drip ice-cold water over the cube at a ratio of roughly three to five parts water to one part absinthe. This louche process turns the liquid a milky, opalescent green and opens up the botanical complexity. Beyond the classic ritual, La Fee NV works well in several cocktails. A Corpse Reviver No. 2 benefits from its cocoa and anise depth in place of a standard absinthe rinse. A Death in the Afternoon — absinthe topped with chilled Champagne — plays off the vanilla sweetness against dry sparkling wine. An Absinthe Frappé, built with simple syrup, soda, and crushed ice, highlights the mint and fennel notes in a refreshing warm-weather format.

Best For

• Gifting an adventurous spirits enthusiast exploring the absinthe category
• Hosting an absinthe ritual evening with friends using traditional louche service
• Adding a distinctive absinthe rinse to classic cocktail preparations
• Building a home bar collection of award-winning European spirits

Frequently Asked Questions

What does La Fee NV taste like? La Fee NV Absinthe Verte delivers a smooth, creamy palate led by herbal aniseed and fennel, layered with distinctive cocoa and vanilla sweetness and finished with cool peppermint and lemon zest. It is intense yet well-balanced, less austere than many traditional absinthes.

How does La Fee NV compare to Pernod Absinthe? Both share a prominent anise profile and French heritage, but La Fee NV incorporates cocoa and Madagascan vanilla in its distillation, giving it a noticeably sweeter, more rounded character. Pernod Absinthe tends toward a sharper, more classically bitter wormwood profile at a higher ABV (68%).

Is La Fee NV good for beginners? Yes — at 40% ABV it is significantly lower in alcohol than many absinthes (which often range from 55% to 72%), and its vanilla and cocoa notes create a more approachable entry point for those new to the category.

Where is La Fee NV made? La Fee NV Absinthe Verte is distilled at the Cherry Rocher distillery in La Côte-Saint-André, located in the Isère department of the Rhône-Alpes region of southeast France. Cherry Rocher was founded in 1705 and is one of France's oldest distilleries.

What foods pair well with La Fee NV? Dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa in the distillation. Fennel-crusted salmon mirrors the botanical profile. Fresh oysters with lemon provide a briny contrast to the anise sweetness. Herbed goat cheese complements the herbal and mint notes. Fruit tarts with vanilla custard find harmony with the vanilla and wormwood interplay.

What sizes does La Fee NV come in? La Fee NV Absinthe Verte is commonly available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is La Fee NV worth the price? La Fee NV positions as a mid-range absinthe — more accessible in both price and proof than ultra-premium, cask-strength expressions, yet distinguished by its unique botanical recipe and multiple international awards including a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Why La Fee NV?

What separates La Fee NV from the crowded absinthe market is its unusual botanical formula. George Rowley's decision to introduce Madagascan vanilla and cocoa pods — inspired by research at the Schimmel Library — created a profile that no other major absinthe replicates. The expression earned a Gold Medal at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named France Absinthe of the Year at the 2017 Berlin International Spirits Competition, confirming its credibility among competition judges. Produced at one of France's oldest distilleries with over three centuries of herbal distillation expertise, La Fee NV delivers genuine absinthe character while remaining one of the most approachable expressions in the category at 40% ABV.