LemercierAbisinthe(Absinthe)(700ml)

Sans By the end of the 18th century, doctor Pierre Ordinaire, native of the Doubs, but exiled in the canton of Neuchatel in Switzerland, invented the absinthe elixir, composed of aromatic plants from which he claimed had curative powers. At his death, he bequeathed the secret of this elixir to his housekeeper who was supposed to have sold it to the Henriot sisters at Couvet. Those women cultivated by themselves the plants that they distilled in a little still; the liqueur was then distributed by hawkers. Not managing to keep up with demand, they sold the recipe in 1797 to Major Dubied, who, with his son, settled the first absinthe distillery in Couvet. From a once medicinal potion, absinthe was soon being consumed for pleasure. Since its growing success, a second distillery was created and absinthe soon became known through the whole of France thanks to commercial travellers. At this time, around 1825, other distilleries were founded in Haute-Saône and in Doubs, and later, in the South of France, as well as in the region of Paris. One such distillery was Lemerciers. Before 1800, the Lemerciers were an important farming family, living in Grand-Fahys, a hamlet in the district of Fougerolles. In addition to their farm land, they also owned several orchards from which they produced Kirsch and Plum Brandy. However, little by little, their production of brandies greatly exceeded their personal requirements and they became professional distillers.