Herbsaint facts for kids
Herbsaint is a special kind of liqueur that tastes like anise. It was first made in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1934. People created it to be a replacement for absinthe, which was not allowed at the time. Today, the Sazerac Company makes Herbsaint.
It was developed by J. Marion Legendre and Reginald Parker. They learned how to make absinthe while in France during World War I. Herbsaint was first sold after Prohibition ended. It was unique because it was an absinthe substitute, not a pastis.
Herbsaint was first called "Legendre Absinthe". However, it never contained Grande Wormwood, which is a main ingredient in real absinthe. The government soon asked Legendre to stop using the word "absinthe". So, the name was changed to "Legendre Herbsaint". This name means "Sacred Herb" in French/Creole. It refers to the plant used in absinthe.
The Sazerac Company bought J.M. Legendre & Co. in 1949. Herbsaint was first bottled at a stronger level. This was later changed to a milder recipe. In 2009, the Sazerac Company brought back J.M. Legendre's original stronger recipe. They called it Herbsaint Original.
Herbsaint in Drinks
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail |
| Primary alcohol by volume |
|
| Served | stirred |
| Standard garnish | frosted glass |
| Standard drinkware |
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| Commonly used ingredients |
|
| Preparation | Stir together with plenty of ice, then strain into a very well chilled glass. Serve very cold. |
Herbsaint is used in several different drinks. One popular drink is the Herbsaint Frappé.
To make a simple Herbsaint Frappé:
- Pour two ounces of Herbsaint into a glass.
- Fill the glass with cracked ice.
- Add a half teaspoon of simple syrup or sugar.
- Add two ounces of carbonated or plain water.
- Stir everything together until the outside of the glass gets frosty.
- Strain the drink into another very cold glass.
- Serve it very cold.
Herbsaint is also sometimes used in the Sazerac cocktail. It can be a substitute for absinthe in this drink.
