From Sparrow’s liqueur list, St. George Absinthe Verte is a craft California original with real distilling history behind it, $17 by the pour, or $25.50 for a larger pour. It is a favorite to explore in our 21+ lounge in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood.
About St. George Absinthe Verte
St. George Absinthe Verte is made by St. George Spirits, an independent craft distillery founded in 1982 by Jorg Rupf and based in a former airplane hangar on the old Alameda naval air station in the San Francisco Bay Area. When the long-standing U.S. ban on absinthe was lifted in 2007, St. George released this Absinthe Verte as the first legal American-made absinthe, the result of years of quiet experimentation by the distillery’s team before the rules changed. Like a traditional absinthe, it leads with the classic trio of grand wormwood, fennel, and star anise, which are infused into a brandy base and distilled. From there the distillate is layered with a garden of additional botanicals including mint, tarragon, Genovese basil, lemon balm, hyssop, and stinging nettle, which give it a distinctly green, herbal character.
Tasting Notes
Absinthe is a high-proof, anise-forward spirit, and St. George leans into a fresh, herbaceous green-garden style rather than something sharp or medicinal. Expect bright licorice and anise up front from the star anise and fennel, with the wormwood lending a gentle bitterness, all carried by waves of cooling mint, basil, and other green herbs. Served the traditional way, with iced water dripped slowly over a sugar cube, it gently louches to a cloudy pale green and softens into something rounded and aromatic.
What to Pair It With
Absinthe is best enjoyed slowly. Try it the classic way at Sparrow, with cold water and a touch of sugar, or as the backbone of a cocktail like a Sazerac. Its herbal, anise notes also play nicely alongside lighter bites from the Sparrow dinner menu such as the Fresh Oysters, the Tuna Tartare, or the Burrata Avocado. It is a fun one to sip and talk through at the quartzite bar in our 21+ lounge, especially during our daily happy hour from 3 to 5 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is St. George Absinthe Verte?
It is a craft absinthe made by St. George Spirits in Alameda, California, and it was the first legal American-made absinthe released after the U.S. ban was lifted in 2007. It is distilled from botanicals including wormwood, fennel, and star anise on a brandy base, then infused with green herbs like mint, tarragon, and basil.
How should I drink absinthe?
The traditional way is to slowly drip cold water over a sugar cube into the absinthe, which turns it cloudy and pale green and opens up the herbal aromas. It is also used as a key ingredient in classic cocktails such as the Sazerac.
How much is a pour of St. George Absinthe Verte at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, St. George Absinthe Verte is $17 by the pour, or $25.50 for a larger pour.
You can find it on the Sparrow beverages menu alongside herbal liqueurs like Green Chartreuse and Benedictine. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.