Absinthia

What Absinthia does

Absinthia's Bottled Spirits is a privately held, woman-owned (WBENC certified) craft distillery operating as Absinthia, founded in 2013 by Absinthia Vermut in Berkeley, California and relocated to New Orleans in 2024. The company produces four absinthe expressions — Absinthe Blanche (clear), Absinthe Verte (green, herb-colored), Absinthe Barrel-Aged (rested six months in retired rye oak barrels), and Absinthe Bleue (naturally blue via butterfly pea flower extract) — distilled from Napa Valley grape neutral spirits and certified organic botanicals following a traditional Swiss recipe, yielding the full louche effect characteristic of authentic absinthe. Complementing the spirits are four non-alcoholic craft cocktail mixers (Fairy Dust, Caged Heat, Cherry Bomb, Crimson Smoke) acquired in 2021 with Nickel Dime Syrups, plus authored content IP including the Green Fairy Tales podcast and the forthcoming 2025 book The Green Fairy's Canvas.

The business model spans direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront fulfilled by BottleNexus, wholesale to retail and on-premise accounts nationwide, and a differentiated founder-led on-premise presence at Pirate's Alley Café in the New Orleans French Quarter where Absinthia Vermut personally bartends. Revenue streams are one-time product sales of spirits and mixers, supplemented by speaking engagements, masterclasses, and book sales. Customer segments include professional bartenders and mixologists (primary), spirits enthusiasts and collectors, and sober-curious/mocktail consumers, with high-profile on-premise accounts such as The Dead Rabbit (NYC), Old Absinthe House, and Loa Bar providing brand credibility.

Operationally the company is founder-operated at 1-10 employees, with no disclosed institutional funding beyond a ~$63,500 raise in 2019 and a 2024 Sprout Beverage investment. Distribution remains weighted toward California and Louisiana with a stated nationwide footprint, and the company is currently building a formal wholesale ordering system to scale the B2B channel. The brand's core IP is concentrated in its founder narrative, award pedigree (including 98-point Double Gold at the LA Invitational and 95 points at the Beverage Testing Institute), and category-defining content ecosystem rather than in proprietary technology.

Name

Absinthia

Legal name

Absinthia's Bottled Spirits, LLC

Website

https://absinthia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (311930)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

Keywords

• Craft absinthe
• Organic spirits
• Craft cocktail mixers
• Botanical distillation
• Barrel-aged spirits

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Absinthe Spirits Sales: Direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales of four absinthe expressions (Blanche, Verte, Barrel-Aged, Bleue) ranging from 55% ABV. Revenue is generated through e-commerce orders fulfilled via BottleNexus and wholesale orders to retailers and bars.
2. Craft Mixer Sales: Sales of non-alcoholic cocktail syrups including Caged Heat (spicy), Fairy Dust (anise/fennel), Cherry Bomb (coffee/cacao), and Crimson Smoke (cranberry/honey). These mixers are sold directly to consumers and through retail partnerships.
3. Book Sales: Pre-sales of 'The Green Fairy's Canvas: Absinthe's Influence on Art & Culture' by Absinthia Vermut, a book exploring absinthe's cultural impact on art history, scheduled for 2025 release.
4. Speaking & Events: Revenue generated from speaking engagements, masterclasses, and educational presentations about absinthe at conferences, bars, museums, universities, and private events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Absinthia distills and sells four expressions of American-made absinthe (Blanche, Verte, Bleue, Barrel-Aged) using grape-based neutral spirits and certified organic botanicals following a traditional Swiss recipe. The company also produces and sells non-alcoholic craft cocktail mixers (Fairy Dust, Caged Heat, Cherry Bomb, Crimson Smoke), and generates supplementary revenue from speaking engagements, masterclasses, the Green Fairy Tales podcast, and book pre-sales.

Product overview

Absinthia Bottled Spirits is a portfolio of award-winning American-made absinthes and craft mixers. The core product line consists of four absinthe expressions: Absinthe Blanche (clear), Absinthe Verte (green, herb-colored), Absinthe Bleue (naturally blue from butterfly pea flower), and Barrel-Aged Absinthe (rested in rye oak barrels). All absinthes are crafted with organic botanicals and Napa Valley grapes, distilled from a time-honored Swiss recipe. Complementing the spirits are non-alcoholic craft mixers including Fairy Dust (absinthe-flavored syrup), Caged Heat (spicy), Cherry Bomb (cherry-coffee), and Crimson Smoke (smoky cranberry). The company also produces educational content through the Green Fairy Tales podcast and The Green Fairy's Canvas book. All products are certified organic, sugar-free, and gluten-free.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Absinthia Absinthe Blanche Crystal clear, light-bodied absinthe distilled from grape neutral spirits with organic botanicals including grande wormwood, sweet fennel, aniseed, and coriander. Honors classic Swiss traditions from the ban era when its colorless form made it less conspicuous; recommended for Death in the Afternoon cocktail.
• Absinthia Absinthe Verte Swiss-style green absinthe naturally colored with herbs including hyssop, melissa, and petite wormwood. Celebrates the sacred trinity of grande wormwood, anise, and fennel with coriander for depth; recommended for Sazerac cocktails; awarded 95 Points by Beverage Testing Institute.
• Absinthia Barrel-Aged Absinthe Hand-crafted from Absinthe Verte and rested in retired rye oak barrels for six months to achieve distinctive vanilla and caramel notes with a luxuriant amber hue; recommended for Vieux Negroni cocktails and inspired by New Orleans' Sazerac heritage.
• Absinthia Absinthe Bleue Naturally blue absinthe colored with butterfly pea flower extract, a modern twist on classic absinthe with lively floral notes and medium-bodied flavor. Color changes to purple when citrus is added; recommended for Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktails.
• Fairy Dust Craft Mixer Non-alcoholic craft mixer with flavors of wormwood, anise, and fennel—the signature ingredients of absinthe. Light and bright with floral notes; made with natural ingredients including invert syrup.
• Caged Heat Craft Mixer Spicy cocktail syrup featuring ghost pepper, one of the world's spiciest chilis, with medium spicy heat that shows up at the back of the throat; designed for bold, spicy mocktails and cocktails.
• Cherry Bomb Craft Mixer Bold cherry, coffee, and cacao flavored non-alcoholic mixer delivering coffee flavor without the caffeine; Silver award winner at Sunset Magazine Spirits Competition.
• Crimson Smoke Craft Mixer Smoky cranberry cocktail mixer with honey and black tea flavors, designed to create complex, layered mocktail drinks.
• The Green Fairy's Canvas Book Book by Absinthia Vermut exploring Absinthe as muse, myth, and medium through art history, culture, and her own journey as a maker. Examines how culture manufactures fear, how myth overtakes fact, and how women are erased from history; available for pre-order.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95 Points, Gold, Best in Category - Beverage Testing Institute (Verte)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and operational.

• Pirate's Alley CafécoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Historic absinthe bar in New Orleans French Quarter where Absinthia Vermut personally bartends several nights per week, featuring Absinthia Absinthe exclusively. The partnership allows the founder to interact directly with customers and promote the brand in an iconic setting steeped in absinthe history.
• Nickel Dime Cocktail SyrupscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Absinthia Vermut co-founded Nickel Dime Cocktail Syrups alongside her absinthe business, demonstrating her commitment to the craft of mixology. The company produces cocktail syrups including Caged Heat and Fairy Dust. In August 2021, Absinthia's Bottled Spirits completed the acquisition of Nickel Dime Syrups, bringing the cocktail mixer brand under the same umbrella.
• Tales of the CocktailkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual spirits festival in New Orleans that first brought Absinthia to the city in 2014. The company participates yearly with hosted events including absinthe meetups and L'Heure Verte happy hours. The festival has been instrumental in building Absinthia's presence in the cocktail industry.
• Napa Valley Grape SupplierscoreOthersSuppliers of Napa Valley grapes used to create the high-quality grape ethanol base for Absinthia Absinthe, ensuring natural sweetness without added sugar. All ingredients are certified organic.
• Old Absinthe HousekeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistoric absinthe bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans featuring Absinthia Absinthe Barrel-Aged on its menu, honoring the venue's absinthe heritage dating back over a century.
• BottleNexusoperationalOthersRetail fulfillment partner for direct-to-consumer orders placed through Absinthia.com, handling shipping and compliance with state alcohol laws across the US.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• St. George Spirits: California-based craft distillery producing a broad portfolio of artisan spirits including absinthe and liqueurs using traditional techniques and botanicals. Highly comparable as a US craft distiller with premium positioning and on-premise/wholesale distribution.
• Leopold Bros: Colorado craft distillery producing small-batch spirits with European traditional methods and farm-to-bottle sourcing philosophy. Comparable to Absinthia as an award-winning US craft spirits brand emphasizing authenticity and traditional botanical formulations.
• Green Mountain Distillers: Vermont-based craft distillery producing absinthe and other specialty spirits using traditional European recipes and organic botanicals. Highly comparable direct peer operating in the same US craft absinthe category with similar boutique positioning.
• Lucid Absinthe: One of the first American absinthe brands after the 2007 legalization, available in bars and retail nationwide. Direct competitor in the US craft absinthe category with broader distribution but less artisanal differentiation than Absinthia.
• Herbsaint: The anise liqueur produced in New Orleans since 1934, historically the Sazerac's substitute for banned absinthe and now owned by Sazerac Company. Direct competitor in the anise/absinthe category with deep New Orleans heritage and bartender relationships.
• Tuthilltown Spirits: New York-based craft distillery known for pioneering American whiskey and other artisanal spirits with strong on-premise and DTC channels. Comparable business model: small-scale US craft distiller selling through specialty retail and direct channels.
• Copper & Kings: Louisville-based craft distillery producing American brandy and other aged spirits with barrel-aging innovation. Comparable as a craft distiller experimenting with aging techniques (parallel to Absinthia's rye oak barrel-aged absinthe) and selling through on-premise and DTC channels.
• KOVAL Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic, single-grain spirits and liqueurs with strong DTC and on-premise presence. Comparable as a certified-organic, woman-led-adjacent craft distiller emphasizing botanical ingredients and traditional methods.

Emerging players

• Empirical Spirits: Brooklyn-based craft distillery producing unconventional spirits with culinary and bartender focus. Comparable as a small-batch innovative craft distiller targeting premium on-premise accounts and mixologists.

Broad incumbents

• Pernod Ricard: Global spirits giant owning historic absinthe brands and major anise liqueurs. Broad incumbent with the distribution scale, marketing budget, and bartender relationships that pose the principal competitive threat to specialty American absinthe producers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/absinthiasbottledspirits
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAbsinthia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/absinthiavermut
• Instagraminstagram.com/absinthiasbottledspirits
• TikToktiktok.com/@absinthiaspirits
• Pinterestpinterest.com/absinthiasbottledspirits
• Xx.com/absinthia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Absinthia