Bairnsfather Extra Anise coming your way ..

[Alan]

Newest US approval ..

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/vi...4001000032

[Chris]

Any idea why "The finished product must be "Thujone-free" pursuant to 21 CFR 172.510" is missing from the qualifications section on the appoval?

[Tits]

I have had it recently-it is going in the right direction, it will take many years to achieve the standard set by St. Antoine, but the formula has been improved. Of all the 3 Bairnfathers, this one is not that bad, although I still cannot grasp the ideas behind the process (freeze distillation, filtration) as these things do not necessarily belong to the absinthe creation.

I have reviewed all three in here: http://www.museeabsinthe.com/forums/inde...wtopic=767

[Alan]

(10-20-2009 05:55 PM)Chris Wrote:  Any idea why "The finished product must be "Thujone-free" pursuant to 21 CFR 172.510" is missing from the qualifications section on the appoval?

I noticed that. It must be because the thujone limit is now up to 100 ppm (another thread here refers ...).

Importers' website is even less "under construction" than other recent approvals.

[Chris]

It just seems odd that they would, for all intents and purposes, remove the thujone limit with doing nothing more than a quiet revision of a few web pages.

[Alan]

I think the concensus is that it's a mistake ... the "revision" is only on the Customs pages. Yes ... TTB page still says 10 ppm.

[fingerpickinblue]

Even more curious, to me, is this; "create your own reality". I guess this didn't apply...

* Any artwork or graphics on the label, advertising, and point of sale materials using the term “absinthe” may not project images of hallucinogenic, psychotropic, or mind-altering effects. 27 CFR 5.42(a) and 5.65(a).

I guess if it's not artwork or graphics, you can just print on the label "tripp ballz".

And what does "100% Natural" mean?

I think that biceps attached to the forearm attached to the hand that rubber stamps these things at the TTB, is beginning to look downright Schwarzenegger like. It'll be back!

[Marc]

Wow.
I can't find the words to describe the emotions that I'm feeling right now to think that this product will soon be available in the USA!

[Pee'n' Buddha]

It's gut-wrenching. In so many ways.

[Alan]

Will it have stalks in it?

[urmynv]

They've got to get up to that 100ppm somehow.

[Pee'n' Buddha]

Not even herbs in the bottle can do that. It's impossible from what I understand. You must add thujone extract directly to get numbers that high.

And by the way, Bairnsfather already produces a ballz-tripping product. It's called Century.

The sad fact is that no one has yet come up with an effective alternate way to extract the absinthins from alcohol that's had A.a. macerated in it than by distillation. Bairnsfather's filteration(sic) process can only create products loaded with bitter, shitty-tasting absinthins.

[Alan]

Reality Extra Anise only claims 26 ppm.

http://www.bairnsfather.net/en/index.htm

I guess the TTB didn't bother to click the link that's on the label they approved.

[urmynv]

PnB, I'm inclined to agree. 100ppm would imply at least 10 times the amount of wormwood. Ridiculously bitter, and nothing like the profile of absinthe.

Edit: Alan, I can't see anything good coming out of this. They can't rightly make sales or profit in the US, or at least I wouldn't think they could. And given the amount of scrutiny the TTB has given absinthe since 2007, this seems like either a gross oversight or a real slip in vetting. Or caring.

[Pee'n' Buddha]

Guys, Reality and Extra Anise are two different products. Have you misplaced your glasses. Look again.

---

And don't confuse or confound wormwood content, thujone content and absinthin content. There are connections but also a lot of independence between the three.

[Alan]

I confess to not knowing these products as well as I should.

However the TTB approval seems to show elements of Reality (the "create your own reality" line). Is that line on all their products currently.

And the Bairnsfather site (English version) does open up on the Reality thujone page.

I would find it helpful if you, as the expert here on these products, could list all the various products they sell and the differences. Is the US approved product one of them, or is it perhaps a hybrid?

[Pee'n' Buddha]

I'm just looking at the pictures you linked to. I didn't even notice the "motto" or whatever it is. I needed to find my glasses, it's so small. For a more thorough exegesis allow me to redirect you to Tits. He seems able to savor the differences.

[Tits]

Thanks, man. The differences are the following:

There is Bairnsfather Absinth-a regular Bairnsfather, the first product of the distillery, it has 8-10 mg/l of thujone, has a very weak louche, what you can observe on the pics attached to the reviews and is watery (My Mum's words), the wormwood in it seems to be processed differently than we know (freeze distillation and multiple filtration), it has an interesting pontica, but overall is too delicate and too grassy.

Another product is Bairnsfather Absinth Bitter-the one that is said to be bitter and has 35mg/l of thujone, I have not had it, so cannot add more of a substance.

The third one is Bairnsfather Absinth Reality (the one with stalks of hyssop etc in the bot), it is stronger than the others (60%) and seems to the worst of all of them-very grassy wormwood, very bitter, one-dimensional taste , everything has been spoilt by addition of herbs to the bottle, they stayed there too long and imparted themselves upon the rest. It might contain 26mg/l.

The last one is Bairnsfather Absinth Extra Anise-it louches, contains anise, is very pleasant, just like a typical anisette, and it seems that particular one has been chosen for the US market. 26 mg/l.

Quote:100ppm would imply at least 10 times the amount of wormwood

Not exactly, if it were Swiss wormwood, that would imply using 50g/l, if it were Polish wormwood, that would require at least 100g/l, if it were French wormwood, then depending on the year and if it were Spanish wormwood, then 2500g(!) would be required, but is is the optimistic variant.

[Alan]

(10-21-2009 10:08 AM)Tits Wrote:  The third one is Bairnsfather Absinth Reality (the one with stalks of hyssop etc in the bot), it is stronger than the others (60%)

Are the others all 55%?

(10-21-2009 10:08 AM)Tits Wrote:  The last one is Bairnsfather Absinth Extra Anise-it louches, contains anise, is very pleasant, just like a typical anisette, and it seems that particular one has been chosen for the US market. 26 mg/l.

Assuming no change to the US laws, it may then be a variant of this. With the "Reality" message on the bottle.

[Tits]

Yes, the others are all 55% and the labels are so alike that misleading. There is a likelihood that Reality is just Bairnsfather regular with the stalks and 5% more of alcohol. The definite odd man out is Extra Anise-different scent, a so-so louche, but louche and balanced taste.

[Brian Robinson]

The Extra Anise I tried tasted like dishwater. Maybe they've improved from then. I'm willing to try it again.

[Alan]

And now, by popular demand, the COLA for Bairnsfather Natural Absinth, 1 liter, 55%.

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/vi...4001000023