Marie-Claude Delahaye

Over the past years there have been a great number of products arriving on the market called 'absinthe'. Many bear no resemblance to the genuine taste or rituals of 19th Century French Absinthe. Marie-Claude Delahaye, absinthe historian for over 20 years, has taken up the challenge of producing an authentic Absinthe as close as possible to the 19th Century original.

"La Fée captures the aroma and taste that great writers and artists such as Verlaine, Rimbaud, Toulouse-Lautrec and Vincent van Gogh enjoyed back at the turn of the 19th Century."

— Marie-Claude Delahaye

Marie-Claude Delahaye is a lecturer in cellular biology at the University of Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris. She found her first absinthe spoon in 1981 and was immediately transfixed by the 'Green Fairy'.

Spending entire days carrying out research in libraries, Marie-Claude became an absinthe historian with the publication of her first book in 1983; 'Absinthe - History of the Green Fairy'. The original edition of this book is now out of print and has become a collector's item throughout the world.

Other books have followed which have gradually unveiled the significance of Absinthe in 19th Century society and more importantly its influence on art. At the saacatalogme time, Marie-Claude searched antique shops and markets to establish an impressive collection of Absinthe memorabilia, etchings, drawings and paintings...

After organising numerous exhibitions, Marie-Claude eventually established the Musée de l'Absinthe in 1994. The museum is situated in Auvers-sur-Oise, the village famous for its painters where Vincent van Gogh and his brother, Theo, are buried. Absinthe was the muse of painters and poets during the 19th Century and its true spirit is rekindled at the Absinthe Museum.

La Fée Absinthe

"The first traditional absinthe to be commercially produced in France since the ban of 1915"

— Marie-Claude Delahaye

La Fée Absinthe captures the genuine flavour of the original product. La Fée was created from an authentic 19th century recipe and was developed in a French distillery under the supervision of Mme. Delahaye. It contains a dozen or more plants, including 'Grande' and 'Petite' absinthe (artemisia absinthium and artemisia pontica).

The plants were macerated in alcohol and then distilled in accordance with the most authentic recipes. Finally the real flavour of absinthe has been rediscovered.

How to Drink La Fée Absinthe

I recommend serving La Fée with ice-chilled water dripped or poured over sugar.

Discover the authentic Absinthe ritual

Suddenly, the subtle aroma of the plants fills the air. Watch out — the Green Fairy has arrived!

Marie-Claude Delahaye

24 July 2000
Revised: 07 May 2004