Anisette

Often compared to pastis, Anisette differs in not containing any liquorice. It’s strong stuff, which most people dilute with water.

In France it’s made by Marie Brizard, a company named after the inventor of the secret recipe in 1755. Born in Bordeaux, Marie was the third of fifteen children of a cooper, at a time when the port city was deeply involved in the Triangular trade, bringing in sugar and herbs and spices—but also taking wine and spirits to Africa in exchange for human cargo.

Today the company is the oldest spirit maker in France, partly based in Lormont near Bordeaux, although its Anisette is now manufactured in Spain’s Basque Country.