THE FAIRIES HAVE INVITED AN OLD FREIND TO THE COTTAGE...
In a land kissed by sun and sea, where ancient trees and glass towers whisper secrets to the wind, a rare and wondrous potion has been born in a little cottage. This second enchanted release of Absinthe weaves the wild heart of Melbourne into a spell of flavour, an homage to the timeless French elixirs of old, yet touched with modern alchemy.
Crafted with reverence through age-old distillation rites and brewed upon a base of our own golden malted barley spirit, this bewitching draught carries a silken sweetness, rich as a dream. With each sip, the enchantment deepens; notes of strawberry gum sing like woodland fae, lemon eucalyptus sparkles with sunlit zest, and river mint dances cool as twilight mist. Liquorice root and saltbush lend their earthy charm, while anise myrtle casts the final spell, binding the flavours in harmonious wonder.
PRE-ORDERS ARE NOW OPEN
A LESSON IN THE ALCHEMY OF ABSINTHE
Step into the shadows of history and join us for a special absinthe masterclass to mark the return of our most enchanting spirit.
Explore the myth, magic, and allure of absinthe, and uncover the secrets of Melbourne’s notorious Little Lon — once a haven of vice, mystery, and rebellion. This is your chance to be among the first to taste our re-released absinthe, back by popular demand and steeped in stories worth sharing.
Held on the evening of the Winter Solstice, this mystical masterclass is one not to be missed.
A TALE OF LITTLE LON
Absinthe's mystique pervaded the hidden corners of the Little Lon District, finding its epicentre within the dwelling of Mrs Alicia Bond. This intoxicating tale resurfaced during the 'great dig' of the Little Lon block, just outside our cottage at 17 Casselden Place.
Mrs Bond stepped into the limelight in 1862, marked by her operation of a "disreputable house", aka a brothel, on Stephen (now Exhibition) Street. Despite losing her violent husband to tuberculosis and raising three children on her own, Mrs Bond continued to procure properties, the third seemingly innocuous - a grocer's shop.
However, the grocer's shop harboured secrets beyond its apparent commercial purpose. It was during the 'great dig' and examination of the premises' refuse pit that an alternate narrative surfaced. 10 Absinthe bottles, along with French champagne bottles, imported spirits and 300 oyster shells were found - items that were consistent with an 1860s high-class brothel.
But why would a humble grocer be discarding such items?
Our Absinthe is an ode to 'Madame' Bonds. A tenacious female, who, despite stigma, used her store's front within the dim recesses of Little Lon to ensure her family's survival.
