Many distillers consider absinthe to be the pinnacle of their art, and St. George labors over theirs accordingly. Absinthe wasn’t yet legal when master distiller, Lance Winters, started refining his recipe for a decade, and when the ban was lifted, they were ready. St. George Absinthe Verte was the first legal American absinthe and continues to set the standard for absinthes. Their absinthe is made from a host of real ingredients, including the unholy trinity of wormwood, fennel, and anise, specifically star anise, which they’ve received some backlash for. Heady and herbaceous, the absinthe opens with spicy black licorice that slowly evolves into citrus and grass notes. Because of the abundance of essential oils, it’s rich and viscous on the palate—even at 120 proof. Adding an ice cube brings out another level of vivid flavor as the melting water releases botanical oils into solution, creating a lovely louche in the process.