Absinthe has always lived at the crossroads of myth and mastery. At Lynrace Spirit, we were honoured to welcome one of the most important figures in its modern revival Ted Breaux, founder of Jade Absinthe for an evening dedicated to history, ritual, and the enduring allure of La Fée Verte.
What Is Jade Absinthe?
Jade Absinthe is not simply another bottle on the back bar, it is a resurrection.
Rooted in the traditions of 19th-century France, Jade recreates the pre-ban absinthes that once captivated artists, writers, and free-thinkers. Distilled at the historic Combier Distillery in Saumur, France, Jade is produced using original 19th-century copper alembics and a strictly traditional botanical bill: wormwood, green anise, fennel, and other natural botanicals.
There are no shortcuts. No artificial colouring. Just authentic absinthe, reborn for today’s drinkers.
Ted Breaux: From Chemist to Master Distiller
A scientist by training, Ted Breaux’s journey into absinthe began not behind a bar, but in a laboratory. Through meticulous chemical analysis of sealed pre-ban bottles, Breaux uncovered the true composition of historic absinthes dispelling long-held myths surrounding their supposed dangers.
Armed with evidence rather than folklore, he founded Jade Liqueurs, becoming the man widely credited with bringing authentic absinthe back to the modern world.
“Absinthe is not a myth. It’s a science and a craft.” — Ted Breaux
A Visit to Lynrace Spirit
When Ted Breaux joined us at Lynrace Spirit, he brought more than bottles, he brought history.
Guests watched as he prepared absinthe according to the classic ritual: ice-cold water slowly dripping over sugar cubes, transforming the emerald liquid into its signature cloudy louche. It was theatre, tradition, and chemistry unfolding in real time, a reminder that absinthe is as much about process as it is about flavour.
Cocktail Feature: Bitter Party for One
Not all absinthe serves lean on sweetness. Bitter Party for One is a bold, bitters-driven cocktail that celebrates intensity, balance, and complexity.
With the herbaceous depth of Jade Absinthe, the brightness of fresh lemon, and a generous measure of Angostura bitters, this drink wears its bitterness proudly and deliciously.
Ingredients
30 ml Jade Absinthe
30 ml Campari
30 ml fresh lemon juice
20 ml simple syrup
15–20 ml Angostura bitters
Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake vigorously until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a citrus twist (optional).
“With its generous measure of Angostura, this is a cocktail that wears its bitterness proudly and deliciously.”
The Ritual Lives On
Often called La Fée Verte“The Green Fairy” absinthe has inspired poets, painters, and rebels for centuries. At Lynrace Spirit, we had the privilege of experiencing its past and present in one evening, guided by the man who restored its truth to the world.
Ted Breaux reminded us that absinthe is more than a drink. It is heritage, science, and ritual – history, captured in a glass.
Image Credit: Lynrace 2022 “With each glass raised, the Green Muse lives on.”
Lynrace Spirit – A Unique Spirit & Cocktail Bar in Jericho, Oxford | Absinthe
