The recipe for absinthe originated in Couvet, Switzerland in the 1700s.
The anise-flavored tonic was claimed to have been invented by a French doctor named Pierre Ordinaire, but locals in Couvet said that, long before the appearance of Dr. Ordinaire, the Henriod sisters were doling out absinthe for medicinal purposes.
Regardless of who the originator of the recipe was, it is a fact that the Dubied-Pernod family purchased the recipe from Dr. Ordinaire and set up the first commercial distillery of absinthe in Couvet.
As time went by, and the popularity of absinthe increased, the beverage became acclaimed not only for its health-oriented benefits, but also for its effect on the mind, conjuring up the legend of the Green Fairy with her visions, dreams and artistic inspiration.
Today it is easy to buy absinthe online.