Not exactly a wine but an aperitif...Anis del mono. (anise of the monkey, you know... my ancient ancestors)
I don't know if anyone distributes it in Louisiana. I got a bottle in Mexico once. No big deal, get Herbsaint here. By the way, the Herbsaint label has a picture of the Old Absinthe House on it - You know, the one on Bourbon street across from Galatoire's. There's a lot of history with that building. It had a secret floor where the battle of New Orleans was planned by Claiborne,Jackson and Lafitte. From the outside it looks like a two story building, but there was a middle floor accessible through a secret door in the circular staircase. The building was built by two Spanish brothers who were importers and exporters. They were also confreres of the Lafitte brothers, hence the secret room. I know this because I used to work at the restaurant there. Today the secret room is open and used as a dining room. I also hear that Absinthe itself is now (or soon to be ) legal and available.They still have the original Absinthe fountain there. It was poured in a glass on top of which a specially designed fork sat and upon which a sugar cube was placed. Water from the fountain then dripped on the cube dissolving the sugar and mixing with the absinthe below in the glass. Who needs mind altering pineapples when there's absinthe to be had! http://www.experienceneworleans.com/ruebourbon/history.html
The legal version is called Lucid and they were serving it at the Old Absinthe house this weekend. My friend went down with the intention of trying it and was not "lucid" shortly thereafter. Tastes horrible as well... so I hear.
