In the southern French region of Marseille, the beloved French aniseed aperitif dubbed "pastis" is made with a wide range of botanicals for a rounded, flavorful drink. Guillaume Strebler, owner of a tiny distillery in the backstreets of Marseille called Distillerie de la Plaine, produces two different versions of the aperitif pastis.
The first is a standard blend of aniseed, while the second is more suggestive of Guillaume's artistic expression. He says "It's more herbal and floral. There's still aniseed, fennel, and licorice, but I also use verbena and yerba-mate." The result of this unique blend is a gentle spearmint note. The drink has a chocolaty smoothness and is served at the distillery with a single ice cube.
Image Credit: National Geographic
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Artisanal Aperitifs
- The rise of artisanal aperitifs presents opportunities for small distilleries to experiment with unique blends of botanicals, offering consumers a more personalized and flavorful experience.
- Botanical Blends
- Botanical blends are becoming increasingly popular in the aperitif industry, providing distilleries with an opportunity to differentiate themselves and create unique flavor profiles.
- Herbal Infusions
- Herbal infusions are emerging as a trend in the aperitif industry, providing distilleries with an opportunity to experiment with unique combinations of herbs and spices to create complex and layered flavor profiles.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Craft Distillery
- Craft distilleries can capitalize on the demand for artisanal aperitifs by experimenting with botanical blends and herbal infusions to create unique and personalized beverages that appeal to discerning consumers.
- Hospitality
- Hospitality businesses, such as restaurants and bars, can offer customers a unique and memorable experience by serving artisanal aperitifs that feature botanical blends and herbal infusions created by local craft distilleries.
- Specialty Food and Beverage Retail
- Specialty food and beverage retailers can capitalize on the trend towards artisanal aperitifs by offering a curated selection of unique and personalized blends created by craft distilleries, providing consumers with a differentiated and flavorful experience.
