Real absinthe. No artificial ingredients, no gimmicks. The first legal American absinthe released after the U.S. ban was lifted in 2007, St. George Absinthe Verte remains one of the most acclaimed and respected spirits in this category. Made from a host of real botanical ingredients, St. George’s is a layered and evocative expression of this beguiling and highly spirituous herbal elixir. And it has a monkey on the label!

A heady, herbaceous smack to the senses. It opens with spicy black liquorice and then slowly evolves into citrus and grass profiles with a dose of sarsaparilla. Because of the abundance of essential oils, it’s rich and viscous on the palate—even at 120 proof (52% alcohol).