ABSINTHE HR GIGER -

was named by Hans Ruedi Giger, and inspired by a book called „HR GIGER and the Zeitgeist of the Twentieth Century“ written by Stanislav Grof. The book is the first one of its kind to analyze Giger's visionary world from a psychological perspective.

Giger became extremely popular after he designed the creature in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic Alien – it even earned him an Oscar in 1980. But long before that, he came up with absurd and fantastic art work, sculptures. Often, his work evolved around the spooky and at times futuristic representation of human bodies and machines in a cold, interconnected relationship, which was described as „biomechanical“.

Hans Ruedi Giger died on May 12, 2014 at the age of 74 – his work, inspiration and unique taste will never be forgotten. The book „HR GIGER and the Zeitgeist of the Twentieth Century“ and ABSINTHE ZEITGEIST & ABSINTHE WOLFSMILCH were the last projects he worked on.

Zurich, 03. March 2014

was named by Hans Ruedi Giger, and inspired by a book called „HR GIGER and the Zeitgeist of the Twentieth Century“ written by Stanislav Grof. The book is the first one of its kind to analyze Giger's visionary world from a psychological perspective.

Giger became extremely popular after he designed the creature in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic Alien – it even earned him an Oscar in 1980. But long before that, he came up with absurd and fantastic art work, sculptures. Often, his work evolved around the spooky and at times futuristic representation of human bodies and machines in a cold, interconnected relationship, which was described as „biomechanical“.

Hans Ruedi Giger died on May 12, 2014 at the age of 74 – his work, inspiration and unique taste will never be forgotten. The book „HR GIGER and the Zeitgeist of the Twentieth Century“ and ABSINTHE ZEITGEIST & ABSINTHE WOLFSMILCH were the last projects he worked on.

Zurich, 03. March 2014

R.I.P

February 5th 1944 – May 12th 2014

With the death of H.R. Giger, the world loses a gifted surrealist. He became internationally famous with his extraterrestrial landscapes and with the characters he created for the films "Alien" by Ridley Scott (1979) and "Species" by Roger Donaldson (1995). 

He received an Oscar in 1980 for his role in Alien. But fame in Hollywood was a double-edged sword for Giger throughout his life. "I was suddenly very popular," he said, "but the museums didn't want to show my work anymore."Giger, who repeatedly addressed death in his art, was confronted with it himself when he was young. 

In 1975, his girlfriend, actress Li Tobler  († 27), took her own life. The marriage to Mia Bonzanigo later failed – Giger worked day and night on his art. Giger found happiness in 2006. "Carmen has been my biggest inspiration for the last few years – she's a sweetheart!" he said at the time.

ABSINTHE HR GIGER

ABSINTHE HR GIGER combine tradition and zeitgeist. Preserving the authenticity and originality of Swiss absinthes is important to us. Our products are distilled from 100% natural ingredients in sustainable processes and by hand by former moonshiner families from the Val-de-Travers. The work is just as sophisticated today as it was in the past and the enthusiasm and love for absinthe is also unchanged. Products that are carefully and locally made and always presented in style.

ZEITGEIST

is a elegant «Bleu» with a pleasant and strong Louche, filled with fennel and a subtle sweetness. The botanicals include large and small wormwood, anise, fennel, peppermint, hyssop, sweet wood, lemon balm and other secret herbs. ZEITGEIST absinthe is produced in a small batch of 69 litres at the time.

COLOR: Clear

AROMA: A persistent yet delicate fennel aroma followed by anise and a touch of lemon balm.

Taste: The perfectly balanced herbs give the palate a satisfying long lasting sweetness that soothes the senses. This is a delicate absinthe with a mild bitterness. Enjoy ZEITGEIST diluted with ice cooled water.

Finish: Mild, gentle and persistent.

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WOLFSMILCH

is a powerful «Verte» with a strong body and a stunning herbal tea note. The essential oils are present everywhere, a true treat for the most selective absintheur. A modern absinthe for today’s bars made according to traditional methods and natural ingredients. The botanicals include large and small wormwood, anise, fennel, peppermint, hyssop, sweet wood, lemon balm and other secret herbs. Wolfsmilch absinthe is produced in a small batch of 69 litres at the time.

COLOR: Green

AROMA: Herbal with notes of liquorish, followed by subtle lemon balm hints and a persistent and strong vermouth bouquet.

Taste: Full bodied solid taste, the bitterness from the wormwood is complimented by a succulent sweetness coming from the botanicals. Enjoy HR Giger Wolfsmilch with ice cooled water.

Finish: Powerful and long lasting.

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NOTES TO THE CREATION

Switzerland was guest country at the book fair 13 – 16 March 2014. The artist H. R. Giger is honored in Leipzig with an exhibition and a book. In order to make it easier to bear or get intoxicated by the pictures, Absinthe Distribution, under the responsibility of Michael Widmer, brings out the two absinthes “Zeitgeist” and “Wolfsmilch” in honor of Giger. Because the “Green Fairy” was also invented in Switzerland and was the overarching theme at the Book Fair. It is even served at some corners of the Book Fair and the parallel WGT.

OPENING APERITIF

With a humorous speech, Minister of Culture SWITZERLAND, Alain Berset launched Switzerland’s largest cultural presence in Germany since the late 1990s. At the opening of the Leipzig Book Fair on Wednesday, Berset spoke, among other things, about «confusing» Switzerland.

ABSINTHE MARTIN, Distillerie La Valote

The secret of the Absinthe La Valote Martin lies in the appreciation for the product, its history and its region. In 1910, the absinthe production was banned by the Swiss government however many clandestine distillers kept the tradition alive.
Francis Martin was one of them and when the ban was lifted in 2005, he decided to produce absinthe in accordance with the law, maintaining the authenticity of the product and the region. His recipe has not changed, absintheurs appreciate it as ever before. The eldest among them can often be caught saying that it reminds them of the Absinthe of their youth.

H.R. GIGER AND THE ZEITGEIST OF THE 20th CENTURY

IN HIS UNIQUE ESSAY, STANISLAV GROF, THE PIONEER OF CONSCIOUSNESS RESEARCH, INTERPRETS HR GIGER’S VISIONARY WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY. SO FAR, HR GIGER’S PICTURES HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN ALL VARIATIONS, BUT NEVER THE SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF HIS ART, AND HARDLY ANY ART CRITIC HAS ACKNOWLEDGED GIGER AS A PERSON BEHIND THE PICTURES. WITH HIS INTERPRETATION OF THE CLAUSTROPHOBIC, NIGHTMARISH ASPECTS IN GIGER’S ART, GROF ENABLES A NEW, DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENTIRE WORK. THE BOOK ALSO PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO GIGER’S INTUITIVE WAY OF WORKING AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CONTAINS SOME FORMATIVE ANECDOTES FROM THE ARTIST’S LIFE.
WITH A FOREWORD BY CLAUDIA MÜLLER-EBELING (ART HISTORIAN).

HR GIGER MUSEUM

A special edition of only 999 numbered bottles that conmemorates the 20th anniversary of the H.R Giger Museum in Gruyères. This rare release is composed of ten local botanicals from Val-de-Travers, that had been carefully distilled by La Valote Martin Distillery, according to traditional methods and old recipes dating back to the Belle Époque. This limited edition Absinthe was prepared in 2018 with loving care in honour of HR Giger and the 20th Anniversary of his museum in Gruyères, Switzerland.

ANNIVERSARY

This Absinthe «The Green Fairy» is made with great care from local plants from Val-de-Travers. The production is done according to traditional methods and with old recipes from the times of the Belle Époque. Serving suggestion: 1 part Absinthe 3-4 parts ice cold water – no sugar

COLOR: CLEAR

AROMA: Fresh, spicy, powerful but smooth flavours.

Taste: Mild and smooth, with a harmonious base note with intense notes of wormwood. The Grande wormwood, dominates and slightly numbs the tongue. Tangy and fresh without a drop of bitterness.

Finish: A traditional absinthe with a predominant flavour of wormwood and anise. Fresh and spicy at the same time. A true “La Bleu” for connoisseurs with excellent taste.

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GALLERY Sansvoix

The works of Hans Ruedi Giger mainly revolve around the recurring theme of «biomechanoids», in which he brings surealistic tendencies with technology, mechanics and creatures in disturbing to morbid interactions, often with sexual allusions.

SWISS CRAFT DISTILLERS

It started in 2011 with the cooperation between us and the only authentic absinthe bar in Switzerland, the Grünen Fee in Solothurn, with which we did pioneering work for the revival of absinthe culture. WE ARE your partner for authentic Swiss absinthe from the Val-de-Travers. WE ARE developers and mediators of absinthe culture and a hub between the Val-de-Travers and absinthe lovers from all over the world.

Team Work

Committed and creative

Philosophy

Trust pays off

Office

Somewhere on earth

WE PRODUCE ABSINTHE Just the way we love it

CONTACT Us.

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Phone Number

+ 41 44 555 87 77

(+021) 582 – 369

Location

Hohlstrasse 473

ZURICH, Switzerland – 8048

Email

welcome(at)figee.ch

contact(at)swisscraftdistillers.com