Pastis de Provence · Forcalquier · 65 Plants & Spices
Most pastis is anise, liquorice and not much else. Henri Bardouin is built from around sixty-five plants and spices gathered across the Haute-Provence hills — thyme, rosemary, cardamom, tonka, sage — and it drinks like a herb garden at dusk. The one bottle that makes pastis worth taking seriously.
A small town in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, historically a centre of herbal medicine and liqueur-making, surrounded by wild aromatic hills.
The Garrigue
Thyme, rosemary, sage, savory and juniper grow wild on the limestone slopes. Most of the recipe is drawn from what surrounds the distillery.
The Spice Road
Cardamom, cinnamon, tonka bean, pepper and star anise arrive from further afield, layered over the local herbs.
Separate Macerations
Botanicals are macerated and distilled in groups, then blended — which is why nothing in the recipe cancels anything else out.
What Sets It Apart
65 Botanicals
Where most pastis uses a handful
Wild Provençal Herbs
Gathered from the hills around the distillery
Grouped Macerations
Distilled in sets, then blended for clarity
The Louche
Turns cloudy gold the instant water hits it
Tasting Profile
Anise & Liquorice
Garrigue Herbs
Warm Spice
Sweetness
Star AniseThymeRosemaryCardamomTonka Bean
How to Serve It
Five Parts Water
Ice-cold water poured over, never ice first
Tall Glass, No Ice
Ice dulls the herbs — chill the water instead
In Cooking
A splash into fish stew or bouillabaisse
Pairs Well With
Green Olives
The default, and still unbeaten
Bouillabaisse
Provence in a bowl, and in a glass
Salted Almonds
Salt and anise, endlessly
Goat's Cheese
Fresh and chalky, with the herbs
The Finishing Touches
Green Velvet Gift Box
Our signature presentation box, added at checkout.
Hand-Tied Ribbon
Wide cream satin, tied by hand into a full bow.
Signature Gift Bag
Our matching gift bag, so it's ready to hand over on arrival.
Your Message
Add a personal note at checkout — we'll include it with the delivery.
Sending it as a surprise? Enter the recipient's address at checkout and we'll deliver straight to their door, boxed, ribboned and carrying your message — in as little as 30–45 minutes anywhere in London.
How We Deliver
London · 30–45 Minutes
Delivered to your door 24/7, 365 days a year, across Greater London.
UK-Wide Delivery
Express in 1–2 business days, standard in 3–5. Rates shown at checkout.
Tracked & Confirmed
Shipment confirmation with live tracking sent to your email.
Challenge 21
Age verified on delivery — 18+ ID required. Responsible retailing, always.
At a Glance
Origin
Forcalquier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Style
Pastis de Provence
Botanicals
Around 65 plants and spices
Serve
One part to five parts cold water
ABV
45%
Bottle Size
70cl
Questions
I don't like aniseed — is this still worth trying?
Quite possibly. Anise is the frame here, not the whole picture. With sixty-five botanicals the dominant impression is herbal and spiced — thyme, cardamom, pepper — rather than the flat liquorice hit most people remember from cheap pastis.
Why does it go cloudy?
It is called the louche. The essential oils from anise are soluble in alcohol but not in water, so adding water throws them out of solution and the drink turns opaque gold. It is a sign the oils are real, not added flavouring.
How much water should I add?
Five parts cold water to one part pastis is the Provençal standard. Add the water to the pastis, not the other way round, and skip the ice — it mutes the herbs. Chill the water instead.
Who is this a good gift for?
Anyone who holidays in the south of France, any cook who makes fish stew, and the drinker who has worked through gin and amaro and wants the next herbal thing. It is also a genuinely striking bottle for the price.
Can you deliver it directly to the person I'm gifting?
Yes — enter their address at checkout and add your message. In London it can be at their door within 30–45 minutes, any hour of the day. The recipient must be 18+ with ID for our Challenge 21 check.
Why Buy From Drinks House 247
✔ 100% authentic stock✔ 4.8★ Google · 223 reviews✔ Gift-boxed and ribboned✔ Open 24/7, 365 days✔ London's 24-hour spirits house, based in Battersea
18+ Please enjoy Henri Bardouin responsibly. For guidance and support, visit drinkaware.co.uk.
