Legendre Herbsaint Advertisement

From New Orleans Comes Herbsaint

Pictured is a striking advertisement for Legendre Herbsaint circa 1944 created by well known Southern writer William B. Wisdom.

William B. Wisdom created several striking advertisements for Legendre & Co., including a number of Legendre Herbsaint recipe booklets, and numerous iconic advertising slogans, with evocative period graphics. Wisdom also created tie-in ads for The Old Absinthe House, that feature Legendre Herbsaint prominently in the ad copy.

J. Marion Legendre recalled William B. Wisdom and his advertising work in Legendre's memoirs:
"I employed William B. Wisdom to promote and advertise “Herbsaint”, having a very fertile mind, he prepared recipe books and all sorts of advertising material. He painted Herbsaint as being a most delectable drink and described the product in glowing terms. Wisdom stated that the formula for Herbsaint was handed down from father to son and had been in the Legendre family for a long time. I told him that this might be questioned but he said “It is of no great importance”. As a matter of fact, I have never been questioned on this subject and I have never changed any literature printed by me and by Sazerac. No one really cares how Herbsaint came about as they either enjoy it or do not enjoy this drink"J. Marion Legendre October 5, 1984

Legendre Herbsaint Mini Bottles

A selection of Legendre and Herbsaint Mini Bottles.


A group of assorted Legendre and Company Mini bottles pictured below.

Below:

A Legendre Herbsaint Cocktail mini, with a label typical of Legendre & Co. bottled cocktails, circa 1935.

A Glass of Vintage Herbsaint

A glass of vintage Legendre Herbsaint from the 1940s, a rare treat from old New Orleans.
The scent and taste of this vintage bottle of Legendre Herbsaint compares well to a vintage absinthe such as Pre-Ban Pernod Fils, and other quality Pre-Ban absinthes.

Legendre Herbsaint stands alone in it's category as an absinthe substitute, with an unbroken production record from 1933, to present day, long after other competitors have faded into history.

1940s Legendre Herbsaint

 

1930s Legendre & Co. Bottles

A Selection of 1930s Legendre & Co. BottlesTop images: A 1934 Legendre Herbsaint bottle, with the label in two parts, showing the new name, Legendre Herbsaint. This bottle dates from the early production of the newly revised label.
Also shown is the original Legendre & Co. stamped cork, rescued from the inside of the bottle.

Legendre Herbsaint Bottle From the 1940s

A still sealed full bottle of Legendre Herbsaint

This is a well preserved example of Legendre Herbsaint from the 1940s, still full with no ullage, this bottle waits for the day to be opened, and make this Herbsaint collector's heart grow fonder.