Let me explain you a little bit what it is :

As of next month, we will suggest samples of 27 (for the beginning) of our best absinthes. It will be possible to buy them individually or in sets of 3 or 6. On each sample (containing 50ml) all the details concerning the absinthe will appear.

Why ?
We realized that some customers wish to taste the products before buying a big bottle. With our concept, we want to offer the possibility to discover the best absinthes issued from the best distilleries.
Indeed, someone who doesn't know absinthe doesn't want to spend to much money to get a bottle because he doesn't know if he's going to like it. And it's always the question of the choise. Which absinthe for the first time?

The avantages :
- Possibility to discover new absinthes at a low cost
- Really cheap shippingcosts from Europe (in comparison with a big bottle), approximately $15.
- Ideal for a gift with the nice box which can include a spoon

It's going to look like this:


If you want some more information, I suggest you to read an article about ABSINTHEXPLORE. You will find the list of the 27 absinthes of the selections and some technical details.

Well, this is my idea. What do you think about it ?

I didn't notice a price but I think it's a grand idea. Someone has been doing some work. *smile*

I wish I had done this! Now if you can just get a mini-fountain in there too, it will have everything!

It's a great idea. Like Bill, I'm curious about the pricing (especially the difference in price between the set of 3 and the set of 6)--does it vary depending on which absinthes you choose to include?--but I think you've got a winner on your hands. I only wish these sets had been available a couple of years ago when (like everyone else) I was forking over the cash for bottles of many of these brands--just to try them!

Not sure about the name, though... makes me think of toothpaste.

How about absinthe in a cannister?

Nevermind, that makes me think of tear gas, or a smoke bomb (ah, wasted youth!)


The idea looks really promising, seriously.

I wish some of us olde tyme noobs could have had access to such a splendid educational tool.

Bah, Absomphe, in Auvers back in May, I discussed with someone who used to drink absinthe under the ban, and they had an amazing concept to make it travel : AbsintheInTinCan :p

Mmmm, metallic herbs.

Yes, the price varies depending on which absinthes you choose to include. But there isn't a big difference between all the absinthes.

A sample costs about 10$. So the difference in price between the set of 3 and the set of 6 will be approximately 30$.

I hope it was clear enough.

What about the absinthes choosen to be part of the selection. Are they the ones you would have expected ?

Wonderful idea. I agree the name doesn't sit well, though. "intube" immediately reminded me of intubation. You may want to re-think that.

It does. Or worse, in vitro fertilization.

Absinthe Ampoule has a ring to it. Maybe some play on that?

There are a good number among the selection which I'd like to try. Not sure how soon that'll be, though.

This is freaking awesome. I'm really looking forward to this. The down side is that this could cause a serious exposion in absinthe purchasing by myself and many who are just chomping at the bit to try samples before taking the plunge!


Awesomeness!

Just as an FYI, Antoine was gracious enough to ask permission to post this before he actually did. Very classy.

I'll report back to you all when I get the sample box!

Wonderful idea, and the selection looks good. How about Absinthe in Vials?

Thank you all for the feedbacks !

Let me explain you the origin of the name:

A french firm invented this concept with the "tubes" or vials or sample bottled,... And the idea was at the beginning for wine. That's why the name of the concept is WIT ("Wine In Tube").

I've made a partnership with them to use the concept for absinthe. This is the reason why I decided to call the concept "Absinthe In Tube". I hope it's now easier to understand with this explanation.

EDIT: I've changed the name, following you advices. Thank you.

Edit: never mind. Just read ALL of the above. Duh!

Awesome idea. Sorry, I think the name is goofy and doesn't do the concept any justice at all.

The cost per sample is a bit pricey, but the low shipping cost somewhat mitigates that.

I think the name is fun, and don't see people getting hung up over it Antoine. The price is a little more than expected as Peridot said, but I think with the current exchange rate and given the great convenience of this service, it will still be a hit. 30 brands (most of which don't have sample bottle sizes available) available from the get-go is enough that just about anyone can find something they haven't tried yet.

Also, as I mentioned to you last week, I think it is a good mix of popular and less-stocked brands. Taking the time to go through and select only GENUINE absinthe shows your focus on quality, and that's something I'm willing to put my support behind.

When I first saw the name I thought it was a knocking off the youtube name, advertising a site that features louche videos!

The truth is much better though. Grand idea

This is an excellent idea! One, as a matter of fact, that I have discussed with friends of mine on occasion before. I Am very excited about this concept, thank you for sharing it with us Antoine.

I really appreciate your help, thank you all again.
I spend much time thinking about another name and asking people for new ideas. And I'd like to know what do you think about "ABSINTHETASTE" ?
Is it a good name ?

What about "ABSINTHEBOX" ? Does it sound good ?

Taste is a little bit better, and no longer medicinal. But it's not very exciting, is it? Where is the mystery, the excitement, the romance that has always been part of absinthe? It's like Coke moved on from "fizzy brown liquid in a bottle" to "fizzy brown liquid that you can drink."

Don't get me wrong on this, Antoine: the interest and enthusiasm shown by this debate here and on TARN about the name shows you have a real potential success on your hands.

My brief to your artists would be:-

1. Have an absinthe before doing any more work on this.
2. Then have a few more.
3. Think about this from the view of your main target customers. Assuming they are American, look at all the names of absinthes in or coming to the USA (list on my blog). Most of them are French, because that's what Americans expect from absinthe. So kick out ANYTHING that doesn't look like it fits with that list.
4. Start by "borrowing/adapting" some of the names there. How about:

- "Les Petites Fées" OR in case you worry that is too close to another brand, try ... "Les petites anges."
- "La Petite Mort:" OK, maybe you couldn't use that ...
- "Les petites mysteres"

I don't say "petit" is perfect .. there may be other words ..

And AbsintheBox .... mmm ... no.

Alright, hold up, I'm confused...

Are you going to provide samples of your own, single distillery's absinthes in this? Or are you planning to re-package samples of various absinthes for distributing?

[Edit: Nevermind, I went and read up.]

This sort of thing has been necessary... for sure. It's great that you're trying to address that void. Although, honestly, I don't really like the presentation. You've got some very "brown" and "yellow" stuff going on in that promo, and the box is... not... right.

On the name, please consider another way about it.



6 samples will run about $75 shipped to the States, for 300ml?

This picture is only to show approximatly how it looks like. It's not going to be this color of course. I mean we all know the color of absinthe (this is whisky on this picture...).
More pictures are coming soon...


Yup, that's it.

I think Alan is right about a french name, but one that would be easy to say.

Worked with 'Mericans before, have you?

What about if I shorten the name ? It might solve the problem and become :

"ABSINTUBE"

Would it be better ?
(Tanks again for your help. I promise, it is the last question...)

Antoine, if you want help with the name, this forum worked together to name the road Joe's house is on.

Well it has very little to do with an absinthe product name

Yeah, but there's lots of creative minds here. Just get them to agree not to expect any money for it.

Absinthexplore
PREMIUM ABSINTHE SAMPLES

Maybe try capitalizing the "X". I like where you're going with this.

My design skills are not so good but whatev, fun to brainstorm!

How many times am I going to type "holy crap" tonight?

Holy crap. That looks great.

I like Absinthexplore. Or something like that.

AbsintheTube or whatever were too functional, too descriptive. They described it from the viewpoint of the producer.

Absinthexplore starts to describe it from the viewpoint of the consumer.

I understand that it may help Antoine to have the word "absinthe" separate to help the search engines find it. Which led me to think of another name:

Absinthe Explorer

Maybe a bit like Internet Explorer, but that shows the potential of the concept ..

You're kidding us right???

This is excellent.

Seriously!

See what I mean?

No kidding. I could have saved a boat load in wasted money and reallocated the funds to better places...and better absinthe.

Great idea.

I like you suggestion Jonathan D. Thank you !

We've decided to chooce this name. You did a good job with the design as well, but we had to change it (because of the design of the website, which is quite different).

ABSINTHEXPLORE - Premium Absinthe Samples :



Jonathan D., I want to thank you for your help ! Could you please send me a PM with your address and the 6 absinthes you wish to receive in your set (see here for the list) ?

Now, time for a glass to celebrate it. Cheers !

Looks fantastic Antoine! With your art it brings a whole new mystical feel to it that really works. I'm glad a half-decent idea popped out of my noggin that you could use, and thank you for the sample offer, I'll PM you shortly.

Best of luck in your endeavor!!

>Just as an FYI, Antoine was gracious enough to ask permission to post this before he actually did.<


Has Antoine asked persmission from all the distilleries if they are OK with you re-bottling their products outside their area of production and without any supervision over what you put in the tube - that it will actually be the same product, un-adulterated ? My guess is that several distilleries/producers/brand owners on your list would not approve, simply because they have no control over what you do.
Sending out free samples amongst friends is one thing, but selling re-bottled samples, even though a good idea for consumers to try, is something that should be left for each producer decide to do or not (and in most countries is the only legal option for alcohol that is being commercially sold)...

To get around this quandary you could just send them out for free, I'm sure that neither the customer nor the producers would complain much about that, and if the customer wants to buy a full bottle, maybe he'll buy from you...marketing costs, you know...

I'd just assumed that he'd received all of the proper permissions. Guess that makes me wrong-o.

Yes I did. I wouldn't have done this without permission.

Then I guess I wasn't wrong-o.

As far as St. Antoine is concerned, Antoine asked for permission long time ago. He is a good guy with great name

Really?

For a start, on your list, the Maitresse Rouge from Pernot for example...there hasn't been a production for over a year, and no new production scheduled...where would you get your product from and if you did get it, an aged Maitresse Rouge wouldn't be at all the same as a new bottling.

Verte and Blanche de Fougerolles are exclusive products of Liqueurs de France. Did you get LDF's permission to re-bottle them?

I know this. It was my mistake to take this absinthe in my selection. I will only have a few samples.


I had the permission from the Paul Devoille distillery itself.

Then you should not offer it at all as these samples would represent an aged product and not something one would normally buy when released.