Cheers, eldest son

Premier Fils absinthe flask from Romans

Absinthe Premier Fils is a historic French absinthe brand from the Belle Époque, founded and produced in Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme).

Origins and founder

It was created around 1882 by Louis-Philippe Premier (1836-1908), a distiller from a local dynasty.
His father, François Premier (1809-1888), had opened a liquor and confectionery business in 1829 under the name "Premier Aîné" (at Place Fontaine-Couverte, then Rue Saint-Nicolas). Louis-Philippe took over the business in 1869, increased its turnover significantly, and began specializing in absinthe in the 1880s. In 1886, he built a large distillery in the Germançon district (now Rue Premier).

Positioning and production

Premier Fils was considered a major premium quality brand. It was among the most renowned absinthes of the era (alongside Pernod Fils, Cusenier, etc.). By 1908, its production reached approximately 5 million liters, shipped throughout France, the colonies, and abroad.

It was distinguished in particular by:

• A natural coloration using plants (rather than artificial), a point it highlighted in its marketing.
• An "Absinthe Oxygénée" (Oxygenated Absinthe) version (like other brands of the time, notably Cusenier). This oxygenation (or ozonation) process was marketed as "hygienic" and allowed for accelerated aging; it appeared on certain bottles, including this flask.

In 1902, Charles Henry and Édouard Premier (brother-in-law and son) took over the business under the name "Premier Fils, Charles Henry et Cie."
Louis-Philippe Premier died in 1908. The banning of absinthe in France in 1915 led to the closure of the factory. The descendants later pivoted to anise-based spirits and pastis (the "Anis Premier" or "Un Premier" brands), which were marketed primarily in the Southeast until the 1950s.

Today

The brand disappeared with prohibition. It remains well-known to collectors through its bottles, carafes, promotional postcards, and objects from the Belle Époque. Modern reproductions of "Oxygénée" absinthes (notably by Jade) are inspired by this historical style, even if they are not directly linked to Premier Fils.

In summary: a fine regional brand that became a high-end national success, shining for about thirty years before disappearing with the 1915 ban. The bottle you have is a lovely artifact of that era.