Raff Distillerie

In the early 1860s, the State of California was suffering from an epidemic of stray dogs. At the time, dogs were said to outnumber people in the city of Los Angeles by nearly two to one. In San Francisco, however, two stray dogs named Bummer and Lazarus were beloved by the city, and recognized for their unique bond. Bummer, a Newfoundland, made a living by begging for scraps along Montgomery Street. In 1861, he rescued Lazarus from a fight with a larger dog and thereafter, the two dogs became inseparable. Eventually, newspapers and magazines such as the Californian, Daily Alta California, Daily Morning Call and Daily Evening Bulletin began writing stories of the dogs exploits.When Lazarus was captured by a dog catcher in 1862, a mob of angry citizens demanded his release and petitioned the city to have the pair declared public property. City supervisors were soon forced to release Lazarus, and declared thereafter that the duo would be exempt from city ordinances against stray dogs. In 1863, Lazarus passed away after being struck in the head by a horse. Emperor Norton, who had proclaimed himself the Emperor of the United States, attended Lazarus funeral. Two years later, Bummer passed away, and was eulogized by Mark Twain."We named our gin Bummer and Lazarus in homage to those two dogs and everything they did for San Francisco," says Carter Raff, the founder of Raff Distillerie. His distillery, situated on Treasure Island, was formerly used as a Navy brig (the distillation equipment can be found in the yard, while the prison cells have been converted into a bottling area).Bummer and Lazarus Gin is made from 100 percent California grapes, which are distilled into a brandy. "Were looking to produce a unique gin for the market," says Raff, noting that the use of a grape brandy for the backbone of the gin adds a subtle mouthfeel to its flavor. After the brandy has been produced, Raff redistills it with a number of fresh herbs and botanicals including juniper berries, orris root, coriander seed, angelica root, bitter orange peel, lemon peel, cinnamon bark and licorice root.As a result, Bummer and Lazarus Gin has notes of fresh citrus, particularly orange and lemon, along with subtle hints of earthy minerals and pepper. The clean and crisp finish ends with a soft burst of fresh cinnamon.Pick up a bottle today!

Born in England in 1819, Joshua Norton was raised in South Africa and emigrated to the United States upon receiving a bequest of $40,000 from his fathers estate. Upon his arrival in the United States, Norton moved to San Francisco, and made his living investing in real estate. After making a large investment in Peruvian rice, however, Norton lost his fortune and left California.By the time Norton returned to San Francisco from his self-imposed exile, he had become disgruntled with the inadequacies of the federal government and declared himself Emperor of the United States:"At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U.S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity."As Emperor, Norton dressed in part Union and part Confederate attire ordered the dissolution of Congress (if only wishing made it so) and the construction of a bridge between San Francisco and Oakland. Despite his eccentricities and psychological condition, Californians adored Emperor Norton nearly 30,000 people packed the streets of San Francisco to pay homage to Norton upon his death in 1880.On Treasure Island a man-made island located between San Francisco and Oakland Raff Distillerie pays tribute to Americas first and only Emperor with Emperor Norton Absinthe Dieu.Carter Raff, master distiller at the eponymous distillery, has been distilling spirits for nearly his entire life and began experimenting with absinthe over 25 years ago. Emperor Norton Absinthe Dieu starts with brandy made from 100 percent California grapes, which Raff distills with absinthes three traditional ingredients grand wormwood, anise and fennel seed before adding Roman wormwood, hyssop and lemon balm. The result is an absinthe reminiscent of absinthes served in Paris over a century ago it has woody hints of wormwood, followed by gentle notes of anise and citrus undertones. After distillation, Raff fills and labels each bottle by hand.The custom of drinking absinthe which traditionally has a natural green color and is often called la fe verte, or the "green fairy"- gradually became so popular in bars, cafs, and cabarets that, by the 1860s, the hour of 5 p.m. was called lheure verte, or the "green hour". Enjoy lheure verte with a bottle of Emperor Norton Abinsthe Dieu!