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How to drink Pernod? This refreshing French anise-flavored liqueur is worth seeking out—drink it with water as the French do, or use it in cocktails.

Pernod
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Got a bottle Pernod to drink, or wondering what it is? This anise-flavored liqueur is very popular in France but still relatively undiscovered in the US. In fact, it’s loads less popular than it’s anise-flavored cousin liqueur, absinthe.

As two cocktail experts, Alex and I have been lucky enough to drink Pernod with a view of the Mediterranean in the South of France (truly an experience). What’s the best way to drink Pernod? Here’s everything you need to know!

What is Pernod?

Pernod (Pernod Anise) is a French anise-flavored liqueur invented in 1920, after absinthe was banned in 1915. Making it without wormwood made it a legal liquor, as absinthe was thought to be hallucinogenic at the time.

Pernod is made with star anise, fennel, and other herbs and botanicals. The anise or black licorice flavor is very strong, though not quite as potent as similar liqueurs like absinthe and pastis. It’s manufactured and distributed by the company Pernod Ricard.

What’s in a name? There are a few anise-flavored products that can be easily confused. Here’s a breakdown of similar liqueurs:

  • Pastis aka Ricard Pastis is another anise-flavored liqueur invented in France in the 1930’s as an alternative to absinthe. It has a very strong black licorice flavor and is lightly sweetened, whereas absinthe is not. A popular brand is called Ricard Pastis, and it’s also manufactured by the Pernod Ricard company.
  • Pernod Absinthe is an absinthe manufactured by the Pernod Ricard company. It’s not the same product as Pernod Anise because it’s an absinthe.

Why was absinthe banned? Read more at our Guide to Absinthe.

What does Pernod taste like?

Pernod Anise has a strong black licorice flavor, with subtle notes of fennel, coriander and mint. It’s best served as the French drink Pastis, diluted with water so it becomes cloudy (called the ouzo effect).

How much alcohol is in Pernod? It is 40% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it has a very high alcohol content. It’s equivalent to hard alcohol like as whiskeyrumvodka and gin.

Are there any Pernod substitutes? Substitute another French anise liqueur like absinthe, Pastis or anisette. Other comparable substitutes are Sambuca, an Italian anise liqueur, or Ouzo, a Greek anise liqueur.

Why we like it

Pernod is a pungent, strong anise liqueur that’s extremely refreshing to drink with water as the French do (also called a Pastis). It tastes like black licorice, so we don’t recommend it if you’re not a fan of black jelly beans!

You can also use Pernod in cooking, where it pairs well with seafood. It pairs well with salmon, shrimp, and French recipes like bouillabaisse (seafood stew).

Pernod is at its best diluted with water or sparkling water, or you can mix it up into drinks. Here are a few drinks to try:

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Pernod Drink

Pernod
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Here’s how to drink Pernod like the French do! This cocktail is a refreshing mix of the anise-flavored liqueur and water.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Poured
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ ounces Pastis or Pernod
  • 6 ounces ice cold mineral water
  • Ice, optional

Instructions

  1. Add the Pernod to a small highball glass.
  2. Top with the water and enjoy. You can dilute with more or less water as desired.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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6 Comments

  1. Donald Davenport says:

    Hello: Enjoyed your article, thanks. Is there a Pernod drink with Vodka replacing
    Gin ?
    Thanks again,
    D.Davenport






    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      There aren’t any ones that I know of! We’d have to play around.

  2. dave says:

    When living on the Isle if Jersey ( Channel isles) I finished off my seasonal work by picking tomatoes with many people from Britany ( France) that was a lot closer to the island (once granted to England by William the Conquerer! These people were lovely to work with & even though I didnt know a word of French or the version that they preferred I was invited (along with a girlfriend) to the wedding of 2 of them! The wedding feast lasted over 4 hours with at least 6 courses, & the ” apperativ” we were given & never ever forgot after more than 50 years , was PERNOD & GRENADINE! It was fabulous tasting, very strong & I always remember the drink turning milky pink when the grenadine ( pomegranite syrup) was added!

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      We’ll have to try it! Thank yuo.

  3. Scott R Miller says:

    Love the blog, info and recipes! Thank you!

    Really dislike the pop-up advertising..🙄






  4. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!