Pernod's distinctive flavor comes from the distillation of star anise with a number of aromatic herbs and plants. The original Pernod was an absinthe, though because of the controversy that surrounded the drink of Picasso, Baudelaire and Van Gogh, the ingredient responsible for the drink's hallucinatory effect was banned. Now absinthe free, this legendary product has become one of the best-known digestifs available today.