Cusenier Freezomint Crème de Menthe 52° proof ‘release from the 1960s’ with OC

Cusenier Freezomint Crème de Menthe – Bottled in the 1960s (52° proof)

1. Introduction

This item is a bottle of Cusenier Freezomint Crème de Menthe with an alcohol content of 52° proof (equivalent to approximately 26 % vol.). The bottle is described as a bottling from the 1960s. Cusenier was a renowned French liqueur house whose products – in particular the Freezomint – were appreciated worldwide for several decades. This bottle represents an era of change in the company’s history and is now a sought-after collector’s item.

2. Historical context of the Cusenier company

2.1 Founding and Rise

The company E. Cusenier Fils Aîné & Cie. was founded in 1868. It developed into one of France’s leading liqueur and cognac producers. The ‘Freezomint’ brand was registered at an early stage as a trademark for a crème de menthe – the first trademark registrations date back to 1930, although evidence of its use in the USA dates back to 1920.

2.2 The 1960s

The 1960s marked a period of international expansionfor Cusenier . The company supplied markets across Europe, the USA and beyond. Freezomint Crème de Menthe was part of the standard range and was available in various bottle sizes – from miniatures (3–5 cl) to half-bottles (37.5 cl) and 75-cl bottles.

2.3 The end of the company

In the late 1970s, the company was wound up after Pernod Ricard had acquired the trademark rights. The ‘Freezomint’ brand was subsequently discontinued; the last trademark protection expired in 2005. Bottles from the period prior to the takeover are therefore a testament to a lost liqueur-making tradition.

3. The bottling from the 1960s

3.1 Physical description

Collectors and dealers describethe bottles from this era as ‘old and quirky-looking’ (‘old, quirky-looking bottle’). Typical features include:

• Characteristic bottle shape of the 1960s

• Label bearing the brand name ‘Freezomint’

• Manufacturer’s details : ‘E. Cusenier Fils Aîné & Cie.’ or ‘La Grande Distillerie E. Cusenier Fils Aîné & Cie.’

3.2 Alcohol content – 52° proof

The term ‘52° proof’ is a traditional British unit of measurement for alcohol content. In the United Kingdom, 1° proof = ⁷⁄₄ % vol., so 52° proof corresponds to approximately 26 % vol.. This specification is found primarily on bottles intended for the British market or for export to English-speaking countries.

Other bottlings from the 1960s also feature alcohol contents of 29 % vol., 30 % vol., or 45 % vol. (other Cusenier liqueurs). The 52° proof variant is therefore a specific export bottling.

3.3 Bottle capacity

This bottle is describedas a half-bottle containing 12 fl oz (approximately 35.5 cl). There are also 75-cl bottles, 37.5-cl bottles and miniatures (3–5 cl).

4. Product profile – Crème de Menthe

4.1 Characteristics

Cusenier Freezomint Crème de Menthe is a minty liqueur from France. The term ‘Freezomint’ – a portmanteau of ‘freeze’ and ‘mint’ – suggests a particularly fresh, cooling minty note reminiscent of the sensation of frozen mint.

4.2 Use

Crème de Menthe is traditionally:

• drunkneat as a digestif (chilled)

• as an ingredient in cocktails (e.g. Grasshopper, Stinger)

• to enhance desserts and sweet dishes

• as a flavouring in patisserie

5. Market context and collector’s value

5.1 Availability on the collectors’ market

Bottles of Cusenier Freezomint Crème de Menthe from the 1960s regularly appear at auctions and in specialist shops. The 52° proof version is one of the most sought-after bottlings.

5.2 Price range (guidelines)

Prices vary considerably depending on the level of liquid remaining, the condition of the label, the bottle size and the sales platform:

5.3 Special notes for collectors

• Fill level: For bottles from the 1960s, a lower fill level (‘low fill’) is common and reduces the value.

• Label condition: Signs of wear (“wear to the labels”) are typical for bottles of this age.

• Closure: Old closures may leak.

• Storage: Bottles should be stored in acool, dark place and kept upright.

5.4 Significance for collectors

The Cusenier Freezomint from the 1960s is more than just a liqueur – it is a ‘piece of liquid history’. Due to the discontinuation of the brand and its takeover by Pernod Ricard, bottles in their original packaging from before the 1970s are becoming increasingly rare.

6. Conclusion

This bottle of Cusenier Freezomint Crème de Menthe (52° proof) from the 1960s represents an era of French liqueur-making that is now irretrievably gone:

• It dates from the heyday of the Cusenier house, which was founded in 1868 and remained in existence until the 1970s.

• The 52° proof specification identifies it as an export bottling for the British market.

• It is a testament to the international liqueur culture of the 1960s.

• Due to its rarity and historical context, it is highly sought after by collectors .

For collectors and lovers of vintage liqueurs, this bottle is not merely a luxury drink, but an authentic relic from a time when French liqueur producers such as Cusenier still upheld their recipes in the spirit of an independent tradition.