An anis-flavored spirit from France, where it has been used as both as an aperitif and a zesty cooking ingredient. It's natural flavor is derived from a distilled blend of aromatic herbs.
Pernod is actually a successor of absinthe, the potent liquor popular in the 19th century. The exotic bouquet, when tasted neat, is potent and bittersweet; with the addition of water, it turns milky-opaque and has a long, licorice-like finish.