What is absinthe?
Absinthe is a high-alcohol drink that was extremely popular in 19th and early 20th century Europe and now, after 95 years of prohibition, is legal again. Real absinthes are carefully distilled from a variety of all-natural herbs. Some of these herbs are regional and may include: calamus, angelica, marjoram, peppermint, tansy, lemon balm, sage, coriander, veronica, angelica and hyssop, but will always include: green anise, fennel and the most important being, grand wormwood or Artemisia absinthium. These 3 ingredients are known as "the holy trinity". Without grand wormwood, the liqueur is not an absinthe. Many absinthes are now made from the same recipes used over a century ago. Absinthes generally contain between 45% and 72% alcohol (90 and 144 proof).
Is it legal to buy Real Absinthe in the United States?
Yes, real absinthe is now on sale within the framework of the American standards currently in place by the European Union, which were adopted by the United States in May 2007. This law instituted by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) stipulates that as long as the level of thujone is less than 10 parts per million, per liter, then a product can be considered "thujone-free". As a result, absinthe can now be sold in the United States. Today, many absinthes are made from the same original recipes of pre-banned absinthes, whose thujone levels were sometimes lower than this new standard. In a recent study of 13 pre-banned absinthes, the range was between 0.5 and 48.3 parts per million, per liter. During the pre-ban era (before 1915), the word thujone was rarely used, and if it was, it was used by scientists, not absinthe drinkers. The word thujone was never printed on an absinthe bottle or found in advertisements. People didn't care how much thujone was in absinthe, they only cared about how it tasted. The only time the word thujone began to be used was during anti-absinthe days. This ingredient became the scapegoat for absinthe propaganda. Today, the thujone circus is orchestrated mainly by Eastern European absinthe manufacturers and American fly-by-night companies trying to capitalize and prey on the innocent and naive. These companies try to convince the uninformed that "the more thujone, the better". Myths associated with absinthe and thujone like this one unfortunately push people in the wrong direction. You can buy real absinthe right here on this site.
What does absinthe taste like?
The heart of absinthe is found with anise, fennel and grand wormwood. These 3 herbs combine to give what is generally explained as an herbal, aniseed-like taste and smell, and NOT that of black licorice, as many erroneously describe it. Originally used as a digestive to settle the stomach, absinthe is a refreshing drink, especially when properly prepared.
Where can I buy absinthe?
You can buy absinthe in most major liquor stores in the USA and Europe. There are a number of highly reputable online stores located in the U.S. and Europe that have access to most legal absinthes. Many of these online stores ship to most states and countries (where permitted) and many guarantee delivery of your package. You can also buy absinthe online right here at Maison Absinthe for a wider selection.
Why are some absinthes green and others clear?
After the distillation process, all absinthes are clear until they are soaked in natural herbs to color them. This is the last process in the making of absinthe, and some distilleries prefer not to add this step. Usually, petite wormwood, hyssop and sometimes lemon balm are used to color most French and Swiss absinthes. After absinthe was banned in Switzerland in 1910, a number of Swiss distillers went underground and continued to make absinthes. These absinthes were bottled without the latter process and were therefore clear so as not to be recognized by the authorities. They were called Clandestines (secret) or La Bleus. Today, these names are synonymous with colorless absinthes. Current Swiss law forbids any absinthe manufactured in the country to contain an unnatural ingredient.
How much alcohol does absinthe contain?
Absinthe is a liqueur with a high alcohol content. Typical absinthes range from 45 to 72 percent alcohol (90 to 144 proof). There are absinthes from the Czech Republic worth up to 180 proof.
What is absinthe?
There are two different types of wormwood used in the manufacture of distilled absinthe. The first and most important is grand wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium. This could be the most controversial and misunderstood herb in the alcohol industry. Without grand wormwood, the liqueur is not absinthe. Grand wormwood is a plant that grows wild in various parts of the world and, in particular, in the hills of French-speaking Switzerland and eastern France. Grand wormwood should never be confused with its cousin petite wormwood (Artemisia pontica, aka Roman wormwood), which contains no thujone and is mainly used to give absinthe its color.
Why do some people set fire to their absinthe?
It was invented in the 1990s in the Czech Republic as nothing more than a gimmick. Pre-inhibited absinthe drinkers would never set fire to their absinthe. It became more socially acceptable because of popular films such as "From Hell" and "Moulin Rouge". The two examples of absinthe used in these films are historically inaccurate. Today, many bars choose to "flambé" their absinthe because it generates interest and draws attention to the drink. Why would you take a carefully distilled, artisanal liqueur and burn it?
Will absinthe make me crazy or hallucinate?
No, but as with any alcohol, excessive drinking can lead people to do things they wouldn't normally do. Absinthe is no different from any other very high-strength liqueur. Drinking alcohol in excess is never a good idea.
