Comments on: Absinthe comes to America: Welcome, old friend

By: AbbieAbsinthe

AbbieAbsinthe — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:33:54 +0000

Whatever you are looking for in terms of Absinthe, they have it! Click my name to see for yourself.

By: Doc

Doc — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:56:25 +0000

Never cared for the stuff, although I do like ouzo.

I seem to recall reading somewhiere that commiting a crime while high on absinthe is a legal defense in France.

By: Lainey

Lainey — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:06:13 +0000

My roommates and I tried Absenthe from Lucid for the first time this weekend. I can’t say I care for the taste (overpowering menthol fumes and way too strong black licorice) but if you use some of the drink recipes from their website you can easily cover up the taste.

We experienced it first the traditional way by allowing it to louche. The sugar didn’t add a thing because it just fell to the bottom of the glass.

I can say it was definately a different type of tipsy feeling though. I didn’t feel sluggish but my tounge did feel distinctly numb. I had some incredibly lucid (perhaps hence the brand name?) dreams that night too. I think I’ll do it again :)

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:08:45 +0000

I read somewhere that the reason absinthe got the reputation that it has now is from the French. around the turn of the century, there was a drought (or some other kind of unfavorable weather condition) that caused a severe shortage of grapes. absinthe was offered as a replacement and soon became popular. too popular. once the wine industry was back on its feet, it was getting ignored by absinthe lovers. so the french started a campaign against absinthe–that it caused hallucinations, mental disorders, etc and that it was immoral to drink. it apparently worked.

like i said, i read this somewhere cant remember where so it may not be true. kinda makes sense though

By: Darkrose

Darkrose — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:55:34 +0000

Meh. I have an associate who brings me back a couple bottles from the czech republic when he travels there (usually around once a year).

Good times. :)

By: BioLord

BioLord — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:59:24 +0000

Hi Alice

I have to disagree with you. If you drink real absinthe you’ll notice what absintheurs call “secondaries”

Thujone is a 100% natural product of Artemisia absinthium and it causes the gaba receptors in your brain to fire randomly. Pre-ban absinthe had about 260mg/l of thujone according to Niels Arnold of Kansas University. As I say the highest you can get today is 100mg.

It is relaxing and counters the effects of alcohol. Fake absinthe (most modern varieties) will not do this. Absinthes that use chemotypes of wormwood to avoid the US ban will also not do this as they remove the thujone.

The absinthe must also have anise (Pimpinella anisum)to enjoy the secondaries some say, but I am not so sure.

If you do not agree…try some real absinthe and become a convert :-)

I’ll write an article on it if you like :-)

By: shelly

shelly — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:05:41 +0000

had absinthe in bath, england this summer. wasn’t all that impressed.

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:04:35 +0000

I drink absinthe and can assure you all strange effects, other than those of other alcoholic bevvies, are complete myths. The madness associated with absinthe drinking arose due to unscrupulous distillers putting wood alcohol in the mixture. When demand outstripped supply as thousands of French troops returned from foreign duty, it opened the door to these corner cutting jerks. Money making was their only object and wood alcohol was very cheap.
For an alcoholic drink that is really hallucinogenic–and legal–try yellow Chartreuse. For quality absinthes I recommend those made by T. A. Breaux. Furthermore, do not be stupid and try the ridiculous fad of setting absinthe on fire–it’s pointless and crude. Use the classic ritual and enjoy the louche.

By: BioLord

BioLord — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:55:38 +0000

“FRO, apparently the Czech “olive oil-colored” stuff doesn’t have a whole lot of thujone either”

Depends which one you get. Some have 35mg. There is even one with 100mg called Century Absinthe that is made in a forest using fresh wormwood. Expensive though..they say it makes you see the Green Fairy :-)

Lucid is green but it doesn’t have thujone as it is probited due to a law from the Prohibition era. It also tatses sugary and has no anise.

Kubler is from Switzerland I think. Quite nice and better than Lucid

By: TMo

TMo — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:10:35 +0000

(Un)fortunately, wormwood does not contain hallucinogenic properties as widely believed, though drinkers report a more energetic, lucid drunk – probably a difference from beer and liquor comparable to a silly, slushy wine drunk.

They need to hurry up with this distribution. I want some. I hear it tastes nasty. I don’t care.

Sarah: Not worth the hassle of making it legal in the US? It’s been legal. The limit for thujone in a drink has been in place because of its poisonous properties, but apparently the old recipes for absinthe are below this level and have been legal in the US for quite awhile. European manufacturers have only just finished arguing with the US government about it. I’m surprised they came out on top. The US *always* wins… I must be on the absinthe.