Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

[Teazer]

Pernod Absinthe Returns After 93 Years

<<the original absinthe maker, Pernod, has finally re-introduced their famous original.

Pernod Absinthe is a revival of Pernod Fils, arguably the most authentic absinthe ever produced with a recipe that's over 200 years old. The company stopped making it in 1915 when the French government banned absinthe, later coming out with a wormwood-free version. The original is a high-proof sprit distilled from Grand Wormwood, fennel and anise - exactly the same as consumed by the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and now, us.>>

[affa]

is real absinthe illegal in the states?

[Josealb]

According to the reviews, its a good one, but does not walk the talk.

Teazer, you're in the US? have you tried Lucid?

[qiphlow]

and this stuff is supposed to do what, exactly?

[dragontigerpalm]

and this stuff is supposed to do what, exactly?

It is supposed to cause hallucinations when wormwood is used.

[qiphlow]

hmmm....
hallucinations, you say? that sounds like it's right up my alley!

[Teazer]

Absinthe used to be illegal to buy or sell but not illegal to own over here, so I'd bring it in from Europe.
No it doesn't cause hallucinations, or at least it hasn't to me or anyone I know.
It's alcohol, so you get hammered just the same when you drink a lot, but your mind has a certain clarity to it throughout that's rather nice.
Nope, haven't tried Lucid yet. I haven't seen it around these parts yet.

[Ian]

last time I tried it, I remember thinking this stuff seems to completely bypass your stomach and go straight for the head.

it also didn't taste too nice. sort of like toothpaste and anise. I don't like anise.

oh FWIW, I didn't drink it the proper way. but then, I was on a bus, so...

basically I can't say I've had anything close to the absinthe experience.

[Teazer]

I don't like anise.

Yeah, that would be a problem right there.

[Ian]

haha yeah. I'm guessing the genuine article won't taste so offensive, and if I get the chance I'll definitely give it a try.

[Michael]

Just don't do it when you're pregnant, Ian. Wormwood can induce abortions according to my herb reference book, but then again it's supposed to be good for getting the parasites outta you, too.

[kreese]

"Just don't do it when you're pregnant, Ian."

Ha ha ha.

[DeusTrismegistus]

Abisnthe has been illegal to purchase in the US for a long time but not illegal to own. This allowed you to import it. This spring the US relaxed its absinthe selling laws and you can now buy absinthe that is classified as a spirit, it contains less than 10mg/liter of thujon. It is still illegal to sell bitters type absinthes in the US, conatining up to 35mg/liter of thujon. Thujon is the chemical in wormwood that is a mild halucinogin. It rarely causes hallucinations but it can. It is renowned for its ability to give a lucid drunk, where your head stays remarkably clear. The magic number is around 3 drinks, too much alcohol can overpower the wormwood effect.

Thujon is also found in sage. Abisnthe gets its traditional flavor from the anise. There are anise free absinthes. An absinthe without anise will not louche when drank the traditional way. The traditional method of drinking absinthe is to pour about an ounce in a glass. Then you put two sugar cubes on an abinsthe spoon (slotted to allow it to drain) and then you pour a think stream of ice cold water over the sugar either from a fontain or a decanter. You use about a 4:1 water to absinthe ratio. When the cold water mixes with the absinthe it creates a cloudy liquid (the louche) this is caused by the anise. You can also do the burning ritual where you pour the absinthe over the sugar cubes first, then light them on fire (most absinthes are high enough alcohol to burn nicely) the sugar burns and carmalizes. Then you do the water thing as normal. The burning ritual is not traditional and it was started by the movie hellraiser.

When absinthe was popular it was common to call the time spent drinking it the Green Hour. Absinthe is also known as The Greene Fairy. Oh and the basic difference between a spirit and a bitters is the spirit is distilled and the bitters is macerated.

I currently have 6 bottles en route for a party this halloween. It will be bitchin.

[Josealb]

Actually, Lucid is supposed to be more of the original stuff than its wormwood filled european cousins. Theres a toxic side to wormwood that Lucid does not have, but maintains all the other cool herbs and flavors. The louche is supposed to be superb.

I had a spanish bottle for my first one, but my noobish self killed the experience with caramelized sugar and not so cold water. Now i know that a good absinthe really does not need sugar at all, and that ice cold water spells the difference between a really good drink and donkey piss. Right now i got my hands on some cheap portugese brand with no louche effect at all....but hey....beggars cant be choosers.

[Teazer]

...Thujon is also found in sage....

Thanks DT, good info. Maybe I'll try a side of sage with my next binge!

I currently have 6 bottles en route for a party this halloween. It will be bitchin.

oh yes