France has finally legalised the sale of Absinthe after nearly 100 years; mainly it seems as a move to prevent the Swiss from staking claim that it can only be produced there.
I bought some on a trip to Prague a few years back, but still have half a bottle left. It clearly hasn’t done for me what it did for Toulese Lautrec!
Anyone here a lover of the Green Fairy?
Lover, no. Liker, yes.
Tried it for the first time in London. My ex asked me what it was and a guy at the bar quipped “it makes you see fairies”. Like you, I didn’t quite get that reaction, but I’m charmed by the mystique all the same.
Not really a huge fan, but it’s essential in sazeracs which I do like to imbibe.
I don’t believe the hype about the hallucinogenic effect of wormwood; I think you can just chalk it up to the unusally high abv and drinking too much at one time.
But, it’s hard not to be impressed by the history behind it and those artistic fellows who famously felt the spirit’s wrath.
Yes, I only use absinthe for sazeracs which I like a lot. If someone is making green fairies at theit outdoor party, I’ll have one, but it’s not my favorite drink. Absinthe is a very strong tasting liquor.
I keep a bottle of absinthe at home and have a glass two or three times a month - I don’t do the sugar, etc. Much nicer selection since it’s been legalized here.
Brought a bottle back from Switzerland a few years back. Felt so trendy until it became legal again here. It’s not something I drink frequently, but is a nice change once in awhile. And I just bought a really cool absinthe spoon the other day. But damn, might be one of the most expensive varieties of liquor on the store shelf.
This is pretty much my take on it, had some Oregon and Washington Absinthe will in the PNW and its good, but better used in a cocktail like a sazerac. Other than that its hard to get down more than a small pour due to the high alc.
Do the Absinthes distilled today have the same quantity of the hallucinogenic ingredient as back in the day?
I realize this is an old thread, but absinthe came up in a conversation recently, so I was looking into it. Wikipedia says
Absinthe has often been portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug. The chemical compound thujone, although present in the spirit in only trace amounts, was blamed for its alleged harmful effects. By 1915, absinthe had been banned in the United States and in much of Europe, including France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria-Hungary. > Although absinthe was vilified, it has not been demonstrated to be any more dangerous than ordinary spirits. Recent studies have shown that the absinthe’s psychoactive properties (apart from that of the alcohol) have been exaggerated.
Some do, but you have to shop outside America.
I like http://www.alandia.de/
I’ve always gotten my shipments, and they have a large variety to browse through.
This one is pretty good…